Solventless acetylation of alcohols and phenols catalyzed by supported iron oxide nanoparticles

•A greener protocol for the synthesis of acetyl derivatives•Supported iron oxide nanoparticles as highly active nanocatalysts•High activities in the solventless acetylation of alcohols•Highly stable and reusable nanocatalysts in the acetylation reaction

Supported iron oxide nanoparticles on silicate catalysts were found to be efficient and easily recoverable materials in the acetylation of alcohols and phenols to their corresponding acetyl compounds using acetic anhydride under mild and solvent-less conditions. The supported iron oxide nanoparticles could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused ten times without any loss in activity.

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