597706-19-36E AID: 987 | 23/11/2015

RID : 102 | 22/12/2015

AID: 1112 |05/07/2017

Acetals are formed reacting aldehydes with excess of alcohol, to replace the =O with two
alkoxy groups. A common method for the preparation of acetals is transacetalization. In a
symmetric acetal, both alkoxy groups are same, while in mixed acetals, the groups are
different.

The reaction starts with the attack of alcoholic oxygen on the acetal carbon, followed by
loss of alcohol and attack of another alcoholic group, to yield a cyclic acetal.

(a)

The mechanistic course of the reaction under consideration is shown in the following
diagram:

OHCH 3:+
OCH 3::
H3C O O CH3
H3C CH3
H3C CH3 -CH 3 OH H3C CH3

H O O H O O H
+
HO OH

-CH 3 OH

O O

H3C CH3

Therefore, the final product formed is 2,2-dimethyl-2H-1,3-benzodioxole.

(b)

The mechanistic course of the reaction under consideration is shown in the following
diagram:

OHCH 3:+
H3C O O CH3 OCH 3::
H3C
H3C CH3 H3C CH3
-CH 3OH
CH3
HO OH O OH
+
HO OH

-CH 3OH

O O
H3C CH3

Therefore, the final product formed is 2,2-diethyl-1,3-dioxolane.