Summary 1. Satisfactory methods have been developed for converting lactic acid into a- acetoxypropionyl chloride, phenyl a-acetoxypropionate and o-tolyl a-acetoxypropionate. Pyrolysis of the phenyl and o-tolyl esters of acetoxypropionic acid yielded phenyl and o-tolyl acrylate, respectively. Styrene also was formed in the pyrolysis of phenyl acetoxypropionate.
