9-Anthraldehyde acetals as protecting groups

Anthraldehyde acetals can be introduced regioselectively to carbohydrates in high yields. Advantages over conventional acetal protecting groups are increased crystallinity and strong absorbance and fluorescence which facilitate purification and reaction monitoring. The anthraldehyde acetals can be deprotected selectively in the presence of benzylidene acetals and can be cleaved regioselectively to yield 6-O-(9-anthracenyl)methyl ethers.