A Simple and Efficient Method for Direct Acylation of Acetals with Long Alkyl-Chain Carboxylic Acid Anhydrides

We have developed an efficient and simple method for direct transformation of acetals to carboxylic acid esters. The method consists of treatment of acetals with carboxylic anhydrides in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate as a catalyst and affords the corresponding ester derivatives in high yields with retention of configuration in the alcohol moiety. Some mechanistic aspects of this synthetically useful transformation are also discussed.