In seeking to develop simple, waste-free methods for the synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives, we have advanced the concept of redox esterifications and amidations. 6 These reactions, promoted by N-heterocyclic carbenes, 7 proceed via transient activated carboxylates catalytically generated by internal redox reactions of α-functionalized aldehydes including epoxyaldehydes, 8 α-haloaldehydes, 9 formylcyclopropanes, 10 and α,β-unsaturated ...
[Palomo, Claudio; Oiarbide, Mikel; Garcia, Jesus M.; Gonzalez, Alberto; Arceo, Elena Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2003 , vol. 125, # 46 p. 13942 - 13943]