Methylation of Polyols with Trimethylphosphate in the Presence of a Lewis or Brønsted Acid Catalyst

Abstract

The alkylation of alcohols and polyols has been investigated with alkylphosphates in the presence of a Lewis or Brønsted acid catalyst. The permethylation of polyols was developed under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C with either iron triflate or Aquivion PW98, affording the isolated products in yields between 52 and 95 %. The methodology was also adjusted to carry out peralkylation with longer alkyl chains.