Methyl 7-hydroxy-2, B-heptadienoate and dimethyl 2, 5, 8-decatriene-l, lO-dioate were prepared from reactions of either cis-2-butene-1, 4-dio1 or butadiene monoxide with acetylene, carbon monoxide, nickel carbonyl, and methanol in the presence of an acid and an inorganic halide. The reaction of butadiene monoxide was controlled to give high yields of the seven-carbon ester but the cis-2-butene-1, 4-diol reaction could not be directed to ...
