Abstract Amines are efficiently acylated by both cyclic and acyclic anhydrides by dissolving them in an aqueous medium with the help of a surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Cyclic and acyclic anhydrides react with equal ease with an amine, and amines with various stereo-electronic factors react at the same rates with an anhydride. Chemoselective acylation of amines in the presence of phenols and thiols and of thiols in the presence of ...