Acetalisation

An acetal is a functional group with the following connectivity RC(H)(OR')2, where R, R' are organic fragments. They are saturated and tetrahedral. The two R'O groups can be equivalent or not. Acetals are formed from and convertable to aldehydes. The related functional group, ketals, are correspondingly obtained from and convertable to ketones. The most pervasive acetal is cellulose.