Simple, mild, and practical esterification, thioesterification, and amide formation utilizing p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and N-methylimidazole

We have developed an efficient method for the esterification or thioesterification of equimolar amounts of carboxylic acids and alcohols or thiols using a novel reagent, p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl) together with N-methylimidazole. The present method is simple, mild, and reactive, uses readily available and economical reagents. The choice of amine is critical for the present method. The amine. N-methylimidazole, has two roles: (i) as an HCl scavenger for the initial smooth generation of mixed anhydrides between carboxylic acids and TsCl and (ii) successive formation of highly reactive ammonium intermediates from mixed anhydrides. This method could be applied to various types of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and thiols: a) several functionalities were tolerated; b) two N-Cbz amino acids were smoothly esterified without racemization; and c) the labile 1beta-methylcarbapenem key intermediate and a pyrethroid insecticide, prallethrin, were successfully prepared. The related amide formation between carboxylic acids and primary or secondary amines was also performed. The proposed reaction mechanism involves a novel method for producing the reactive acylammonium intermediates. The production of these intermediates was rationally supported by a careful H-1 NMR monitoring study.