Ind. Eng. Chem. hod. Res. Dev. 21, 87-93 (1982) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/chloromethylation.benzene-trioxane-zncl2-hcl.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/chloromethylation.benzene-trioxane-zncl2-hcl.pdf)J. Org. Chem., Vol. 41, No. 9, pp. 1627-1631 (1976) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/chloromethylation.methylene-synthon-comparison.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/chloromethylation.methylene-synthon-comparison.pdf)Ind. Eng. Chem. 39(8), 974-977 (1947) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/trioxane-formaldehyde.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/trioxane-formaldehyde.pdf)Chloromethylation of Benzene and Alkylbenzenes with Bis(chloromethyl) Ether, 1,4-Bis(chloromethoxy)butane, 1-Chloro-4-chloromethoxybutane, and Formaldehyde Derivatives
So am I correct in thinking that all they did in this ref was do a normal chloromethylation, but use GAA as the solvent, trioxane as the formaldehyde source, and SnCl4 as the acid catalyst, and then just bubble in HCl as usual?
I like this little idea, considering that trioxane can be had in the form of fuel tablets for about $15US for 3.5kg.