Results Synthesis. The substrates were d-, I-, and dl-p-nitrophenyl a-methoxyphenylacetate (I). Racemic or optically active mandelic acids were 0-methylated with dimethyl sulfate in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution; the methoxy acids were converted to the acid chlorides with oxalyl chloride, whereupon treatment with p-nitrophenol in toluene and pyridine afforded I. The d-and la-methoxy-fio
