Diethoxymethyl acetate was used in the synthesis of D-mannosyl, D-galactosyl and D-glucosyl theophylline nucleosides.
Diethoxymethyl acetate can be best prepared from triethyl orthoformate and formic acid/acetic anhydride.
Diethoxymethyl acetate reacts with 5-amino-6-ribitylaminouracil hydrochloride to yield 6-dioxo-(1H,3H)-9-N-ribitylpurine.
Diethoxymethyl acetate is sensitive to moisture and should be handled and stored under dry conditions. At temperatures above 120 °C it decomposes into ethyl acetate and ethyl formate.
