What type of reaction is 2-Ethoxybutan-2-ol + ethanol

Question

WhAt type of reaction is ethanol +  2-Ethoxybutan-2-ol?

Answer 1

This is an SN1 reaction first involving the polar protic ethanol protonating the OH functional group at carbon 2

followed by subsequent heterolytic bond cleavage of the oxonium ion to split out water in the rate determining

step leading to carbocation formation. Nucleophilic attack at this carbocation by ethanol followed by

deprotonation of the new oxonium ion leads to formation of 2,2-diethoxybutane, a ketal of 2-butanone