Tetramethyl Ethene-1,1,2,2-Tetracarboxylate: Oxidative Homocoupling of Dimethyl Malonate in the Presence of Magnesium Oxide

Abstract Dimethyl malonate oxidized with can in the presence of magnesium oxide forms tetramethyl l-hydroxyethane-1,1,2,2-tetracarboxylate and tetramethyl ethene-1,1,2,2-tetracarboxylate in high yield. Subsequent dehyratation of the mixture provides exclusively tetramethyl ethene-1,1,2,2-tetracarboxylate.