Reactions
Acetic anhydride is a versatile reagent for acetylations, the introduction of acetyl groups to organic substrates. In these conversions, acetic anhydride is viewed as a source of CH3CO+. Alcohols and amines are readily acetylated. For example, the reaction of acetic anhydride with ethanol yields ethyl acetate:
- (CH3CO)2O + CH3CH2OH → CH3CO2CH2CH3 + CH3COOH
Often a base such as pyridine is added to function as catalyst. In specialized applications, Lewis acidic scandium salts have also proven effective catalysts.
Aromatic rings are acetylated, usually in the presence of an acid catalyst. Illustrative is the conversion of benzene to acetophenone:
- (CH3CO)2O + C6H6 → CH3COC6H5 + CH3CO2H
Ferrocene can be acetylated as well:
- Cp2Fe + (CH3CO)2O → CpFe(C5H4COCH3)
Read more about this topic: Acetic Anhydride
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