Synthesis 2005(12): 1939-1944  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-869951
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Efficient Esterification of Long Chain Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids with Alcohols over ZrOCl2·8H2O Catalyst

Kshudiram Mantri, Kenichi Komura, Yoshihiro Sugi*
Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Yanagido, 1-1, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
Fax: +81(58)2932597; e-Mail: sugi@apchem.gifu-u.ac.jp;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 January 2005
Publication Date:
20 June 2005 (online)

Abstract

Direct condensation of equimolar amounts of long chain carboxylic acids and alcohols could be achieved by using zirconyl chloride as an efficient catalyst. ZrOCl2·8H2O showed high activity for esterification between primary acids and alcohols; however, it was less active in the combination of branched acid and secondary alcohols to give the corresponding esters.