The Monoacetalization of Glyoxal: A Direct Synthesis of 2, 2-Dimethoxy and Diethoxy Ethanals

Making natural products from renewable feedstocks: back to the roots?

“…The rst of two allylation reactions afforded compound 324 and utilized allylic bromide 323, which can be prepared from woodbased renewable resources methanol and glyoxal furnishing dimethoxyacetaldehyde. 483,484 The latter can be reacted with methyl acrylate 485 and subsequently brominated to obtain desired building block 323. 480 The dehydration of lactic acid as a cheap and bio-based starting material for acrylic acid is of growing interest and could become a future source for this commodity chemical.…”