Hydroxy group-selective acylation in the presence of more nucleophilic amines was achieved using acetates of first-row late transition metals, such as Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn. Among them, cobalt (II) acetate was the best catalyst in terms of reactivity and selectivity. The combination of an octanuclear cobalt carboxylate cluster [Co4 (OCOR) 6O] 2 (2a: R= CF3, 2b: R= CH3, 2c: R= t Bu) with nitrogen-containing ligands, such as 2, 2′-bipyridine, ...