One step conversion of tert-butyl ester to corresponding acyl chloride by thionyl chloride using water-free acetonitrile as solvent

A novel one-step protocol for the preparation of acyl chlorides directly from tert -butyl esters is described. The method employs anhydrous acetonitrile as the reaction medium and thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) as the chlorinating agent, facilitating the transformation under mild conditions to afford the target products in nearly quantitative yields. The reaction exhibits broad substrate scope, delivering excellent yields across a range of substrates. Notably, the simplicity, operational efficiency, and inherent safety of this procedure position it as a compelling alternative to existing methods for the synthesis of acyl chloride. A mechanism involving a Ritter-driven pathway is proposed to rationalize the conversion.