Acetals as grignard solvents?

[wolff_kishner]

Would acetals be acceptable solvents for grignard reactions? In basic conditions, acetals are stable ethers. Since Grignard reactions take place in a basic environment, wouldn't the acetal be indistinguishable from an ether?

I have used the search engine and found nothing either supporting or opposing the use of acetals.

[Rhodium]

Dimethoxymethane and diethoxymethane are both very good solvents for Grignard reactions:

http://www.arkat-usa.org/ark/journal/2002/Spinelli/MS-568H/568H.pdf

[wolff_kishner]

Thanks, Rhodium. However, if formaldehyde acetals are good grignard solvents, why aren't they popular? Diethoxymethane would be easy to make and less volatile and dangerous than ethyl ether.

[Rhodium]

They are more expensive than ether, and in case an acidic workup is made, formaldehyde may contaminate or react with the product.