key term - Ketal

Definition

A ketal is an organic compound resulting from the reaction of an aldehyde or ketone with two equivalents of an alcohol, where the carbonyl group (C=O) is replaced by a ketal group (-C(OR)_2). This reaction requires acidic conditions and leads to the formation of a stable, cyclic or acyclic structure depending on the reactants used.

Related terms

Aldehyde:

An organic compound containing a functional group with the structure -CHO, consisting of a carbonyl center bonded to hydrogen and an R group (any group in which a carbon atom is attached to the rest of the molecule).

Ketone:

An organic compound characterized by having a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups.

Nucleophilic addition: A fundamental class of reactions in organic chemistry where a nucleophile forms a chemical bond with an electrophile, leading to various types of products including ketals when reacting with aldehydes or ketones