Liquid-liquid extraction of DMF

A method for the chlorination of a sucrose-6-acylate to produce a 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxy-galactosucrose-6-acylate wherein said method comprises:

• (i) combining the sucrose-6-acylate with a chlorinating agent in a reaction vehicle comprising a tertiary amide to afford a mixture;
• (ii) heating said mixture for a heating period in order to provide chlorination of sucrose-6-acylate at the 4, 1′ and 6′ positions thereof;
• and
• (iii) quenching the product stream of (ii) to produce a 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxy -galactosucrose-6-acylate;
• wherein before said quenching, a step of removing a portion of said tertiary amide is by extraction into an extraction solvent in which said tertiary amide is soluble is performed, wherein said extraction is performed using the extraction solvent to feed ratio of 4:1 to 8:1 w/w, and wherein the mixture is the feed.