Bismuth(III) Triflate: A Safe and Easily Handled Precursor for Triflic Acid: Application to the Esterification Reaction

Abstract

A series of carboxylic acids were converted into their corresponding methyl esters using bismuth(III) triflate as a catalyst in methanol. Good to excellent yields were obtained for different aliphatic or aromatic starting materials. In the reaction, bismuth triflate acts as a precursor that, upon hydrolysis, liberates sufficient triflic acid to catalyze the esterification.

Keywords:

• Bismuth triflate
• carboxylic acid
• esterification

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors are grateful to the Ministère de l'Enseignement et de la Recherche Scientifique for financial support (F. H. A. K).

Notes

^a Yields for isolated compounds.

^b Percentage conversion estimated by ¹H NMR.

^c Molecular sieves (MS) were activated at 150 °C under strong vacuum.

^a Yields for isolated compounds.

^b Percentage conversion estimated by ¹H NMR.