mercapt~-3-chloro-2-propanol (l) or 2-mercaptoethanol (5), respectively, and the appropriate a-halogen ketone 2 in 61-90% yield according to a method reported by Wil~ on.~ In all cases these halogenated 1, 3-oxathiolanes partly decompose upon distillation; in some cases, rearrangement and elimination occur to give the 1, 4-oxathiin derivatives 4 or 7.* Elimination and rearrangement of the 1, 3-oxathiolanes by means of potassium tert- ...