DCID-mediated esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols under mild conditions

DCID (Dichloroimidazolidinedione) 2 is used as a novel coupling reagent for the esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols at room temperature. The reaction represents the first DCID-promoted esterification under mild conditions with good to excellent yields. Reactions can proceed smoothly with those bearing electron-withdrawing and donating group(s) on the carboxylic acids and benzyl alcohols at ambient temperature. Furthermore, we proposed a plausible mechanism and confirmed it by isolating and characterizing intermediates 3a and 7. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by comparison of melting points and NMR spectra.