Synthesis of isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose

Objective

The synthesis of isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose, is approached to familiarize the student with some of the most common functional group protection reactions in carbohydrate chemistry. That is, the protection of hydroxyl groups.

1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose KEJGAYKWRDILTF-JDDHQFAOSA-N
1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose KEJGAYKWRDILTF-JDDHQFAOSA-N
3D Structure

Background

Carbohydrates are compounds characterized by having several hydroxyl groups that give characteristic reactions of alcohols. The key step for the synthesis of carbohydrates is the selective functionalization of the different hydroxyls, in order to be able to carry out different reactions on each of them.

Carbohydrates protecting group isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose
Isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (protecting group)

For example, acetone reacts with diols to form acetals. However, in the iodine-catalyzed reaction with D-glucose it is possible to control the conditions so that only the primary and anomeric acetals are formed.

Experimental procedure

To achieve the synthesis of isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose, 1.5 g iodine and 5 g glucose are dissolved in 250 ml anhydrous acetone. Then, the mixture, placed in a round bottom flask, is heated at reflux for 2 h. After this time, the mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature.

A saturated aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate is added to the cold reaction crude, until total decolorization is achieved. The resulting solution is partially concentrated at the rotary evaporator to one third to one quarter of the starting volume.

The solution is allowed to cool and 100 ml of water and 50 ml of chloroform are added. The resulting mixture is transferred to a separating funnel and the organic phase (which is kept) is separated. The aqueous phase is extracted twice with 50 ml of chloroform.

The three organic extracts are combined, dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and the filtrate is transferred to a round-bottomed flask and evaporated to dryness at a rotary evaporator. The white solid obtained is the 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose.

Physico-chemical properties

This table collects data for the molecular weight (Mw), melting point (M.p.) boiling point (B.p.) and density of the reactives and compounds used in this laboratory experiment.

Name Mw (g/mol) M.p. (ºC) B.p. (ºC) Density (g/ml)
1,2,5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose 260.28 109-113 - -
Acetone 58.08 -94 56 0.791
Chloroform 119.38 -63 60.5-61.5 1.492
3-Methyl-butan-1-ol 88.15 -117 131-132 -
H2SO4 98.08 3 - 1.80-1.84
Iodine I2 253.81 113 184 4.930
1H-Pyrrole 67.09 -23 131 0.967
Na2SO4 142.04 884 - 2.630

GHS pictograms

Hazard pictograms form part of the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and are collected in the followinf Table for the chemical compounds used in this experiment.

Name GHS
1,2,5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose Non-hazardous
Acetone ghs02  Danger Warning Flammable pictogram ghs07  Warning Toxic cat. 4 Irritant cat. 2 or 3 Lower systemic health hazards pictogram
Chloroform ghs08  Danger Warning Systemic health hazards pictogram ghs07  Warning Toxic cat. 4 Irritant cat. 2 or 3 Lower systemic health hazards pictogram
3-Methyl-butan-1-ol ghs02  Danger Warning Flammable pictogram ghs07  Warning Toxic cat. 4 Irritant cat. 2 or 3 Lower systemic health hazards pictogram
H2SO4 ghs05  Danger Warning Corrosive cat. 1 pictogram
Iodine I2 ghs07  Warning Toxic cat. 4 Irritant cat. 2 or 3 Lower systemic health hazards pictogram ghs09  Warning (for cat. 1) (for cat. 2 no signal word) Environmental hazard pictogram
1H-Pyrrole ghs02  Danger Warning Flammable pictogram ghs06  Danger Toxic cat. 1–3 pictogram ghs05  Danger Warning Corrosive cat. 1 pictogram
Na2SO4 Non-hazardous

International Chemical Identifier

The IUPAC InChI key identifiers for the main compounds used in this experiment are provided to facilitate the nomenclature and formulation of chemical compounds and the search for information on the Internet for these compounds.

1,2,5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose KEJGAYKWRDILTF-HOTMZDKISA-N
Acetone CSCPPACGZOOCGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Chloroform HEDRZPFGACZZDS-UHFFFAOYSA-N
3-Methyl-butan-1-ol PHTQWCKDNZKARW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
H2SO4 QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Iodine I2 PNDPGZBMCMUPRI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
1H-Pyrrole KAESVJOAVNADME-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Na2SO4 PMZURENOXWZQFD-UHFFFAOYSA-L

References

Back to the Advanced Organic Synthesis Experiments page.

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