The solvent‐free O‐acylation of some alcohols with benzoyl chloride was carried out to the corresponding benzoylated products in good to excellent yields by the mediation of a catalytic amount (5 mol%) of the commercially available and inexpensive zinc oxide in short reaction times. This methodology represents an eco‐friendly and simple catalytic alternative for benzoylation of primary, secondary, tertiary, and benzylic alcohols with ZnO. This catalytic system was homogeneous because of high solubility of zinc oxide in the reaction medium. Findings showed that ZnO was dissolved in hydrochloric acid, created in situ, after a few minutes. Although, others argued on the catalytic role of solid phase zinc oxide under a heterogeneous condition, it is not surprising to emphasize on the catalytic function of Zn2+ in the benzoylation of alcohols under homogeneous reaction conditions. Zinc oxide served as pre‐catalyst to form Zn2+, as the catalytically active species.

Esterification is an important class of reactions in the preparation of perfumery and flavor chemicals, wherein homogeneous, solid acidic, and superacidic catalysts are normally used. Now, an efficient and selective protocol for protection of various functionalized alcohols employing carboxylic acids as protecting agents is realized through the catalytic mediation of simple heteropolyoxometallates. In this methodology, water is the only by-product and notably the aspect of effluent treatments does not arise. The advantages include the operational simplicity, recycle ability of the catalyst and mild reaction conditions. The present catalytic system may be a potential candidate not only for laboratory practice but also for commercial applications and offers an environmentally safer alternative to the existing processes.

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A reaction pathway is proposed with zinc oxide serving as pre‐catalyst to form Zn2+ as the catalytically active species.