Diphenylmethyl trichloroacetimidate is a useful reagent for the protection of carboxylic
acids as their corresponding diphenylmethyl esters. These esterifications proceed
rapidly without the need for an added catalyst or promoter. A variety of carboxylic
acid substrates undergo esterification in excellent yields with the trichloroacetimidate
reagent, including substrates possessing acid- or base-sensitive functionality. Protection
of a carboxylic acid with a highly enolizable α-stereocenter using diphenylmethyl
imidate was also accomplished without racemization.
Key words
esters - protecting groups - C–O bond formation - chemoselectivity - esterification