A highly selective, high-speed, and hydrolysis-free O-acylation in subcritical water in the absence of a catalyst
(Chemical Equation Presented) Fast and furious: A wide range of alcohols are acylated by acetic anhydride, in the absence of catalyst, in subcritical water in a flow-type microreaction system. The esters are selectively produced in high yields at temperatures of 200 to 250°C. Varying the amount of acetic anhydride added with respect to the alcohols allows the regioselective acylation of one or both hydroxy groups of various dihydroxy compounds (see picture).