Abstract
Treatment of the dichlorides t-C4H9CH2CHCl2 and E-ClCH2CH[dbnd]CHCH2Cl with a suspension of powdered potassium hydroxide in high-boiling petroleum at elevated temperatures in the presence of Aliquat-336 and pinacol gives t-butylacetylene and vinylacetylene in high yields. Vinylacetylene is also obtainable by treating E-ClCH2CH[dbnd]CHCH2Cl with a concentrated aqueous solution of KOH in the presence of Aliquat-336.