Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of acyloxy acetaldehydes of formula (I), wherein R can represent an alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkalyl, aklylheteroaryl or aralkyl radical which has been optionally substituted once or several times or a heterocycle or alkyl heterocycle which has been substituted once or several times, by reacting a compound of formula (II), wherein R has the meaning previously defined and M can be an alkali or alkaline earth atom, in an appropriate solvent with a compound of formula (III), wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a C1-C6-alkyl radical or together represent a C2-C6-alkyl radical and X represents a halogen atom, whereupon the correspondingly formed dialkylacetal of formula (IV), wherein R, R1 and R2 have the previously described meaning, undergoes acetal cleavage to obtain the desired acyloxy acetaldehyde of formula (I).