A new method inspired by cationic palladium (II) species in activating highly hindered acid anhydrides in masking alcohols and polyols is described. This protocol utilizes a cationic palladium catalyst, Pd(PhCN)2(OTf)2 generated in situ from 1 mol % Pd(PhCN)2Cl2 and 2 mol % AgTOf to activate highly hindered acid anhydrides, and to direct the acylation process. This new method is highly efficient and proceeds with only 1 mol% of the catalyst loading at mostly room temperature. The method has a wide substrate scope in masking different alcohols and polyols with robust protecting groups in good to excellent yields.
Mensah et al. (2026) studied this question.