Ferrous methanesulfonate as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for chemoselective synthesis of 1,1-diacetate from aldehydes

Ferrous methanesulfonate catalysing the conversion of aromatic, heteroaromatic, unsaturated, and aliphatic aldehydes to 1,1-diacetates at room temperature under solvent-free condition has been developed. The catalytic activity of seventeen metal methanesulfonates was compared under the same condition, ferrous methanesufonate proved to be the best. It can be easily recovered and reused for several times without distinct deterioration in catalytic activity. During the competitive protection between a ketone and an aldehyde group with Ac2O, 1,1-diacetate formed exclusively with the aldehyde group.