Tetramethyl methanetetraacetate and sodium formed an intermediate dienediol that was oxidized by air or iodine to give the title compound. The intermediate in the oxidation with iodine appears to be a disemidione. A modified acyloin condensation, using sodium-liquid ammonia followed by evaporation of the ammonia and the addition of trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS), has been shown to be of particular utility in the synthesis of
