Low temperature, single solvent process for the production of sucrose-6-ester

A method for the preparation of a sucrose-6-ester is disclosed. In a first step of the method, sucrose in a polar aprotic solvent is reacted with an organotin-based acylation promoter. The ater of reaction is removed at a temperature that does not exceed about 80 degrees C. In one aspect, the water is removed by distillation of part of the polar aprotic solvent at reduced pressure. in a second step, a carboxylic acid anhydride is added. In one aspect, the resulting reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature of 10 degrees C or less for a period of time sufficient to produce a sucrose-6-ester. The sucrose-6-ester can be converted to sucralose.