Abstract The chemistry of mesoxalic acid derivatives was investigated many years ago. 2 For example, Curtiss demonstrated that dimethyl mesoxalate added ethanol to produce a stable isolatable hemiketal, 3 whereas the corresponding diethyl ester presumably gave the ethyl hemiketal at− 15°, but it could not be isolated. 4 These esters are readily hydrated, and strongly dehydrating conditions are required to regain the ketone. 5 Guyot and Esteva6 ...
