Chloroacetaldehyde dialkyl acetals are versatile intermediates in the synthesis of compounds of biological significance. The commonly used methods for their preparation involve the alcoholysis of 1, 2dichloro-l-alkoxyethanes,'chlorine addition and alcoholysis of vinyl chlorid $ or vinyl alkyl ethers? addition of alkoxy halides to vinyl alkyl ethers," acetalization of chloroa~ etaldehyde,~ chlorination of ethanol? and electrolysis of ethanol ...