Abstract Erbium (iii) chloride is a powerful catalyst for the acylation of alcohols and phenols. The reaction works well for a large variety of simple and functionalized substrates by using different kinds of acidic anhydrides (Ac 2 O,(EtCO) 2 O,(Pr i CO) 2 O,(Bu t CO) 2 O, and (CF 3 CO) 2), without isomerization of chiral centres. Moreover, the catalyst can be easily recycled and reused without significant loss of activity.
[Zhong, Zhenlin; Snowden, Timothy S.; Best, Michael D.; Anslyn, Eric V. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2004 , vol. 126, # 11 p. 3488 - 3495]
