Direct anodic (thio)acetalization of aldehydes with alcohols (thiols) under neutral conditions, and computational insight into the electrochemical formation of the acetals

Abstract

A versatile protocol for the production of acetals/thioacetals by means of direct electrochemical oxidation is developed here under neutral conditions, providing (thio)acetals with good functional group tolerance and a wide scope for both aldehydes and (thio)alcohols. DFT calculations reveal that direct electron transfer from the anode plays a key role in carbonyl activation during this acid free acetalization process.