Synfacts 2009(1): 0081-0081  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087444
Metal-Mediated Synthesis
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

ZnO-Catalyzed Transesterification of
β-Keto Esters

Contributor(s): Paul Knochel, Andrei Gavryushin
À. Pericas, A. Shafir, A. Vallribera*
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 December 2008 (online)

Significance

β-Keto esters are among the most important building blocks in organic chemistry. This article describes a very simple and efficient method for the transesterification of these compounds with a variety of alcohols under mild conditions. Sterically hindered alcohols, like 1-adamantanol, as well as sensitive alcohols like propyn-1-ol react equally smoothly, giving high yields of new keto esters, otherwise difficult to prepare.