The use of halides and p-toluenesulfonates (tosylates) of unsaturated, long-chain alcohols as alkylating agents has been limited by great difficulties in their isolationzj3 and purification and by the formation of trans isomers4 Esters of methanesulfonic acid (mesylates), as de- scribed in the present communication, can be easily synthesized without isomerization of double bonds. The mesylates offer additional advantages over tosyl- ates such as simplicity of ...
