Esterification of the Primary Benzylic C-H Bonds with Carboxylic Acids Catalyzed by Ionic Iron(III) Complexes Containing an Imidazolinium Cation

The first iron-catalyzed esterification of the primary benzylic C-H bonds with carboxylic acids using di-tert-butyl peroxide as an oxidant is achieved by novel ionic iron(III) complexes containing an imidazolinium cation. The use of well-defined, air-stable, and available iron(III) complex in a 5 mol % loading and readily available starting materials with a broad generality and outstanding sterically hindered tolerance renders this methodology a useful alternative to other protocols that are typically employed for the synthesis of benzyl esters.