Methyl esters are widely utilized as flavoring agents, medicines and renewable fuels. Traditionally, methyl esters are derived from the methyl esterification of carboxylic acids which are commonly derived from the oxidation of a primary alcohol with stoichiometric reagents. Recently, a number of methods for the oxidative coupling of primary alcohols with MeOH have been pursued, but the majority of these methods are limited to activated substrates (e.g. benzylic alcohols). We have recently developed a readily accessible heterogeneous catalyst system that achieves efficient oxidative esterification of primary alcohols under mild conditions in MeOH as the solvent. This catalyst is composed of heterogeneous palladium in combination with main-group element promoters (Bi and Te). This catalytic oxidative esterification protocol exhibits the the broadest substrate scope and functional group tolerance reported to date.

Efficient aerobic oxidative esterification of primary alcohols with a heterogeneous Pd catalyst

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.