Dichloromethyl alkyl ethers and sulfides in the Reformatskii reaction

A study was carried out on the reaction of dichloromethyl alkyl ethers and sulfides with ..cap alpha..-brominated esters in the presence of zinc resulting in the formation of either ..cap alpha..-alkyl-..beta..-alkoxyacrylates (or ..cap alpha..-alkyl-..beta..-alkylthioacrylates) or ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..',..cap alpha..'-tetramethyl-..beta..-alkoxyglutaric acid (or ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..',..cap alpha..'-tetramethyl-..beta..-alkylthioglutaric acid) depending on the structure of the starting bromoester. PMR and IR spectroscopy indicates the geometry of the ..cap alpha..-alkyl-..beta..-alkoxyacrylates and ..cap alpha..-alkyl-..beta..-alkylthioacrylates.