Thermal decomposition of oxalate diesters in the presence of iodine
Abstract
Dialkyl oxalates decomposed in the presence of iodine at temperatures at which the pure diesters were stable. Dioctadecanyl, dicyclohexyl, and di-1-adamantyl oxalate gave the corresponding iodides, whereas dibenzyl oxalate gave diphenylmethane. The mechanism of the iodine-induced decomposition of dialkyl oxalates is discussed.