Intramolecular dehydration of mannitol in high-temperature liquid water without acid catalysts

Intramolecular dehydration of mannitol in high-temperature liquid water without adding any hazardous acid catalysts and its kinetic analyses were carried out. The dehydration behavior of mannitol was compared with that of sorbitol. 2,5-Anhydromannitol and 1,4-anhydromannitol were major products from the mannitol monomolecular dehydration in contrast with the only major product, 1,4-anhydrosorbitol, from the sorbitol monomolecular dehydration.