Acyl chlorides and alkylchloroformates smoothly reacted with one molar equivalent of sodium hydxoxide, using liquid-liquid phase transfer conditions to afford high yields of the corresponding symmtrical carboxylic and carbonic hemiester anhydrides. Unstable, anhydrides such as 4-nitrobenzoïc, 2-furoïc and methacrylic anhydrides, which are otherwise difficult to obtain, were easily prepared by this method. The reaction mechanism ...