Indium triflate mediated tandem acetalisation-acetal exchange reactions under solvent-free conditions

Acyclic acetals and ketals undergo exchange reactions in the presence of catalytic quantities of indium(III) triflate and diols to generate the corresponding cyclic acetals and ketals in excellent yield. The protocol is rapid, employs mild conditions and can be adapted to employ solvent-free reaction conditions. We have further developed this methodology to encompass a tandem acetalisation-acetal exchange protocol which provides facile access to cyclic ketals from unreactive ketones also under very mild, solvent-free reaction conditions.