Hydrogen bromide and
hydrogen chloride catalyse the decomposition of methyl trimethylacetate
into isobutene, carbon monoxide, and methanol at 370-442� and 450-48O�,
respectively. The kinetic form, which is basically 1 : 1, is severely modified
by the effect of methanol either produced in the reaction or added initially.
Water or alcohols react with an intermediate in the catalysed decomposition of trimethylacetic acid or its methyl ester in esterification-like reactions; some of the resultant esters
subsequently decompose to olefin and acid.