Abstract On reaction with R-Hal, salts of ethyl phenylcyanopyruvate, dialkyl oxalacetate and their derivatives undergo 0-alkylation in almost all cases. Also mono-and disubstitutions on carbon are observed. The structure of the product from alkylation of the sodium salt of diethyl oxalacetate with diethyl chlorooxalacetate has been determined. The effect of solvent as well as the influence of the structure of the alkylating agent and the substrate on the 0/c- ...
