COBALT(II) CHLORIDE CATALYZED ACYLATION OF ALCOHOLS WITH ACETIC-ANHYDRIDE - SCOPE AND MECHANISM

Cobalt(II) chloride catalyzes the acetylation of a variety of alcohols with acetic anhydride in excellent yield. Primary hydroxyl groups can be selectively acylated in the presence of secondary and tertiary ones while the secondary hydroxyl groups can be preferentially acetylated in the presence of tertiary ones. Tertiary alcohols have been found to give ketones, acetoacetates, olefins, and diketene in addition to the acetate. The beta-hydroxy esters and ketones can be acylated under these conditions without any elimination, and this reaction has been compared with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP)-mediated acylations where elimination of the resulting beta-acetoxy carbonyl compound is observed. A detailed investigation of the acylation of tertiary alcohols has revealed that these reactions proceed via a tertiary alkoxy radical and ketene. A mechanism for these acylations is proposed by invoking an electron-transfer process.