What is the product formed when cyclohexane-1,2,4-triol reacts with 1 equivalent of acetone in an acidic medium?
There are 3 possible hemiacetal products. The major one is formed via nucleophilic attack by a less hindered hydroxyl group:
There is one possible cyclic acetal formed by the two adjacent $\ce{- OH}$ groups:
But which of the two products will be formed in a larger quantity? I have heard that cyclic acetals are more stable than acyclic ones but don't know the reason (because of entropy change or something?).