Polyaniline-supported sulfuric acid salt as a powerful catalyst for the protection and deprotection of carbonyl compounds

Structurally different carbonyl compounds were converted into their corresponding cyclic acetals using polyaniline-sulfate salt as catalyst in dry toluene in excellent yield. In turn, useful deacetalization in aqueous medium was demonstrated. Chemoselective protection of carbonyl compounds was also demonstrated. The advantages of the polyaniline-sulfate salt are ease of preparation and handling, stability, reusability and activity.