Catalytic C–O bond cleavage of ethers using group 5 or 6 metal halide/acid chloride systems

Abstract

Ethers reacted with acid chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of MCl_5/6 (M = Mo, W, Nb or Ta) to give esters in 75–98% yield; a stoichiometric reaction of dioctyl ether with MoCl₅ afforded 1-chlorooctane in 93% yield and addition of benzoyl chloride to the resulting mixture gave octyl benzoate in 49% yield.