Abstract
A convenient method for the preparation of methyl 1-chloro-2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate (2a), which appears to be a versatile intermediate in organic syntheses, is described. Methyl 2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate (1a) was chlorinated with sulfuryl chloride under mild conditions to give 1-chloro-2-oxoester (2a) in an excellent yield. Analogous compounds (2b) and (4) were also prepared by the same chlorination of 2-oxoesters (1b) and (3), respectively.
