Natural Kaolin supported sulfuric acid as an efficient catalyst for the preparation of 1, 1-diacetates under solvent-free conditions

A facile and efficient method for the preparation of 1,1-diacetates of aldehydes is improved. The acidified kaolin with sulfuric acid (2 % w/w) catalyzed 1,1-diacetates formation from aldehydes in solvent-free conditions. Both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes gave high yields (85-95 %) of the corresponding 1, 1-diacetates. Advantages of this method are the use of inexpensive and selective catalyst, with high yields in simple operation, and short reaction time under solvent-free conditions.