New Mechanistic Proposal for Some Heptamolybdate‐Ion‐Catalyzed Isomerizations

Abstract

Abstract Heptamolybdate‐ion(HM)‐catalyzed C(2) epimerization of D‐glucose and racemization of D‐glyceraldehyde proceed with comparable rates and activation parameters; HM catalyzes the isomerization of glucal and galactal triacetates as well. For all of the above transformations, a common, new mechanism is proposed that invokes stabilization of 3‐oxa‐allylic cation species by the central Mo(VI) atom.