Lactyllactic acid

The polymerization of a ring compound usually proceeds by an interchange reaction, induced either catalytically or by the presence of small amounts of end-group-producing substances. For example, the polymerization of lactide, the cyclic dimer of lactic acid, is accelerated by small amounts of water. The water undoubtedly hydrolyzes the lactide to lactyllactic acid, which may then react with other lactide molecules by ester interchange. This reaction scheme can be represented as follows ... 

The cerium(IV) oxidation of lactyllactic acid" and of 4-oxopentanoic acid in aqueous nitric acid solutions shows first-order dependence of the reaction on both cerium(IV) and substrate. A 1 1 complex formation between manganese(III) and amine, which later decomposes in the rate-limiting step, best explains the kinetics of oxidation of aliphatic amines by cerium(IV) in nitric acid medium in the presence of manganese(II). The kinetics of oxidation of naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, and a-naphthol with cerium(IV) in perchloric acid solutions have been studied. Use of a 50-fold molar excess of cerium(IV) perchlorate results in complete oxidation of fiuorophenols to CO2, HCO2H, and HF in 48h at 50 °C. ... 

It is not easily studied by paper chromatographic techniques because of its volatility and of its partial transformation into lactyllactic acid (Ol). 

Commercial lactic acid has been determined to be a mixture of Ot-hydroxypropianic acid, lactyllactic acid, and water. When dilute lactic acid is concentrated, two molecules of lactic odd unite to form lactyllactic acid and water. The lactyllactic acid splits off from the woter. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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