A novel method for the preparation of a, a-dichloro ketones has been found involving the reaction of acetylenes with N-chlorosuccinimide in methanol to give the dihalodimethyl ketals which are readily hydrolyzed with dilute acid to the ketones. The scope of the reaction appears to be of a general nature giving the ketones in 6040% yields. The products were characterized by their proton nmr spectra.
