Boric acid as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 1,1-diacetate under solvent-free condition

Boric acid (BO3H3) is an inexpensive, efficient and mild catalyst for the synthesis of 1,1-diacetate (acylal) from the various aromatic and heteroaryl aldehydes with acetic anhydride at room temperature under solvent-free condition. The present method does not involve any hazardous organic solvents or catalysts. This method gives notable advantages such as excellent chemoselectivity, mild reaction condition, short reaction times and excellent yield.