Lithium Chloride-Assisted Selective Hydrolysis of Methyl Esters Under Microwave Irradiation

Abstract A rapid and mild method for the selective hydrolysis of methyl ester in lithium chloride–N,N-dimethylformamide (LiCl–DMF) system under microwave irradiation has been developed. The effects of substituent, metal salt, and solvent on the reactivity and selectivity of the hydrolysis reaction have been investigated. Microwave irradiation significantly improves the reaction yield within a short time in an LiCl–DMF system. Moreover, the chiral α-carbon of methyl esters retained its configuration during the reaction. Finally, the catalytic mechanism of hydrolysis by LiCl salt has also been proposed.