Abstract
Acylals react with 1,3-propanedithiol, 1,2-ethanedithiol and 2-mercaptoethanol in the presence of silica chloride to give 1,3-dithianes, 1,3-dithiolnnes and 1,3-oxathiolanes in excellent yields in CH2Cl2 at room temperature. It has been observed that acylals were more reactive than their aldehydes hut less reactive than acetals and ketals. Also aliphatic acylals survive under these conditions.