When a solution of 1 a in carbon tetrachloride was stirred with N-brornosuccinimide (1.2 equivalents), work up of the reaction mixture yielded the corresponding or-bromokctene S, S- acetal 2 a in 98% yield. Compounds 2b—h were similarly obtained from the respective 1 b-- h in 94 98 0/1) overall yields. When 22: was heated with copper (l) cyanide in N-methyl-2- pyrrolidonei', the corresponding oz-cyanoketenc S, S-acetal