What is the difference between acetal and ketal ?
1 Answer
Nov 12, 2015
These names are derived from the compounds you might expect: aldehydes and ketones---two closely-related functional groups.
where
For example, the ketal formation mechanism works like this (after the initial acid catalysis):
1. After protonation of the carbonyl, the alcohol is a good enough nucleophile in context.
2. Proton transfer Pt1.
3. Proton transfer Pt2.
4. Tetrahedral collapse.
5. With a positively-charged carbonyl, the alcohol is a good enough nucleophile in context.
6. Proton transfer to regenerate the catalyst.
Can you figure out the acetal formation mechanism?
