Preparation of Trimethylsilyl Enol Ether 4. Triethylamine (377 mL, 2.7 mol) was added to a solution of isobutyraldehyde (180 mL, 2 mol) and chlorotrimethylsilane (372 mL, 2.6 mol) in dimethylformamide (650 mL). The mixture was refluxed at 95 °C for 20 h. After filtration, the solid was washed with pentane. The combined organic solution (2.5 L) was washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (4X2 L). The organic layer was dried and fractionally distilled to give 178 g (61.5%) trimethylsilyl enol ether 4, bp 108-120 °C.Preparation of 3-(Phenylthio)-2,2-dimethylpropanal (12). To a solution of trimethylsilyl enol ether 4 (30 g, 20.8 mmol) and chloromethyl phenyl sulfide (11; 30 g, 18.9 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (200 mL) was added anhydrous zinc bromide (500 mg). After being stirred for 30 min, the solution was poured into an ice cold sodium chloride solution (500 mL) and extracted once more with dichloromethane (200 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation to dryness and distillation gave 12: 33 g (82%); bp 115 °C (1.7 mm).