The reaction of diol diacetates with anhydrous aluminium chloride at ca 100° leads to displacement of only one of the acetoxy groups by chlorine. An oxygen-18 label study has shown that these displacements take place via acetoxonium intermediates and has provided direct evidence for the intervention of a seven-membered ring acetoxonium ion in the displacement of acetate by chlorine in 1, 4-butanediol diacetate.
