A-Acritol

DL-Mannitol (a-acritol) has been obtained by the reduction of a-acrose (see p. 104). Divinylglycol from acrolein was the starting point of Lespieau and Wiemann (4S). The glycol was obtained from acrolein by reduction with the zinc-copper couple and was then oxidized with silver chlorate and osmium tetroxide to DL-mannitol. Allitol was obtained simultaneously. It is apparent, therefore, that this divinylglycol must be a mixture of diols in which the hydroxyls are cis and trans. 

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