An Efficient Protocol for Alcohol Protection Under Solvent- and Catalyst-Free Conditions

A simple and highly efficient protocol for pivaloylation of alcohols without using a catalyst under solvent-free conditions has been developed. The key advantages of the reaction are short reaction time, high yields, simple workup, and no need for further purification. Selectivity was observed between primary alcohols vs. secondary alcohols and aliphatic alcohols vs. aromatic alcohols. The accentuated and relevant phenomenon of this method that we observed is in one-pot conversion of TBS protection into Piv protection of the hydroxyl group.