Highly selective acylation of alcohols and amines by an indium triiodide-catalysed transesterification process

A very simple method has been developed for the acylation of alcohols and amines by ethyl acetate through an indium triiodide-catalysed transesterification process. Using this method acylation of a primary OH group in the presence of secondary and phenolic OH groups, and of a primary NH2 in the presence of secondary NH and primary OH have been achieved with high selectivity.