Influence of co-solvents in the highly efficient selective monohydrolysis of a symmetric diester

The influence of the co-solvents in the selective monohydrolysis of a symmetric diester, in an aqueous NaOH medium at 0 °C, has been examined. The reactions were found to proceed through reaction media consisting of water with a small amount of a co-solvent and the starting symmetric diester. Slightly polar aprotic solvents that are slightly miscible with water, such as THF and acetonitrile, were found to be effective co-solvents.