Synthesis of phenylacetaldehyde ethyleneglycol acetal catalyzed by Zr(SO4)2/SiO2

Phenylacetaldehyde ethyleneglycol acetal was synthesized from phenylacetaldehyde and ethyleneglycol using Zr(SO4)2/SiO2 as catalyst. Factors influencing the yield, such as mole ratios of materials, reaction time, catalyst dosage and its stability, were studied and the optimum reaction conditions were found as follows: 0.1 mol phenylacetaldehyde, n(phenylacetaldehyde): n(ethyleneglycol) = 1:1.5, 0.2 g catalyst, 12 mL cyclohexane, and reaction time 1.5 h. Under these conditions, the yield was above 96.0%.