Patent ID: 8410290

Claim:
A method, comprising: forming a mixture comprising i) a first cyclic carbonyl compound comprising a cyclic carbonyl moiety selected from the group consisting of cyclic carbonates, cyclic ureas, cyclic carbamates, cyclic thiocarbamates, cyclic thiocarbonates, and cyclic dithiocarbonates, and a pendant pentafluorophenyl carbonate group, ii) a nucleophile selected from the group consisting of alcohols, amines, and thiols, iii) an optional catalyst, and iv) an optional solvent; agitating the mixture, thereby forming a second cyclic carbonyl compound and pentafluorophenol byproduct, wherein the second cyclic carbonyl compound comprises a second functional group formed by a reaction of the pendant pentafluorophenyl carbonate group with the nucleophile, the second functional group selected from the group consisting of carbonates other than pentafluorophenyl carbonate, carbamates, and thiocarbonates.