Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate as a novel and highly efficient catalyst for acetal formation

Commercially available copper(II) tetrafluoroborate hydrate has been found to be a highly efficient catalyst for dimethyl/diethyl acetal formation in high yields from aldehydes and ketones by reaction with trimethyl/triethyl orthoformate at room temperature and in short period. Acetalisation was carried out under solvent-free conditions with electrophilic aldehydes/ketones. For weakly electrophilic aldehydes/ketones (e.g., benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and acetophenone) and for aldehydes having a substituent that can coordinate with the catalyst, the corresponding alcohol was used as solvent.

Graphical abstractCommercially available copper(II) tetrafluoroborate hydrate efficiently catalyses dimethyl/diethyl acetal formation from aldehydes and ketones by reaction with trimethyl/triethyl orthoformate in high yields and in short period at room temperature.Download full-size image