Based on the principle of biomimetic catalysis, beta-cyclodextrin was applied to the acetalation reaction as a facile and efficient catalyst, and the synthesis was environmentally friendly with atomic economy. The influencing factors of the acetalation reaction e.g. the reaction time, the volume of water-carrying agent, the molar ratio of catalyst to benzaldehyde and the molar ratio of glycol to benzaldehyde had been studied. The yield of benzaldehyde glycol acetal would reach a maximum of 81.3% under the conditions approached. Six of other acetals were also synthesized. Moreover, a plausible reaction mechanism for the formation of acetal had been proposed. (C) 2015 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.