Highly Regioselective Preparation of 1,3-Dioxolane-4-methanol Derivatives from Glycerol Using Phosphomolybdic Acid

Phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) forms a blue-colored complex with glycerol in 1:10 molar ratio. The glycerolato complex catalyzes conversion or glycerol into 1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol derivatives with complete regiospecificity in high yields (>95%) and the catalyst call be recycled up to tell times without loss of activity or regiospecificity.