This disclosure relates to synthetic coupling methods using a catalytic molecule comprising two bonded atoms wherein one atom is an amide nitrogen and the second atom is not nitrogen or carbon, such as sulfur, such as a sufur amide nitrogen bond, typically in a heterocycle, such as substituted benzoisothiazolones and derivatives thereof, as a catalyst in the transformation of hydroxy group containing compounds to amides, esters, ketones, and other carbon to heteroatom or carbon to carbon transformations.