A survey of catalysts able to mediate the transesterification/acylation reaction is presented. Metal and organic catalysts are capable of facilitating this important transformation. 1 Introduction 2 Transesterification Reactions Catalyzed by Lewis Acids 2.1 Lanthanide (Sm) Catalysis 2.2 Tin Catalysis 2.3 Indium Catalysis 2.4 Yttrium Catalysis 3 Transesterification Reactions Catalyzed by Nucleophilic Catalysts 3.1 Superbase-Catalyzed Transesterification of Esters with Alcohols 3.2 Nucleophilic N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Catalysis 4 Conclusions.