This method is quite specific for tert-butyl alcohol, since other tertiary alcohols, e.g., tert-amyl alcohol, afforded a lower yield of the corresponding ester and primary and secondary alcohols were converted into their tert-butyl ethers.
The use of Lewis acids supported on sulfonated cross-linked polystyrene or salicylic acid resin was reported to promote the synthesis of aliphatic acid esters (Table 18, entries 7 and 8).156,157 Both methods present the drawback that an excess of alcohol must be employed.