Hydrolysis of a-haloethers

Reactions of a-haloethers in aqueous medium has been reviewed recently . The reactions in water are extremely rapid and in general precise kinetic data is not available. For example, it is estimated that methyl chloromethyl ether undergoes hydrolysis 10 times faster than n-propyl chloride . The rapidity of the reactions of a-haloethers is attributed to resonance stabilization of the transition state according to the structures 

RATE COEFFICIENTS FOR THE REARRANGEMENT OF ALLYL p-TOLYL ETHER IN SEVERAL SOLVENTS AT 184.85 

Estimated from relative rates in solvents containing dioxane. 

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