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

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.