Silver(I)-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols, Carbon Dioxide and Monohydric Alcohols: Thermodynamically Feasible Access to β-Oxopropyl Carbonates.

Abstract

A silver(I)-catalyzed three-component reaction of propargylic alcohols, CO2 , and monohydric alcohols was successfully developed for the synthesis of β-oxopropyl carbonates. As such, a series of β-oxopropyl carbonates were exclusively produced in excellent yields (up to 98 %), even under atmospheric pressure of CO2 . The silver catalyst works efficiently for both the carboxylative cyclization of propargylic alcohols with CO2 and subsequent transesterification of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates with monohydric alcohols; thus this tandem process performs smoothly under mild conditions. This work provides a versatile and thermodynamically favorable approach to dissymmetric dialkyl carbonates.