Polystyrene-supported GaCl3: A new,highly efficient and recyclable heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst for acetylation and benzoylation of alcohols and phenols

A new, simple and highly chemoselective method for both acetylation and benzoylation of alcohols and phenols with acetic anhydride in the presence of polystyrene-supported gallium trichloride (PS/GaCl₃) as a highly active and reusable heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst is presented. In this catalytic system, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as phenols were converted to the corresponding acetates and benzoates with high yields. The heterogenized catalyst is of high reusability and stability in the acetylation reactions and was recovered several times with negligible loss in its activity or a negligible catalyst leaching, and also there is no need for regeneration. Remarkably, a selective mono-acetylation of symmetrical diols can be achieved chemoselectively by employing the same catalyst.