The general acetylation of aromatic amides with substituted phenyl acetates, derived from the formation of N-acetyl-o-ethoxybenzamide in a molten mixture of aspirin and ethenzamide, was studied. Amides, i.e. benzamide or ethenzamide, were allowed to react with various substituted phenyl acetates (substituent ; 2, 4-(NO2)2, o-NO2, m-NO2, p-NO2, o-Cl, p-Cl, o-COOH, o-COOMe, p-COOH, H, o-Me, or p-Me) either in the molten state or in xylene, in order to examine the substituent effect on transacetylation. It was found that benzamide and ethenzamide were acetylated with substituted phenyl acetates and that the electron attracting group of phenyl acetate accelerated the acetylation of amide.
