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.
ytterbium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate - alcohols - catalysis - tosylation - Lewis acids