Identify the major product formed in the following reaction:

Step-by-step solution

The reaction of a ketone with a 1,2-diol (like ethylene glycol) in the presence of an acid catalyst (dry HCl gas) leads to the formation of a cyclic ketal. First, the carbonyl oxygen of cyclohexanone is protonated by the acid, making the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. One of the hydroxyl groups of ethylene glycol attacks this carbon, followed by a proton transfer to form a hemiketal intermediate. Next, the hydroxyl group of the original ketone is protonated and leaves as a molecule of water, generating an oxoc