Whereas n-propyl acetate reacted smoothly to give the expected product, propylidene diacetate, the oxidation of methyl acetate proved to be quite difficult under the conditions employed. The primary product, methylene diacetate, was isolated only in very small amounts. This undesirable result is most probably caused by (a) the limit placed upon the reflux temperature of the solution by the low-boiling ester,(b) the fact that attack must take ...
