Benzylidene acetal

In organic chemistry, a benzylidene acetal is the functional group with the structural formula C6H5CH(OR)2 (R = alkyl, aryl).

Benzylidene acetals are used as protecting groups in glycochemistry.

[1][2] These compounds can also be oxidized to carboxylic acids in order to open important biological molecules, such as glycosaminoglycans, to other routes of synthesis.

[3] They arise from the reaction of a 1,2- or 1,3-diols with benzaldehyde.

Other aromatic aldehydes are also used.