A Convenient Procedure for Esterification of Carboxylic Acids

Abstract A variety of carboxylic acids including simple acids, sterically hindered acids, thermally unstable acids and N-protected amino acids react with alkyl halides in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in benzene to give esters in good yields. The reaction is simple, affording a general method for esterification of carboxylic acids.