Nacylaatio

Nacylation is a chemical reaction where a molecule is acylated by a carboxylic acid anhydride. An acyl group is a chemical compound with the formula RCO–. In the case of nacylation, the acyl group is derived from a carboxylic acid. This reaction typically involves the addition of an acyl group to a nucleophile, such as an amine or alcohol. The resulting product is an amide or ester, respectively.

The term "nacylation" specifically refers to the reaction with a carboxylic acid anhydride. For example, when acetic anhydride is reacted with an amine, the amine is nacylated, forming an amide and acetic acid as a byproduct. Similarly, reaction with an alcohol yields an ester and acetic acid. This process is important in organic synthesis and in the modification of biomolecules.

Nacylation reactions are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce drugs and in the food industry for flavor and fragrance compounds. It is also a key step in the synthesis of many polymers and other advanced materials. The reaction conditions can be varied to control selectivity and yield, and catalysts are often employed to accelerate the process. Understanding nacylation is fundamental to many areas of chemistry and its applications.