Heteropoly acids are effective solid catalysts for the thioacetalization of carbonyl compounds. Tungstophosphoric acid (H3PW12O40), was found to be an effective and a highly selective catalyst for the thioacetalization of aldehydes, ketones and for the transthioacetalization of acetals, acylals and O,S-acetals which proceeded in excellent yields in the absence of solvent. The catalyst has also been successfully applied to the chemoselective conversion of a- or b-diketones and a b-keto ester into the corresponding dithioacetals. Sterically hindered carbonyl compounds such as camphor and benzophenone were also converted to their corresponding thioacetals in refluxing petroleum ether in 89–94% yields. Surprisingly, anthrone was reduced to anthracene in 91% yield.
