Ortho esters are readily hydrolyzed in mild aqueous acid to form esters:
: RC(OR′) + HO → RCOR′ + 2 R′OH
For example, trimethyl orthoformate CH(OCH) may be hydrolyzed (under acidic conditions) to methyl formate and methanol; and may be further hydrolyzed (under alkaline conditions) to salts of formic acid and methanol.