Four acid-catalysed dehydration reactions proceed without interference

Abstract

Four acid-catalysed dehydration reactions can proceed in one pot, simultaneously and without interference, to yield one imine, one acetal (or boronic ester), one ester and one alkene, even though many other cross-products could be conceived. This advanced self-sorting behaviour is attributed to different dehydration rates, brought about by dissimilar electronic properties of starting materials.