ABSTRACT
The condensation of aldehydes and ketones with alcohols and polyols is one of the first reactions of the organic chemistry. Following the pioneering work by Wurtz [l] (acetaldehyde and ethylene glycol), and by Meunier [2] (catalysis with acids), Emil Fischer [3] described as early as 1895 the formation of acetals* of glycoses (first from o-fructose and acetone). Since then, this protecting group has been extensively used in organic chemistry, in general, and in carbohydrate chemistry, in particular. These developments concern not
*Following the recommendation of IUPAC (rule C-331.1) the term acetal should be given to the compounds obtained through the reaction of a carbonyl group of an aldehyde as well as from a ketone.
