Acylation reaction of hydroxyl group

Abstract

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.

1 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A process for producing an ester compound comprising reacting a mixture of an alcohol and an amine with a carboxylic acid ester in the presence of a compound containing a zinc element, thereby selectively acylating a hydroxyl group of the alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The process for producing an ester compound according to  claim 5 , wherein the compound containing the zinc element is a compound represented by formula (1):
   Zn a (OCOR 1 ) b Z c   (1)
   
       wherein
 R 1  represents an alkyl group which may be substituted, an aryl group which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted; 
 Z represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a selenium atom; 
 a represents 1 or 4, b represents 2 or 6, and c represents 0 or 1, provided that when a=1, b=2 and c=0, and when a=4, b=6 and c=1.