of the carboxylate ion: A series of biarylDMAP catalysts with an internalcarboxylate was prepared, and the catalytic activities of the derivatives were evaluated to determine the carboxylateposition that most accelerated the DMAP‐catalyzedacylation. The carboxylate ion proximal to the pyridine ring in a face‐to‐face geometry was found to act as an effective general base for the acylation reaction