Electrochemical Dimethyl Sulfide‐Mediated Esterification of Amino Acids

Abstract

Main observation and conclusion Dimethyl sulfide‐mediated electrochemical synthetic strategy for esterification of amino acids has been reported. A series of amino acids could react smoothly with alcohols, affording the desired esterification products with good efficiency. Importantly, the tolerance of peptides and gram‐scale synthesis shed light on the utility of this protocol. Mechanistically, the dimethyl sulfide as a mediator plays an essential role in the transformation of amino acids.

An Electrochemical Design for Catalytic Dehydration: Direct, Room-Temperature Esterification without Acid or Base Additives

“…Our central design principle is that electrochemistry , can address this fundamental challenge by modulating the oxidation state of a dehydration catalyst, better promoting its catalytic functions (Figure b). Thus, oxidation of a catalyst such as a phenothiazine would promote acid activation and nucleophilic acyl substitution, which require electron-poor catalysts.…”