Structural course of the scission of 2, 4-dimethyl-l, 3-dioxalane by acetyl chloride
The reaction of 2, 4-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxolane with acetyl chloride in the presence of ZnCl2 catalyst gives only one of two expected chloropropylacetates (the 2-chloropropylacetate), along with propylene glycol diacetate, and resinous products, formed by splitting of the intermediate α-chloroesters, as well as by polymerization of the starting dioxolane. IR spectra confirmed the structure of the 2-chloropropylacetate. An attempt is made to explain the structural course of the reaction.