Selective catalytic transesterification, transthiolesterification, and protection of carbonyl compounds over natural kaolinitic clay

Transesterification and transthiolesterification of beta-keto esters with variety of alcohols and thiols and selective protection of carbonyl functions with various protecting groups catalyzed by natural kaolinitic clay are described. The clay has been found to be an efficient catalyst in transesterifying long chain alcohols, unsaturated alcohols, and phenols to give their corresponding beta-keto esters in high yields. For the first time, transthiolesterification of beta-keto esters with a variety of thiols has been achieved under catalytic conditions. Clay also catalyzes selective transesterification of beta-keto esters by primary alcohols in the presence of secondary and tertiary alcohols giving corresponding beta-keto esters. A systematic study involving the reactivity of different nucleophiles (alcohols, amines, and thiols) toward beta-keto esters is also described. Sterically hindered carbonyl groups as well as alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl groups underwent protection without the deconjugation of the double bond. Chemoselective protection of aldehydes in the presence of ketones has also been achieved over natural kaolinitic clay.