Trinuclear tin salicylaldoximate cluster‐catalyzed selective acylation of alcohols

The reactivity and catalytic potential of the tin salicylaldoximate cluster (Me₂Sn)₂(Me₂SnO)(OCH₃) (HONZO)(ONZO)] ( 1 ), with HONZOH = o‐HON?CH? C₆H₄OH, on the acylation reaction of various alcohols with ethyl acetate is reported. The catalyst is active toward primary and unhindered secondary alcohols, but inefficient toward tertiary and secondary bulky alcohols and phenols. A possible mechanism for the transesterification reaction catalyzed by 1 , accounting for the influence of steric factors, is proposed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.