Tate & Lyle, Inc.

Kenneth John Parker

Riaz A Khan

Khizar S Mufti

6,6'-Dichloro-6,6'-dideoxysucrose is obtained directly in high yield by reacting sucrose with methanesulphonyl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide. 1',6,6'-Trichloro-1',6,6'-trideoxysucrose is obtained as a by-product and its formation can be suppressed by starting the reaction at -40.degree. C to -15.degree. C. The dichlorodideoxy and trichloro-trideoxy compounds, which are useful as intermediates for preparing other sucrose derivates, are most conveniently isolated from the reaction mixture in the form of their hexa-acetate and penta-acetate respectively, which are then deacetylated to give the free compounds.

Preparation of sucrose 6,6'-dichloro hexa-acetate

A surface active composition is prepared by reacting solid particulate sucrose with at least one triglyceride, in the presence of a basic transesterification catalyst, at a temperature of from 110.degree. to 140.degree. C, at atmospheric pressure and in the absence of any solvent. The preferred temperature range is 120.degree. to 130.degree. C, most preferably about 125.degree. C. The preferred catalyst is potassium carbonate. The reaction can be accelerated by adding a suitable emulsifier, such as a diglyceride, a monoglyceride or a surfactant product of the reaction, to the reaction mixture.

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Oxted, United Kingdom

Kenneth John Parker