Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate can be used as a catalyst:
- In acetylation of alcohols and phenols in the presence of acetic anhydride.
- To synthesize various ynamides via intramolecular coupling of amides with alkynyl bromides.
It can also be used as a template in the synthesis of copper(II) ion-imprinted polymers using vinylpyridine and methacrylic acid as functional monomers. This polymer is used to quantify Cu
2+ ion by using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.