Highly efficient and selective methoxymethylation of alcohols and phenols catalyzed by reusable ZrO(OTf)2 under solvent-free conditions

Abstract

Different primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols were efficiently converted to their corresponding methoxymethyl ethers with formaldehyde dimethyl acetal in the presence of catalytic amounts of ZrO(OTf)2 at room temperature. Phenols were also methoxymethylated by this catalytic system. Advantages of using this catalytic system are the short reaction times, easy catalyst preparation, high product yield, solvent-free conditions, applicability for both alcohols and phenols, and reusability of the catalyst. © Springer-Verlag 2010.