[affa]

It is common to use triethyl orthoacetate to react with allylic alcohol in the presence of propanoic acid catalyst to do the title rearrangement.

Have anyone tried to use trimethyl orthoacetate instead? I wonder if the boiling point of the orthoacetate really the matter (triethyl one is 142 ^oC vs. trimethyl one is 107 ^oC)!

In addition, 2 equiv of ethanol will be formed in the course of rearrangement. Is it necessary to get rid of the ethanol to drive the reaction to completion (e.g. distill off)?

Thank for any comments!