• Forms benzylidene derivatives with 1,2 and 1,3-diols, including carbohydrates, by acetal exchange: Carbohydr. Res., 21, 473 (1972); 44, 227 (1975); 137, 282 (1985); Chem. Lett., 335 (1989); J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1304 (1992). The group can be cleaved by a variety of methods, including acid hydrolysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis.