Newton JJ, Britton R, Friesen CM. Base-Catalyzed Transesterification of Thionoesters.
J Org Chem 2018;
83:12784-12792. [PMID:
30235418 DOI:
10.1021/acs.joc.8b02260]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Here we report a convenient synthesis of thionoesters by base-catalyzed transesterification. Benzyl and alkyl thionobenzoates and thionoheterobenzoates were efficiently prepared using various alcohols catalyzed by the corresponding sodium alkoxide. This methodology features a broad substrate scope, good to excellent yields, short reaction times, while simultaneously driving the reaction toward completion through the removal of the methanol byproduct. We also report the conversion of a small collection of thionobenzoates into the corresponding α,α-difluorobenzyl ethers to demonstrate the conversion of alcohols into difluorobenzyl or difluoroheterobenzyl ethers, a process that could prove useful for lead optimization in medicinal chemistry.
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