A method for synchronizing two communication networks of an electronic data-processing system, each of the networks including one or more respective nodes, may include establishing for each of the networks a respective time schedule that establishes at least one respective time slot for a respective synchronization message. The protecting group of the invention stabilizes the dioxolenium ion and prevents orthoester formation to promote the \u03b2 linkage and inhibit the undesirable a linkage. Exhaust gas constituents in the mixed exhaust gas can then be sensed with higher accuracy by downstream exhaust gas sensors.