A convenient method for the chemoselective protections of both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes has been developed. Ruthenium (III) trichloride (0.1 mol%) has found to be an highly efficient catalyst in the acetalizations of aldehydes with various simple alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, or diols such as 1, 2-ethylanediol and 1, 3-propanediol under mild reaction conditions.