A generalized approach for iron catalyzed chemo- and regioselective formation of anti-Markovnikov acetals from styrene derivatives

Fe(BF4)(2)center dot 6H(2)O in the presence of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and PhI(OAc)(2) can efficiently catalyze the formation of chemoselective dialkyl acetals from styrene derivatives with anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity in good to high yields under mild and benign reaction conditions.