Gadolinium triflate: an efficient and convenient catalyst for acetylation of alcohols and amines

Gadolinium triflate (Gd(OTf)(3)) was found to be a simple and efficient catalyst for the acetylation of alcohols and amines. Acetylation reactions using acetic anhydride as the reagent proceed in excellent yields, in the presence of catalytic amounts (0.01 - 0.1 mol%) of Gd(OTf), at ambient temperature. Aliphatic alcohols as well as phenols and amines undergo acetylations under mild conditions. The intermediate formation of the mixed anhydride, acetic trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride was demonstrated by C-13 NMR spectroscopy experiments. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.