Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-18-2013

Publication Title

The Journal of Organic Chemistry

Abstract

Although methylation reactions are commonplace, currently used reagents are hazardous, toxic, and/or unstable. Dimethylcarbonate has been put forth as an inexpensive, nontoxic, and “green” potential methylating reagent. Herein we report a general, base-catalyzed methyl transfer from dimethylcarbonate to carboxylic acids. High selectivity for esterification is observed even in the presence of unprotected phenols, and the mild reaction conditions enable conservation of stereochemistry at epimerizable stereocenters. Isotope-labeling studies suggest a mechanism proceeding by direct methyl transfer from dimethylcarbonate to the substrate.

Volume

78

Issue

22

First Page

11606

Last Page

11611

DOI

10.1021/jo401941v

Rights

“This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Organic Chemistry, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jo401941v

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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