A new facile method for monoacylation of diols has been developed. A v
ariety of cyclic and acyclic diols, in particular 1,2-diols, was selec
tively monobenzoylated in good yields by their reaction with benzoyl c
hloride in the presence of a catalytic amount of dimethyltin dichlorid
e and inorganic bases. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser
ved.