Rapid and efficient acetylation of alcohols and phenols with acetic anhydride catalyzed by electron-deficient tin(IV) porphyrin

Rapid and efficient esterification of alcohols and phenols with acetic anhydride was achieved in the presence of tin(IV) tetraphenylporphyrinato trifluoromethanesulfonate, Sn(IV)(tpp)(OTf)(2), as a catalyst. The remarkably high catalytic activity of Sn(IV)(tpp)(OTf)(2) can be used to assist the acetylation of not only primary alcohols but also sterically-hindered secondary and tertiary alcohols with acetic anhydride. This catalyst can also catalyze the acetylation of phenols with acetic anhydride. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.