The chemistry of acylals. Part I. The reactivity of acylals towards Grignard and organolithium reagents

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(97)00789-8

Aldehyde acylals have been prepared and reacted with Grignard and alkyllithium reagents. Acylals from formaldehyde furnished complex reaction mixtures when reacted with both reagents. Acylals of other aldehydes gave reaction mixtures that consisted mainly of an ester, generated by replacing one of the carboxy groups with the organic part of the organometallic reagent, and regenerated aldehyde. The esters were formed in the highest yields. Yields above 90% were experienced when the acylals were reacted with Grignard reagents under Barbier conditions.