PTSA-Catalyzed Reaction of Alkyl/Aryl Methyl Ketones with Aliphatic Alcohols in the Presence of Selenium Dioxide: A Protocol for the Generation of an α-Ketoacetals Library

A novel approach has been developed for the synthesis of a wide range of alpha-ketoacetals by the reaction of alkyl/aryl methyl ketones and aliphatic alcohols in the presence of selenium dioxide catalyzed by p-toluenesufonic acid. This method represents a general route to obtain a wide variety of alpha-ketoacetals in a simple, rapid, and practical manner. This approach is particularly attractive because of the easy availability of the starting materials, mild reaction temperature, and good yields of the products. The resulting alpha-ketoacetals are of much synthetic value as organic intermediates.