conducter - 8-7-2008 at 22:42
4-dmap is the desirably catalyst for acetylation. However the high cost, low availability, and toxicity, make it undesirable.
Acetic anhydride is a good acetylating reagent itself but it taked days at elevated temperatures for this to acheive desired acetylation. I have also
read that pyridines are great catalysts to assist acetylation. I am wondering if regular pyridine can be used in place of 4-dmap (perhaps in excess)
to get the same catalyst effect at room temperature, maybe let sit a little longer tho.