Regiospecific Preparation of Primary Allyl Acetates (2-Alkenyl Acetates) The reaction of primary, secondary and tertiary allyl alcohols 1 with anhydrous magnesium iodide in benzene gives regiospecifically the primary allyl iodides 2. The corresponding primary allyl acetates 3 are obtained regiospecifically by reaction of 2 with anhydrous sodium acetate in dimethylformamide.