Abstract The thermal decarboxylation of alkali trichloroacetates in aprotic solvents in the presence of olefins has been investigated. The isolation of dichlorocyclopropanes in good yields demonstrates the formation of CCl 2 as an intermediate. By this method, the reaction of base-sensitive acceptors such as allylchloride with CCl 2 may be successfully accomplished, since it proceeds under essentially neutral conditions. Vinyl acetate gave, ...
