The monoacetalization of sucrose by citral, alpha-ionone and beta-iono
ne is reported. Geranial and neral sucrose acetals (E and Z isomers of
citral acetals) are described. Optimization of the acidic catalysis a
fforded good yields of acetals directly from unprotected sucrose by tr
ansacetalization of dimethyl acetals in dimethylformamide. The influen
ce of microwave irradiation on the reaction outcome was investigated.