Scandium triflate as a recyclable catalyst for chemoselective thioacetalization

Scandium triflate [Sc(OTf)3] has been found to be an extremely efficient and recyclable catalyst for the addition of ethanethiol, 1,2-ethanedithiol and 1,3-propanedithiol to both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. In addition, by employing this catalyst, high chemoselective thioacetalization of carbonyl compounds has been achieved.