On the role of triflic acid in the metal triflate-catalysed acylation of alcohols

The acylation of alcohols by anhydrides, catalysed by a wide range of metal triflates, is a powerful and mild method for the preparation of a variety of esters. Mechanistic insights demonstrate that triflic acid is generated under these reaction conditions and that, at least, two competing catalytic cycles are operating at the same time: a rapid one involving triflic acid and a slower one involving the metal triflate.