An efficient, solvent-free method for the chemoselective synthesis of acylals from aldehydes and their deprotection catalyzed by silica sulfuric acid as a reusable solid acid catalyst

An efficient method has been developed for the chemoselective synthesis of acylals from aldehydes and acetic anhydride in the presence of silica sulfuric acid as a reusable solid acid catalyst under solvent-free conditions. Ketones are found to remain unaffected under the reaction conditions. The deprotection of acylals has also been achieved using SSA in methanol medium.