Reaction of 2, 3dichloro-2-methylpropanal (methacrolein dichloride) with sodium methoxide in methanol gave 1, ldimethoxy-2, 3-epoxy-Zmethylpropsne (epoxymethwrolein dimethyl acetal, IIc) in 7040% yield, whereas in dry ether the product is 3-chloro-Zmethoxy- Zmethylpropanal. In methanol this aldehyde appears to form a relatively stable hemiacetal, thought to be the intermediate in the formation of IIc. The mechanism of the reaction in ...
