A Simple Method for O-Alkylation of Carboxylic Acids and Phenol Derivatives by Use of Trialkyl Phosphites and Benzyl Azide Mixtures

Torii, S.; Okumoto, H.; Fujikawa, M.; Rashid, M. A. Chem. Express 1992, 7, 937.

An efficient O-alkylation method of carboxylic acids and phenol derivatives upon treatment with trialkyl phosphites and benzyl azide in refluxing THF under neutral conditions is described. Secondary as well as primary alkyl phosphites could be utilized to give the corresponding esters without loss of optical purity of carboxylic acid.