Monoacetylated alcohols of symmetric 1,n-diols are synthesized quantitatively by refluxing a suspension of the diols adsorbed on silica gel with acetylchloride.
Part 148 in the Series “Studies on Novel Synthetic Methodologies:” Selective Acetylation of Alcohols, Phenols and Amines and Selective Deprotection of Aromatic Acetates using Silica-Supported Phosphomolybdic Acid
efficient catalyst for the selective acetylation of alcohols, phenols and amines in the absence of any solvent and also for the chemoselective deprotection of aromatic acetates under very mild conditions. This method has been used for the protection of the hydroxy groups as well as for the deprotection of the acetates of several naturally occurring bioactive phenolic compounds. The catalyst can be easily
Several 1,n-diols, ranging from 1,2-ethanediol to 1,16-hexadecanediol, were monoacylated with high selectivity by reaction with esters in the presence of metal sulfates or hydrogen sulfates, like Ce(SO4)2 and NaHSO4, supported on silica gel. Symmetrical secondary diols were also selectively monoformylated, by reaction with ethyl formate. This method of selective esterification is simple and practical. The yield of monoester depends upon both the composition and the volume of the solvent (an ester/alkane mixture). Unsupported NaHSO4 also catalyzed monoacylation, but the selectivity was less than in monoacylations catalyzed by the supported reagent. The selectivity can be explained by the following reasons: (1) monoacylated products are formed selectively because the diol, but not the monoester, is preferentially adsorbed on the surface of the catalysts, where esterification then occurs, and (2) thin diol layers are formed on the surface of the catalysts due to limited solubility of the diols in the solvent.