Efficient Nucleophilic Substitution of α-Aryl Alcohols with 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by Tin Ion-Exchanged Montmorillonite

Tin ion-exchanged montmorillonite demonstrated the high catalytic activity for the direct nucleophilic substitution of a hydroxyl group in α-aryl alcohols with various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds including less acidic 1,3-diesters in crude solvents to afford the benzylated products accompanied by water.