Highly efficient iron(III) molecular catalysts for solketal production

•Homogeneous iron(III) catalysts containing pyridine-2-imine ligands have been prepared.•The catalysts are able to promote formation of solketal from glycerol and acetone.•The activities are the highest ever reported so far for this reaction (TOFs up to 105 h− 1).•A simple work-up returns solketal with an iron content below 10 ppm.

This communication describes extremely efficient homogeneous iron(III) catalysts for the synthesis of solketal from glycerol and acetone. The activities are the highest ever reported so far for this type of reaction, with TOFs up to 105 h− 1 at negligible catalyst loading.