Sorry for not replying earlier, i just missed this post.
so...
I suggest you stick to the S-and-Cl2 and Na acetate route described in that another (UTFSE) post of mine now archived on Rhodium's - i copied it verbatim from a good old chembook.
Chloroacetic acid is formed when AcOH is boiled in light w/S or red P and bubbling chlorine. Chloroacetyl chloride is also formed. This reaction, i believe, proceeds via a free-radical mechanism.
If no catalyst is used, only acetyl chloride forms under the same conditions. However, it quickly reacts w/the acid to form anhydride.
If the reaction of sulfur, chlorine and
sodium salt of AcOH is performed under milder conditions, however, the mechanism is altogether different. First disulfur dichloride is formed from rxn of sulfur and chlorine. Then S2Cl2 reacts w/NaAcO to form NaCl and acetyl disulfide. The latter is unstable and decomposes at ~80-90 C to AcOAc, SO2 and 3 sulfurs.
I hope that answers your question, oh thou, the exquisite flower of the faraway misty cliffs...
Antoncho
P.S. Oh, yeah. BTW. By now constructing new equipment has beecome SWIM's second name
- this not only develops one's imagination and technical and creative skills, but also makes life gradually more and more pleasant, as the said equipment accumulates and begins to pay back for the efforts spent in making it
. Really.