Lanthanum(III) isopropoxide catalyzed chemoselective transesterification of dimethyl carbonate and methyl carbamates.

A practical transesterification of less reactive dimethyl carbonate and much less reactive methyl carbamates with primary (1°), secondary (2°), and tertiary (3°) alcohols was established with the use of a lanthanum(III) complex, which was prepared in situ from lanthanum(III) isopropoxide (3 mol %) and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol (6 mol %). In particular, corresponding carbonates and carbamates obtained were of synthetic utility from the viewpoint of the selective protection and/or deprotection of 1°-, 2°-, and 3°-alcohols.