Catalytic C-O bond cleavage of ethers using group 5 or 6 metal halide/acidchloride systems

Ethers reacted with acid chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of MCl5/6 (M = Mo, W, Nb or Ta) to give esters in 75-98% yield; a stoichiomet ric reaction of dioctyl ether with MoCl5 afforded 1-chlorooctane in 93% yie ld and addition of benzoyl chloride to the resulting mixture gave octyl ben zoate in 49% yield.