Sorbitol, xvii

The methyl and ethyl ethers of the dianhydrides have properties which may make them useful as plasticizers. 2,5-Diallyl-dianhydro-sorbitol (XVII) and 2,5-diallyl-dianhydro-mannitol (XVIII) and the corresponding methallyl derivatives polymerize to resinous materials on being heated in oxygen.The allyl derivatives polymerize about five times as fast as the methallyl derivatives, to give products somewhat similar to that obtained by Nichols and Yanovsky by the polymerization of methyl tetraallyl-a-n-glucoside. 

Polyols other than glycerol are utilized to a lesser extent in the manufacture of alkyd resins, being used to impart special properties. Such polyols include pentaerythritol (XVI), trimethylolpropane (XVII) and sorbitol (XVIII). Sometimes a proportion of diols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol is included in alkyd resin formulations to reduce cross-link intensity. 

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