Highly efficient and recyclable acetylation of phenols and alcohols by nickel zirconium phosphate under solvent-free conditions

Nickel zirconium phosphate nanoparticles have been used as an efficient catalyst for the acetylation of a wide range of alcohols and phenols with acetic anhydride in good to excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. The steric and electronic properties of the different substrates had a significant influence on the reaction conditions required to achieve the acetylation. The catalyst used in the current study was characterized by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N-2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. This nanocatalyst could also be recovered and reused at least six times without any discernible decrease in its catalytic activity. [GRAPHICS] .