Alkylation of malonic ester with. beta. -chloroethyl vinyl ether

The conditions for the alkylation of malonic ester with ..beta..-chloroethyl vinyl ether were determined. It was shown that during hydrolysis the alkylation product is converted into ..gamma..-butyrolactone or 3-ethoxycarbonyl-..gamma..-butyrolactone, depending on the conditions. The bromination of the alkylation product takes place not at the active hydrogen atom but at the double bond. The action of bases on the obtained dibromide leads to intramolecular alkylation, and this leads to cyclic derivatives of acetoacetic ester.