Esterification of Aryl/Alkyl Acids Catalysed by

Area of Science:

• Organic Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• N-halosuccinimides (NXSs) are common halogenation reagents.
• Direct esterification is a crucial transformation in organic synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most effective NXS catalyst for direct esterification.
• To develop a metal-free, efficient, and scalable esterification protocol.

Main Methods:

• Screening of various N-halosuccinimides (NXSs) as catalysts.
• Direct esterification of aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids under neat conditions.
• Optimization of reaction parameters for efficiency and selectivity.

Main Results:

• N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) demonstrated superior catalytic activity and selectivity.
• High yields (up to 100%) achieved for a wide range of aromatic and alkyl esters.
• The protocol is metal-free, air- and moisture-tolerant, facilitating simple isolation and scale-up.

Conclusions:

• N-bromosuccinimide is an excellent catalyst for direct esterification.
• The developed method offers a sustainable and efficient route to ester synthesis.
• A catalyst recycling protocol was successfully proposed.