Recyclable and selective Lewis acid catalysts for transesterification and direct esterification in a fluorous biphase system: tin(IV) and hafnium(IV) bis(perfluorooctanesulfonyl)amide complexes

Tin(IV) and hafnium(IV) bis(perfluorooctanesulfonyl)amide complexes were shown to give excellent yield and selectivity for highly practical transesterification and direct esterification, respectively, with an equimolar ratio of the reactants in a fluorous biphase system. It was found that these metal complexes were completely recovered and reused in the immobilized fluorous phase without loss of their catalytic activities.