It is related to tetrahydrofuran (THF) by replacement of the methylene group (CH2) at the 2-position with an oxygen atom.

Dioxolanes can be prepared by acetalization of aldehydes and ketalization of ketones with ethylene glycol.

[9] The total synthesis of both compounds has been reported, and each includes a step in which a dioxolane system is formed using trifluoroperacetic acid (TFPAA), prepared by the hydrogen peroxide – urea method.

[10] In the case of neosporol, a Prilezhaev reaction[13] with trifluoroperacetic acid is used to convert a suitable allyl alcohol precursor to an epoxide, which then undergoes a ring-expansion reaction with a proximate carbonyl functional group to form the dioxolane ring.

[10][11] A similar approach is used in the total synthesis of sporol, with the dioxolane ring later expanded to a dioxane system.