Bismuth(III) salts as convenient and efficient catalysts for the selective acetylation and benzoylation of alcohols and phenols

Efficient acetylation and benzoylation of alcohols and phenols with acetic and benzoic anhydrides have been carried out under catalysis of bismuth(III) salts including BiCl3, Bi(TFA)3 and Bi(OTf)3. Selective acetylation and benzoylation of alcohols in the presence of phenols is an additional advantage of this procedure.