Abstract: A method is provided for the preparation of a sucrose 6-ester by: (i) reacting a solution of sucrose in an inert organic solvent with a reagent selected from the group consisting of a trialkyl orthoester and a ketene acetal, in the presence of an acid catalyst to provide a sucrose alkyl 4,6-orthoester, (ii) treating the sucrose alkyl 4,6-orthoester under mild aqueous acidic conditions to provide a mixture of sucrose 4- and 6-monoesters, (iii) treating the mixture of esters with a base to convert the sucrose 4-ester into sucrose 6-ester, and (iv) neutralizing the solution and isolating the sucrose 6-ester, in which stage (i) is effected in a continuous manner by passing the solution of sucrose and reagent through a strong acid macroreticular ion exchange resin at ambient temperature. Sucralose is prepared by chlorinating the sucrose 6-esters obtained.

Abstract: 2,3,4,3',4'-penta-O-acetyl sucrose (4-PAS), a key intermediate in the preparation of sucralose, is prepared by the selective removal of trityl groups from 6,1', 6'-tri-O-trityl-penta-O-acetyl sucrose (TRISPA) in which a catalytic amount of an aralkyl chloride or hydrogen chloride is added to a solution of TRISPA is an inert organic solvent is hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst such a platinum or palladium.