Aldehydes can be converted to acylals by treatment with acetic anhydride in the presence of sulfated zirconia in excellent yield at 0 ºC. Ketones and aliphatic aldehydes are found to be unaffected under the reaction conditions. The deprotection of the resulting acylals is achieved using the same catalyst at 60 ºC. The catalyst can be reused in two cycles without losing its activity.
acylals; sulfated zirconia; protection; deprotection
