An efficient didehydroxylation method for the biomass-derived polyols glycerol and erythritol. Mechanistic studies of a formic acid-mediated deoxygenation.

An efficient 1,2-deoxygenation method, involving an unexpected mechanism, was found for simple diols and for biomass-derived polyols (glycerol and erythritol) that results in the conversion of the 1,2-dihydroxy group to a carbon-carbon double bond.