Esterification and Etherification of Aliphatic Alcohols Enabled by Catalytic Strain-Release of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropane.

We herein disclose a highly efficient protocol for the esterification and etherification of alcohols, leveraging a Sc(OTf) 3 -catalyzed ring-strain release event in the meticulously designed, chromatographically stable mixed anhydrides or benzyl esters that incorporate an intramolecular donor-acceptor cyclopropane (DAC). This versatile method facilitates the straightforward functionalization of sugar, terpene, and steroid alcohols under mild acidic conditions, as showcased by the single-catalyst-driven, dual protection of sugar diol.