A mild and efficient method for formation of methyleneacetals from 1,2- and 1,3-diols using methoxymethylphenylsulfide, 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH), and dibutylhydroxytoluene (BHT) is described. The use of BHT in this process suppresses side reactions and enables high-yielding formation of methyleneacetals of various diols, including carbohydrate-type substrates.
A novel transformation reaction of methyleneacetals, using a combination of trimethyl(phenylthio)silane (PhSTMS) and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) under mild reaction conditions, is described. Various methyleneacetals were converted to their corresponding bromoformates in good to high yields. Under the given conditions, the reaction proceeded via a radical pathway. Further transformation of bromoformates