Chemoselective Transesterification of Acrylate Derivatives for Functionalized Monomer Synthesis Using a Hard Zinc Alkoxide Generation Strategy

A new practical method for the synthesis of functionalized acrylate derivatives with the view to prepare functional polymers was explored. Hard zinc alkoxide generation enabled the highly chemoselective transesterification of acrylate derivatives over the undesired conjugate addition, which caused polymerization. The combined use of the catalytic zinc cluster Zn₄(OCOCF₃)₆O and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine delivered various functionalized acrylate derivatives through the transesterification of commercially available methyl acrylate derivatives with functionalized alcohols under mild conditions.