Ketal

Acetalization and ketalization

Acetalization and ketalization are the organic reactions that involve the formation of an acetal (or ketals) from aldehydes and ketones, respectively. These conversions are acidcatalysed. They eliminate water. Since each step is often a rapid equilibrium, the reaction must be driven by removal of water. Methods for removing water include azeotropic distillation and trapping water with desiccants like aluminium oxide and molecular sieves. Steps assumed to be involved: protonation of the carbonyl oxygen, addition of the alcohol to the protonated carbonyl, protonolysis of the resulting hemiacetal or hemiketal, and addition of the second alcohol. These steps are illustrated with an aldehyde RCH=O and the alcohol R'OH: