Wohl degradation mechanism

The Wohl deffvdation, an alternative to the Ruff d radation, is nearly the reverse of the Kiliani-Fischer synthesis. The aldose carbonyl group is converted to the oxime, which is dehydrated by acetic anhydride to the nitrile (a cyanohydrin). Cyanohydrin formation is reversible, and a basic hydrolysis allows the cyanohydrin to lose HCN. Using the following sequence of reagents, give equations for the individual reactions in the Wohl degradation of D-arabiiK>se to D-erythrose. Mechanisms are not required. 

Further experiments disproved Wohl s theories1-3 4 as to a direct condensation mechanism. By degradation of 2,3,4,5-tetra-O-acetyl-L-arabinononitrile82 (5) in the presence of propionamide or benzamide, l,l-bis(acetamido)-l-deoxy-L-erythritol (6) was obtained in yields comparable to those obtained when the reaction was conducted in the absence of these extraneous amides. Also, an excess of acetamide in the medium did not increase the formation of nitrogenated carbohydrate derivatives. 

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