Selective and per-O-acylation of carbohydrate derivatives using acyl chlorides and Al2O3, a solid support reagent, is reported. This protocol does not require the addition of any base or activator. This methodology has been further extended to the selective acylation of carbohydrate diols and the one-pot preparation of acetylated glycosyl chlorides direct from free reducing sugars. The yields obtained in most of the cases are excellent.
