Dimethylmalonyltrialkylphosphoranes: probing the steric effect on phosphorus and its stereochemical consequence in esterification reactions of chiral secondary alcohols

High chemical yields and high levels of stereochemical inversion are demonstrated in the phosphorane-mediated esterification reaction of chiral alcohols with non-hindered carboxylic acids through the incorporation of sterically non-hindered alkyl groups of phosphorus.