Source:Tetrahedron, Volume 73, Issue 52
Author(s): Yongke Hu, Bindong Li
A highly efficient palladium-catalyzed approach for the direct oxidative esterification of benzylic alcohols with methanol and long-chain aliphatic alcohols under mild conditions has been achieved. This practical catalyst system exhibits a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. Catalytic amount of Bi(OTf)3 is used as co-catalyst to improve the activity and selectivity of the reactions. A variety of esters are obtained in yields of 43–96%.