Alkyl glucosides/glycosides acetals

Commercial alkyl glycosides or, more specifically, alkyl glucosides are complex mixtures of acetals. Acetals, in general, are formed by the reaction of aldehydes and alcohols in the presence of a strong acid catalyst. The reaction involves an intermediate known as a hemiacetal. When acetaldehyde is dissolved in an excess of anhydrous ethyl alcohol in the presence of anhydrous hydrogen chloride, the following reactions occur ... 

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