Hemiketals elimination with bases

Aldehydes and ketones undergo reversible addition reactions with alcohols. The product of addition of one mole of alcohol to an aldehyde or ketone is referred to as a hemiacetal or hemiketal, respectively. Dehydration followed by addition of a second molecule of alcohol gives an acetal or ketal. This second phase of the process can be catalyzed only by acids, since a necessary step is elimination of hydroxide (as water) from the tetrahedral intermediate. There is no low-energy mechanism for base assistance of this... 

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