The effect of microwave irradiation on carbodiimide-mediated esterifications on solid support

The esterification of a polymer-supported alcohol (PS Wang resin) with benzoic acid was investigated using microwave irradiation. Activation of the carboxylic acid was carried out using diisopropylcarbodiimide, either via the O-acylisourea or symmetrical anhydride protocols. In the microwave-assisted solid-phase coupling using the O-acylisourea method the main product of the reaction was 1-benzoyl-1,3-diisopropylurea, formed by rearrangement of the thermolabile isourea intermediate. On the other hand, significant rate enhancements were observed for the coupling of benzoic anhydride to Wang resin using microwave flash heating in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as solvent. Reaction times were reduced from 2 to 3 days using conventional conditions, to 10 min by microwave dielectric heating.