A Simple and Versatile Method for the Formation of Acetals/Ketals Using Trace Conventional Acids

Abstract

An important and surprising finding that the acetalization and ketalization of aldehydes and ketones with alcohols, respectively, proceed smoothly in the presence of 0.1 mol % acid, without removing water, has been presented. This process has many merits, such as commercial available catalysts with low cost and low loadings (as low as 0.03 mol %), quite a broad substrate scope (including various aldehydes, ketones, acid-sensitive substrates, and diols), a wide range of reaction temperature (-60 to 50 °C), high yields, large-scale preparation, environmental friendliness, and simple work-up procedure. This new protocol has also been successfully applied to protect the important organic compounds, such as 1,3-diols, 1,2-diols, acid-sensitive substrates, glucose, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.