Mild Method for the Selective Esterification of Carboxylic Adds Based on the Garegg-Samuelsson Reaction

A mild method for the selective esterification of primary alcohols is described. The use of different phosphines, I-2, and imidazole allows the selective esterification: of a wide variety of acids with excellent results. The generation of a bulky phosphonitun-carboxylate salt as intermediate could justify the selectivity observed in this process. Additionally, amides also can be synthesized with use of this method.