Simple Method for the Esterification of Carboxylic Acids

Addition of 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) accelerates the dicyclohexylcarbo‐diimide (DCC)‐activated esterification of carboxylic acids to such an extent that side reactions are eliminated and even sensitive acids such 2,5‐cyclohexadiene‐1‐carboxylic acid readily form the tert ‐butyl ester. DMAP has so far been used mainly as acylation catalyst. equation image