SOME NEW ASPECTS OF TRANSKETALIZATIONS AND ACETONATIONS OF 1,2,N-TRIOLS (N=3, 4) USING 2,2-DIMETHOXYPROPANE AND 2-METHOXYPROPENE IN THE PRESENCE OF BUTYLTIN CHLORIDES - BUSNCL3, BU2SNCL2, BU3SNCL, (BU2SNCL)(2)O AND BUSN(OH)(2)CL

Transketalizations and acetonations of 2,2-dimethoxypropane and 2-meth oxypropene, respectively, using 1,2,3-propane and 1,2,4-butanetriol ha ve been carried out, at room temperatue, under the mediation of the fo llowing butyltin chlorides: BuSnCl(3), Bu(2)SnCl(2), Bu(3)SnCl, (Bu(2) SnCl)(2)O and BuSn(OH)(2)Cl. The main products are represented by 1,3- dioxolane derivatives when the four mediators are employed. When BuSn( OH)(2)Cl is employed, particularly in the case of acetonation, a mixtu re of dioxolane derivatives together with two acetone ketals containin g 1,2-O-isopropylidenetriol residues is obtained.