Synthetic Studies by the Use of Carbonates, II. An Easy Method of Preparing Cyclic Carbonates of Polyhydroxy Compounds by Transesterification with Ethylene Carbonate

Transesterification reactions of polyhydroxy compounds, such as 1-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-, 1-O-benzylglycerols, 1,2;3,4-di-O-, 3,4-O-isopropylidene-d-mannitols, 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose, uridine, 1,2;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannitol, and d-mannitol, by ethylene carbonate were attempted; the corresponding products were obtained in good yields except in the case of uridine, which gave 2,2′-anhydro-1-β-d-arabinofuranosyluracil.