Environmentally benign decarboxylative N-, O-, and S-acetylations and acylations

Abstract

An operationally simple and general method for acetylation and acylation of a wide variety of substrates (amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, and hydrazones) has been reported. Meldrum's acid and its derivatives have been used as an air-stable, non-volatile, cost-effective, and easy to handle acetylating/acylating agent. Easily separable byproducts (CO₂ and acetone) allowed the isolation of analytically pure acetylated products without the requirement of work-up and any chromatography.