Iron(III) Fluoride: A Highly Efficient and Versatile Catalyst for the Protection of Carbonyl Compounds under Solvent-Free Conditions

Carbonyl compounds are successfully converted into oxathioacetals and dithioacetals with 2-mercaptoethanol and ethane-1,2-dithiol using a catalytic amount of iron(iii) fluoride under solvent-free conditions. The catalysts were recovered and reused in various runs without affecting the efficiency of the process.