22dimethyl13dioxolane4methanol

22dimethyl13dioxolane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C5H10O2. It is a cyclic acetal derived from the reaction of acetone with ethylene glycol. The structure features a five-membered ring containing two oxygen atoms and three carbon atoms, with two methyl groups attached to one of the carbon atoms. This arrangement gives it the "2,2-dimethyl" prefix, and the "1,3-dioxolane" indicates the heterocyclic ring system.

This compound is typically a colorless liquid at room temperature and is soluble in many organic solvents. It is often used as a protecting group for carbonyl compounds, particularly aldehydes and ketones, in organic synthesis. The dioxolane ring is stable under neutral and basic conditions but can be readily hydrolyzed back to the original carbonyl compound and diol under acidic conditions. This selective reactivity makes it a valuable tool for chemists to temporarily mask functional groups during complex chemical reactions, preventing them from reacting unintentionally. 22dimethyl13dioxolane itself can be synthesized through acid-catalyzed condensation reactions.