Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemistry Xi'an-Jiaotong Liverpool University Suzhou Jiangsu Province 215123 PR China
2. Institute of Systems Molecular and Integrative Biology University of Liverpool Liverpool L69 7BE UK
3. Department of Chemistry University of Liverpool Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
Abstract
AbstractA rapid benzylation of carboxylic acids was achieved under vacuum conditions and assisted by a rotary evaporator using p‐toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. Unlike the conventional method that utilizes the Dean‐Stark setup, which typically takes several hours or longer, benzylation was completed in 30 minutes without a solvent. Furthermore, this method avoids using BnBr or acyl halide as starting material and generates water as the only byproduct. This protocol is featured by its high yield, high atom economy, fast reaction, broad substrate scope, and easy operation. The rotary evaporator is commonly seen in chemistry labs, and there is great potential for exploring rotavap‐assisted organic synthesis.