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Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile
Published on: October 30, 2018
An Electrochemical Design for Catalytic Dehydration: Direct, Room-Temperature Esterification without Acid or Base
Jian Han1, Christopher A Haines1, Jacob J Piane1
1Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
Abstract:
An electrochemical approach has been leveraged to underpin a new conceptual platform for dehydration reactions, which has been demonstrated in the context of esterification. Esters were prepared from the corresponding acid and alcohol partners at room temperature without acid or base additives and without consuming stoichiometric reagents. This methodology therefore addresses key complications that plague esterification and dehydration reactions more broadly and that represent a leading challenge in synthetic chemistry.
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