3 forms an anion of formula iv which is in turn converted to a compound of formula v by treatment in refluxing nh 3 with a halide of formula x y wherein x is cl or br preferably cl a compound of formula v is treated with excess h 2 o 2 and formic acid at about room temperature with cooling after completion of the reaction the mixture is rendered alkaline by treating with a base the so prepared tetrol of formula vi is converted to the final compound of formula i by treatment with the appropriate esterifying agent in the presence of an acidic catalyst such as hclo 4 with cooling str17 an alternate procedure is to react a compound of formula iv with an epoxide of formula vii in the presence of an alkali metal amide in refluxing ammonia to yield a compound of formula viii in the compound of formula vii r 9 is alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbons phenyl h alkyl of 1 4 carbons substituted by phenyl or phenoxy or by a substituted phenyl or phenoxy radical wherein the substituent is halogen amino alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbons or dialkyl amino wherein each alkyl radical is from 1 to 4 carbon atoms the compound of formula viii is then converted to the halide of formula ix wherein x is chlorine or bromine and the latter compound in turn is converted to the compound of formula x by conventional techniques the compound of formula x is then.