A process is described for producing acetals comprising reacting an aldehyde or a ketone with an alcohol in the presence of a titanium compound having an acetylacetone as a ligand, or in the presence of a compound selected from the group consisting of stannous chloride dihydrate, cerium chloride hexahydrate and bismuth chloride. The process can be used in the synthesis of unstable acetals or when water exists in the reaction mixture, and therefore the process can be used for a wide variety of applications.