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

A synthesis of new ''alkoxymethyl carbonate'' is presented starting with alcohol. In the presence of potassium carbonate, primary alcohols react with chloromethyl alkyl ethers in N,N-dimethylformamide under mild conditions to give the corresponding alkoxymethyl carbonates in good yields without giving the alkoxymethyl ethers. The yield of alkoxymethyl carbonate is seriously effected by reaction solvent and the present method is not applicable for tertiary alcohol. Methoxymethyl carbonate can be removed readily under mild basic or acidic conditions, and undergoes selective alkoxide interchange of methoxymethoxide group under basic conditions.