Formyloxyacetoxyphenylmethane and 1,1-diacylals as versatile O-formylating and O-acylating reagents for alcohols

Abstract Formyloxyacetoxyphenylmethane, symmetric 1,1-diacylals and mixed 1-pivaloxy-1-acyloxy-1-phenylmethanes have been used as moisture stable O -formylating and O -acylating reagents for primary and secondary alcohols, allylic alcohols and phenols under solvent/catalyst free conditions to afford their corresponding esters in good yield.