These reactzons were of particular interest to us as ellmlnatlon of methanol from the products leads directly to 4, 6-dimethoxy-ylidenenbutenolldes of the fadyenollde and plperolide series. In every case reaction proceeded smoothly to yield acetals (2)-(11)-in the yields shown (Scheme 1) In the case of (11) attempts to ellmlnate methanol undera wide variety of acid condltlons failed but treatment with ButLl (not Bu" L1 or Bu secL1)-gave Z- ...