A facile synthesis of α,α,ω,ω-tetrahalo-α,ω-dicarboxylic esters

The synthesis of some α,α,ω,ω-tetrachloro and tetrabromo-derivatives of the hypolipidemic 3,3,14,14-tetramethylhexadecanedioic acid from α,ω-dihalo-esters, carbon tetrahalides and lithium diisopropyl amide has been described. Interaction of α,ω-dichloro esters with CBr₄ was shown to give the expected α,ω-dibromo-α,ω-dichloro compounds, but treatment of bis(l-methylethyl) 2,15-dibromo-3,3,14,14-tetramethylhexa-decanedioatewith CCl₄ was found to result in halogen exchange yielding the tetrachloro-diester as the major product.