Microwave-accelerated O-alkylation of carboxylic acids with O-alkylisoureas.

[reaction: see text] Microwave-assisted O-alkylations of several carboxylic acids have been performed with three different O-alkylisoureas. All reactions are significantly faster compared to conventionally heated reactions, while retaining high chemoselectivity. The combination of microwave technology with the use of the solid-supported isourea 3 enables the synthetic chemist to obtain the pure methyl esters starting from the corresponding acids in less than an hour.