TiCl4/Et3N-Mediated Condensation of Acetate and Formate Esters: Direct Access to β-Alkoxy- and β-Aryloxyacrylates.

A methodology to build (E)-β-alkoxy- and (E)-β-aryloxyacrylate moieties from acetate and formate esters promoted by the TiCl4/Et3N system is presented. The reaction is compatible with a broad range of structural skeletons and elapses through an unusual condensation pathway. Taking into account the obtained results, we propose a plausible mechanism involving a bimetallic titanium intermediate for this type of transformation.