Oxidative cross-esterification of dithiolanes with alcohols through a cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC)/deprotection sequence.

An unprecedented oxidative cross-esterification in an equimolar mixture of dithiolanes, alcohols and water through a CDC/deprotection sequence has been developed. The reaction itself features simple experimental procedures under very mild conditions and offers a new strategic protocol for the direct and efficient synthesis of structurally diverse esters.