Stereoselective Esterification of Aldehydes with β-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Significance

Most common methods to synthesize esters arise from activating an acid and reacting it with an alcohol. However, it is also possible to start from an aldehyde and an alcohol using transition metals in a dehydrogenative process. In the present paper, the authors describe the use of β-dicarbonyls as an alcohol alternative and apply conditions similar to those used in their cross-dehydrogenative coupling of allylic C-H bonds with activated methylene compounds (Z. Li., C.-J. Li J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 56-57).