Lewis Acid Catalysis in Water with a Hydrophilic Substrate: Scandium‐Catalyzed Hydroxymethylation with Aqueous Formaldehyde in Water

Synthesis in deep water: For the title reaction, which proceeds with high selectivities, acid–base interactions between the Sc catalyst and HCHO are important. The reaction was used in the synthesis of an odorant to demonstrate its utility (see scheme; ligand DS not shown; PI-Pd=polymer-incarcerated palladium; BTF=benzotrifluoride).