The ideal acylating reagent would be a carboxylic acid, but the acids themselves are relatively unreactive with nucleophiles. A simple solution to this inactivity, as noted earlier, was to convert the carboxylic acid to a more reactive derivative such as an acyl chloride or anhydride. A less extreme alternative procedure, often used in difficult cases, makes use of reagents which selectively activate a carboxyl group toward nucleophilic substitution.

 Two such reagents are dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and carbonyldiimidazole (Staab's reagent).  The following equations provide examples of their use in the preparation of esters, amides, anhydrides and peresters. Indeed, LAH reduction of the imidazolide intermediate generated by the Staab reagent provides a useful preparation of aldehydes from acids.

    The mechanisms by which these reagents activate carboxylic acids are displayed by clicking the "Show Mechanisms" button. Keep in mind that imidazole is a stronger acid than water and a better leaving group than hydroxide anion, especially if protonated.