Organocatalytic selective benzoylation of alcohols with trichloromethyl phenyl ketone: inverse selectivity in benzoylation of alcohols containing phenol or aromatic amine functionality

Trichloromethyl phenyl ketone benzoylates primary and secondary aliphatic alcoholic groups in compounds also containing a phenolic group in the presence of 2–10 mol % of PMDETA organocatalyst at room temperature in high yields and excellent selectivity. It also shows the potential to selectively benzoylate primary alcoholic groups of aminoarylalkanols and primary-secondary diols as well as primary amino group of alkyl amines in the presence of aryl amines under similar conditions. A rationale for the selectivity and efficiency of the reaction has been provided.