Segetis, Inc.

Scott D Rothstein

Brian Daniel Mullen

Sergey A Selifonov

Tara Jane Mullen

Douglas Wicks

Ning Zhou

Charles Todd Williams

Chunyong Wu

Jason D Pratt

The reaction of alcohols with oxocarboxylates to form acetals or ketals is catalyzed by unexpectedly low levels of protic acids. By employing low acid catalyst levels compared to amounts conventionally used, rapid formation of acetal or ketal is facilitated while the formation of oxocarboxylate esters is minimized. Further employing a significant molar excess of oxocarboxylate in conjunction with low acid catalyst level gives rise to the rapid and clean formation of acetals and ketals from oxocarboxylates and alcohols.

Method of making ketals and acetals

The invention relates to polyketal compounds. The compounds are synthesized by the selective ketalization of oxocarboxylic acids, e.g. keto acids and semialdehydes, and esters thereof with tetrols and higher polyols that products two or more cyclic ketal ester moieties per molecule, wherein the cyclic ketal moieties are situated in a bis-, tris-, or polyketal conformation. The invention further relates to applications of these compounds and subsequent reactions thereof.

Polyketal compounds, synthesis, and applications

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Sauk Rapids, MN, United States of America

Scott D Rothstein