Synthesis 2004(6): 885-888  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815998
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Efficient and Mild Ytterbium(III)-Catalyzed Tosylation of Alcohols

Slobodan Comagic, Ralf Schirrmacher*
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry, University of Mainz , Fritz Strassmann-Weg 2, 55128 Mainz, Germany
e-Mail: schirrmacher@mail.kernchemie.uni-mainz.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 27 December 2003
Publication Date:
04 March 2004 (online)

Abstract

Ytterbium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate efficiently catalyzes the reaction of primary and secondary alcohols with toluenesulfonic acid anhydride to yield the alkyl tosylates in high yields. The reactions were carried out under neutral and mild conditions and product purification was easily achieved by means of short column chromatography.