[IrCl(cod)]2-catalyzed direct oxidative esterification of aldehydes with alcohols

[IrCl(cod)]2 catalyzed the oxidative esterification of a variety of aldehydes with methanol as a solvent in combination with K2CO3 under mild conditions (rt, 12 h). The oxidative esterification reaction of aliphatic aldehydes also took place with olefinic alcohols as reagents in toluene under similar conditions.