Acyl trifluoroacetates. Part IV. Trifluoroacetylation of hydroxy-compounds with trifluoroacetic anhydride

Abstract

Alcohols and phenols are trifluoroacetylated in carbon tetrachloride much more rapidly by trifluoroacetic anhydride than by acetyl trifluoroacetate. Pyridine bases are effective catalysts for the trifluoroacetylation of phenols but not of alcohols or thiophenol, and this effect is attributed to phenolic compounds showing greater nucleophilicity through hydrogen-bonding with the base.