THE REACTION OF OLEFINS WITH CHLOROALKOXYALKANES AND FORMIC ACID IN ETHER

The reaction of olefins with chloromethoxymethane (CMM) and excess formic acid in ether, in the presence of ZnCl2 or HgCl2, afforded mainly four products, 1-chloro- and 1-formyloxy-2-(formyloxymethyl)alkanes, and 3,5-dialkyl-4-chloro- and 3,5-dialkyl-4-(formyloxy)tetrahydropyrans, in various yields. In the case of styrene, the chief products were limited to the former two. Similar products were obtained from 1-chloro-1-ethoxyethane (CEE), but their yields were quite low.