Microwave-Assisted Esterification of Diverse Carboxylic Acids and Chiral Amino Acids

Abstract

A facile and efficient synthetic method of esters from their corresponding carboxylic acids and amino acids is described. The esterification reaction of carboxylic acids and amino acids could be greatly accelerated under microwave irradiation because the reactions described in this article took place in only 5 min with almost quantitative yields, and distinct acidity of catalytic acids was well tolerated. Unlike the racemation problem in microwave-assisted N-acylation reactions, the esters of chiral amino acids could be achieved with retention of configuration under this condition.

Keywords:

• Chiral amino acids
• esterification
• microwave-assisted
• retention of configuration

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by the National “863” Program (Grant No. 2007AA02Z307) and the Innovation Program for the Postgraduates in Jiangsu Province.