Methyl α-bromoacrylate can undergo radical copolymerization with vinyl triacetoxysilane (VTAS) in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Dibromocyclopropanation of methyl α-bromoacrylate can yield methyl 1,1,2-tribromocyclopropanecarboxylate. It may be reduced with zinc dust and deuterium oxide to synthesize. Methyl acrylate-α-d with a high isotopic purity. These may undergo conjugate addition with methoxide, thiolates, oxime anions, hydrazones and EtZnCl to afford ester enolates.
