Use of Diethoxymethane as a Solvent for Phase-Transfer Esterification of Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

The esterification of carboxylic acids with selected primary alkyl halides in diethoxymethane (DEM) utilizing solid–liquid phase-transfer catalysis has been studied. The use of DEM as the solvent simplifies the process in that a single solvent can be used for both reaction and workup.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Diethoxymethane
• esterification
• phase-transfer catalysis

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author thanks Louise Sandefur, Dimmick Bymaster, and Tim Oster for helpful comments on this manuscript. The author also thanks the FutureFuel Chemical Company Analytical Department for NMR and GC support.