Improved synthesis of anhydroglycitol esters of improved colour

Diesters of dianhydroglycitols can be prepared by esterification of dianhydroglycitols, anhydroglycitols and/or glycitols with alkylcarboxylic or arylcarboxylic acids in the presence of an acid catalyst, the acid catalyst being a macroporous acid ion exchange resin. If glycitols or monoanhydroglycitols are used as the starting material, the reaction temperature is initially of the order of 120 DEG C. and after the dehydration is approximately 140 DEG C.