Mild Method for the Selective Esterification of Carboxylic Acids Based on the Garegg−Samuelsson Reaction

Abstract

A mild method for the selective esterification of primary alcohols is described. The use of different phosphines, I(2), and imidazole allows the selective esterification of a wide variety of acids with excellent results. The generation of a bulky phosphonium-carboxylate salt as intermediate could justify the selectivity observed in this process. Additionally, amides also can be synthesized with use of this method.