(1955). fiO (16 NOTES Vol. 77 stirred, with 100 g. of concentrated sulfuric acid. The mixture was cooled to 15'and quickly extracted with three 200-ml. portions of ethyl ether. The extract was dried under nitrogen over Drierite and filtered intri a distilling flask. Nitrogen was bled slowly into the system Xvhile the ether was removed under reduced pressure and the mercnntopivalic acid was distilled; yield 70 g. or 53%, bp 101-102"(1 mm. j.
