A general method has been developed for the synthesis of trialkylacetic acids involving the alkylation of esters of dialkylacetic acids by means of sodium amide or potassium amide, and the hydrolysis of the resulting alkylated esters. The SUC-cess of this method depends on hindering the usual attack of the amide ion at the carbonyl carbon of the dialkylacetic acid ester so as to permit the preferential ionization of its a-hydrogen as required for the ...
