Photochemical Ethoxycarbonylmethylation of Toluene with Ethyl Chloroacetate

UV irradiation of a toluene solution of ethyl chloroacetate under N2 gave an isomeric mixture of ethyl tolylacetates: ortho, 5.2%, meta, 9.6%, para, 0.9% and a trace of diethyl succinate. The reaction under air increased the yields of all the products. Addition of AlCl3 also increased the yields, especially that of ortho; i. e.; 17.9%; meta, 26.5%; para, 10.6%.