Patent ID: 6992209

Claim:
A method of forming an alpha-acetoxy compound comprising: providing a reactant comprising an alpha-hydroxyl group and having the formula wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H and hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein each of R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and heteroatom substituted hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and wherein if R 2 is methyl, at least one of R 4 and R 3 is other than H; providing acetic acid; reacting the alpha-hydroxyl group with the acetic acid to form an alpha-acetoxy compound; and collecting the alpha-acetoxy compound.