The reaction of primary alcohols with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride in the presence of poly (4-vinylpyridine)[or poly (2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-vinylpyridine)] allows the isolation of the corresponding alkyl triflates in good yields. The quaternisation of 3, 8-bis (ethoxycarbonylamino)-6-phenylphenanthridine (1) using these alkyl triflates was found to proceed smoothly at room temperature in nitrobenzene or chlorobenzene. Deprotection of ...