Novel synthesis of benzotriazolyl alkyl esters: an unprecedented CH2 insertion.

We have developed a novel method for the synthesis of benzotriazolyl alkyl esters (BAEs) from N-acylbenzotriazoles and dichloromethane (DCM) under mild conditions. This reaction is one of few examples to show the use of DCM as a C-1 surrogate in carbon-heteroatom bond formation and to highlight the versatility of using DCM as a methylene building block.