These conversions have been successful only with the halides, and have never been carried out either in the absence of reducing agents or under mild conditions. 3-Allyl-1, 2; 5, 6-diisopropylidene-D-mannitol (11) has been mercurated with mercuric acetate to give the acetoxymercurial 2-acetoxymercurimethyl-5, 6-bis-(2, 2-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxolan-4-yl)-p- dioxane (I). 4
