The esterification of tertiary alcohols with boric acid

Abstract The reaction between tertiary alcohols and boric acid has been investigated and esterification has been shown to occur using an azeotropic‐distillation method. However, all reaction products decomposed on attempted purification. The rate of esterification of tertiary alcohols is much slower than that of primary or secondary alcohols. The separation of alcohols from mixtures using direct esterification with boric acid is thus applicable to tertiary as well as primary and secondary alcohols. The scope of this method of separation has been studied and it was shown that whereas enols interfere, esters and acids do not. Moreover, the separation must be conducted below about 110° if tertiary alcohols are present.