Efficient esterification of carboxylic acids and phosphonic acids with trialkyl orthoacetate in ionic liquid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2005.09.147

An operationally simple, inexpensive, efficient, and environmentally friendly esterification of various carboxylic acids, phosphonic acids, and phosphinic acids with triethyl orthoacetate or trimethyl orthoacetate under neutral conditions in a typical room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, was successfully carried out to provide the corresponding ethyl esters or methyl esters in high yields.