TURKISH JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, vol.29, no.5, pp.455-461, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
A new chemoselective method for the transesterification of alkyl esters in the presence of in situ formed alkoxyzinc salts was developed. Electron-rich esters are less reactive than electron poor ones and this is the basis for the chemoselectivity of the reaction. Suggested mechanisms of the transesterification reactions are discussed.