The Reduction of Sugars to Alcohols by Hydrogen and Raney Nickel

The Reduction of Sugars to Alcohols by Hydrogen and Raney Nickel 

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Lactitol is a disaccharide sugar alcohol prepared by reduction of the glucose residue to a sorbitol group. It is prepared by hydrogenation of a lactose solution hydrogenation at 100°C for 6 hr and 8825 kPa with a Raney nickel catalyst produces lactitol in nearly quantitative yield (van Velthuijsen 1979 Linko et al. 1980). Hydrogenation of lactose with sodium or calcium amalgam catalysts and reduction with sodium borohydride (Scholnick et al 1975) have also been successful. 

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