EFFICIENT PREPARATION OF ALKOXYMETHYL CARBONATES BY USING POTASSIUM CARBONATE, CHLOROMETHYL ALKYL ETHERS, AND ALCOHOLS

A synthesis of new ''alkoxymethyl carbonate'' is presented starting wi th alcohol. In the presence of potassium carbonate, primary alcohols r eact with chloromethyl alkyl ethers in N,N-dimethylformamide under mil d conditions to give the corresponding alkoxymethyl carbonates in good yields without giving the alkoxymethyl ethers. The yield of alkoxymet hyl carbonate is seriously effected by reaction solvent and the presen t method is not applicable for tertiary alcohol. Methoxymethyl carbona te can be removed readily under mild basic or acidic conditions, and u ndergoes selective alkoxide interchange of methoxymethoxide group unde r basic conditions.