Synlett 2009(15): 2547-2548  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1217816
SPOTLIGHT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Acetic Anhydride (Ac2O)

Lucas Villas Bôas Hoelz
LAB 609, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco A, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.P. 68563, CEP 21945-970, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-Mail: lucashoelz@iq.ufrj.br;
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 August 2009 (online)

Introduction

Acetic anhydride (Ac2O) is a very refractive liquid smelling strongly of acetic acid with a boiling point at 139 ˚C. [¹] It is a cheap and commercialized reagent widely used in the synthesis of oxazolones, [²] thiohydantoins, [³] thioacetates, [4] enamides, [5] geminal diacetates, [6] thiadiazoles, [7] as well as in the preparation of carbonyl compounds from imines. [8] Further, it is used in acetylations, [9] brominations, [¹0] Grignard reactions, [¹¹] and reductive acylations of nitropyrroles. [¹²]