Practical preparations of dichloromethyl alkyl ethers are described, based on the reaction of alkyl formates with oxalyl chloride in the presence of N-methylformanilide. The method involves a simple procedure that does not require the use of harmful reagents. Dichloromethyl propyl and dichloromethyl butyl ethers represent secure synthetic equivalents to dichloromethyl methyl ether. Formylations of both electron-deficient and electron-rich aromatics with these dichloromethyl alkyl ethers in the presence of AlCl3, FeCl3, or TiCl4 have been systematically investigated. A plausible mechanism of formylation is discussed.