Acylation of Alcohols and Amines with Vinyl Acetates Catalyzed by Cp*2Sm(thf)2

Cp(2)Sm(thf)(2) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the acylation of alcohols and amines with esters under mild conditions. In the present acylation, vinyl and isopropenyl acetates served as good acylating agents. Thus, a variety of alcohols and amines underwent acylation with vinyl and isopropenyl acetates in the presence of Cp(2)Sm(thf)(2) to give the corresponding esters and amides in good to excellent yields. This catalytic acylation of alcohols and amines offers an additional useful method by the use of various esters, instead of acid anhydrides and acid chlorides, as acylating agents under very mild conditions.