wherein R₁ and R₂ are different or the same alkyl moieties and can be a saturated, unsaturated, branched, unbranched or cyclic alkyl moiety of 1-3 carbon atoms, are prepared by first anhydrously reacting hydrogen cyanide or a hydrogen cyanide derivative with a secondary alkanol and hydrogen chloride in the presence of an inert organic solvent. Upon the formation of the resulting imino ether hydrochloride, more secondary alkanol is added to form the ortho esters (I). 1,1-Dialkoxycycloalkanes of the structure
wherein R₁ and R₂ correspond to R₁ and R₂ of structure (I), and n is an integer from 4 to 9, are prepared by reacting with the imino ether hydrochloride more secondary alkanol and a cycloalkanone having 5 to 10 carbon atoms.