Method for the esterification of alcohols and compounds useful therefor as potential anticancer agents

A method for preparing an ester, comprising:

• (a) admixing a compound having the formula I:
• wherein,
• R1 and R2 are, independently, from C1 to C12 branched or straight chain alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl;
• X is a halogen or OR3, wherein R3 is from C1 to C12 branched or straight chain alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, aralkyl, acyl, or S(O)2R41, wherein R41 is C1 to C12 branched or straight chain alkyl;
• or
• substituted or unsubstituted aryl;
• and
• the stereochemistry at carbon a is R or S;
• with a base to form an intermediate;
• and
• (b) admixing the intermediate produced in step (a) with a compound having the formula II, VIII, XIV, XV, XVI, or XVII
• wherein R4 is acetyl or hydrogen, R5 is hydrogen, R6 is benzoyl, R7 is acetyl, and R8 is hydrogen, SiEt3 or C(O)CH2CCl3;
• wherein,
• R44 and R45 are, independently, hydrogen, C1-C12 branched or straight chain alkyl, or R44 and R45 are part of a cycloaliphatic group;
• when g is a single bond, R46 is hydroxy, acetyl, or C1-C12 branched or straight chain alkoxy;
• when g is a double bond, R46 is oxygen;
• R47 is a C1-C12 branched or straight chain alkyl ester, C1-C12 branched or straight chain alkyl, carboalkoxy;
• hydroxyalkyl, or derivatized or protected hydroxyalkyl;
• R48 is C1-C12 branched or straight chain alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, acetyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxy, or derivatized or protected hydroxyalkyl;
• R49 and R50 are, independently, hydrogen, C1-C12 branched or straight chain alkyl or alkoxy, or acetyl, wherein R49 or R50 is hydrogen, provided that when one of R49 or R50 is hydrogen, the other of R49 and R50 is not hydrogen;
• when m is a double bond, R51 is oxygen;
• when m is a single bond, R51 is OH or OC(O)R52, wherein R52 is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or cycloaliphatic;
• and
• the hydroxyl group or O− group is located at carbon h or i,
• wherein the stereochemistry at carbons h, i, k, p, q and r is R or S, and
• wherein when m is a single bond, the stereochemistry at carbon j is R or S,
• wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in situ.