[InCl4]: An efficient catalyst-medium for alkoxymethylation of alcohols and their interconversion to acetates and TMS-ethers

Abstract

A simple, green and chemoselective method for methoxymethylation and ethoxymethylation of primary and secondary alcohols using a Lewis acidic room temperature ionic liquid, [C4mim][InCl4], as catalyst and reaction medium under ambient temperature, microwave and ultrasonic irradiations is reported. In this catalytic system, the corresponding MOM-and EOM-ethers are obtained in excellent yields and in short reaction times. Furthermore, this catalytic system was used for mild and efficient transformations of these protected alcohols to their corresponding acetates and trimethylsilyl ethers under thermal conditions and microwave and ultrasonic irradiations. © 2010 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.