Classical carbonium ions. Part III. The preparation and acetolysis of some alkyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl ethers

A generally applicable method is described for converting alcohols, including a variety of tertiary alcohols, into their 2,4-dinitrophenyl ethers, and other methods are reviewed. The acetolysis of a number of these compounds is shown to proceed by a mechanism similar to that for secondary alkyl picrates; these two sets of derivatives thus allow comparison between the behaviour of tertiary and secondary cationic fragments.