Carbon-Carbon Coupling of Biomass-Derived Molecules Based on Aldol Condensation Reactions

Carbon−carbon coupling of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone and formaldehyde into α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone using Sn-Beta is demonstrated. Reactivity studies, coupled with spectroscopic and computational analyses, show that the formation of HBL proceeds by soft enolization of DHA followed by an aldol addition of formaldehyde to the Sn-enolate intermediate, generating erythrulose as an intermediate species.