A study has been made of the Claisen acylation of active hydrogen compounds by means of methyl dimethoxyacetate in the presence of sodium methoxide. A series of six aliphatic methyl esters was subjected to mixed ester condensation with methyl dimethoxyacetate to give the mixed condensation products in yields of 50435%. Basic cleavage of the mixed condensation products gave a-ketoacetals in yields of 73-90%. Acidic cleavage of the a- ...
