Efficient glycosydation and/or esterification of d-glucuronic acid and its 6,1-lactone under solvent-free microwave irradiation

2,3,4-Tri-O-acetyl-d-glucurono-6,1-lactone was obtained 'one-pot' from d-glucuronic acid. The lactone opening with different alcohols in the presence of a variety of catalysts was studied. All reactions were performed under microwave irradiation in solvent-free conditions.