Acylation of alcohols and amines is one of the most fundamental reactions. Due to the greater nucleophilicity of the amino group compared to the hydroxyl group, complete N-acylation occurs. Only an enzymatic reaction can promote a highly selective O-acylation reaction, and there are no examples using an artificial catalyst. Here we report that the tetranuclear zinc cluster Zn4(OCOCF3)6O efficiently
Disclosed is a selective ester production process of an alcoholic hydroxyl group, which proceeds under chemically mild conditions, while having adequate environmental suitability, operability and economical efficiency. Specifically disclosed is a process for producing an ester compound, which is characterized in that an alcohol and a carboxylic acid ester compound are reacted in the presence of a compound containing zinc element, thereby selectively acylating a hydroxyl group of the alcohol.