Green procedures for the chemoselective synthesis of acylals and their cleavage promoted by recoverable sulfonic acid based nanoporous carbon (CMK-5-SOH).
A selective synthesis of gem-diacetates from the reaction of aldehydes and acetic anhydride in the presence of recyclable nanoporous solid sulfonic acid (CMK-5-SOH) under solvent-free reaction conditions is reported. The catalyst was also found to be highly active for deprotection of resulting acylals in water. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]