介绍了乙醇醛作为中间体在食品、医药卫生和化工等行业的应用。综述了以甲醛为原料生产乙醇醛的工艺,包括氢甲酰化反应;高选择性的formose反应;通过典型的formose反应制备糖醇,再含水热解;N-杂环卡宾催化。指出N-杂环卡宾催化甲醛合成乙醇醛是最具前景的生产策略,值得深入研究。
Glycolaldehyde is an intermediate to produce high value-added products and can be used in food, medicine, hygiene and chemical industry. The paper summarizes the synthesis of glycolaldehyde, including hydroformylation of formaldehyde, selective formose reaction, hydrous thermolysis of sugar alcohols produced by typical formose reaction and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. Each process is reviewed. It is pointed out that N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis is the most promising production strategy, which is worthy of further research.