The Dynamic Covalent Chemistry of Esters, Acetals and Orthoesters

Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) is a vibrant research area that has extended its reach from supramolecular chemistry into fields as diverse as bioconjugation, materials science and systems chemistry. Because DCC crucially rests on reversible organic reactions, considerable effort has been invested in the development of new reactions of this type and the identification of new methods for facilitating existing processes. Our group has recently reported that orthoester exchange is a previously overlooked reversible reaction that is in principle suited for many applications of DCC. This microreview gives an overview on our ongoing work on orthoester exchange, and puts it into the context of previous studies on the related dynamic covalent chemistry of esters and acetals.