Bi(III) as new catalyst for the selective hydrolysis of esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)00538-8

The selective hydrolysis of esters has been carried out in a reaction catalyzed by Bi(III)-mandelate in DMSO. The reaction is specific of aryl esters. Competition tests resulted in the quantitative hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate in the presence of ethyl benzoate or other aryl acetates.