The preparation of 1: 1: 3‐trialkoxyalkanes and related compounds

A novel method of preparing 1: 1: 3-triethoxybutane, involving entrainment of water from a refluxing mixture of crotonaldehyde, ethanol and an acid catalyst, has been investigated, and conditions have been found for obtaining yields of over 90%. Extension of the method to αβ-unsaturated aldehydes and aliphatic alcohols in general has shown that it is of wide applicability, very high yields (better than 85%) of the corresponding 1: 1: 3-trialkoxyalkanes being obtained in certain cases. In addition, several trialkoxy-compounds which were not readily accessible by other methods have now been prepared in satisfactory yields. The use of ethylene and trimethylene glycols in place of the monohydric alcohols has led to the formation and isolation of the corresponding 2-(ω-hydroxyalkoxy)alkyl-1: 3-dioxolans and -dioxans respectively.