Dear all, I am trying to functionalize crosslinked PVA by esterification using Mukaiyama reagent (Please see scheme attached).

I have tried Dimethylcarbonate as a solvent, but PVA did not swell in it - hence the reaction did not proceed.

I have searched for another more or less green solvent that can swell my substrate and found that DMSO is capable of doing that.

I have seen some reports where esterification using EDC/NHS was done in DMSO, however I have not seen reports if the reaction proceeds in these conditions using Mukaiyama reagent. I an using 2,6 lutidine as a base.

I am afraid that the DMSO might oxidize my substrate and thus I will fail to complete esterification (like in case of Swern Oxidation, if DCC is added).

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

Thank you very much!