AgOTf‐catalyzed transesterification of β‐keto esters

AgOTf proved to be an effective catalyst for the transesterification of β ‐keto esters with primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The products were obtained in high yield within a reasonable reaction time period. The kinetics of the transesterification reaction were also studied and the reaction was found to follow second‐order kinetics. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.