Efficient and mild Ytterbium(III)-catalyzed tosylation of alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-2004-815998

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.