Synthesis of Phenyl Esters Using SiO2-SO3H Catalyst in Conventional Heating and Microwave-Irradiated Esterification Processes

Abstract

A SiO2-SO3H amorphous catalyst containing a small surface area of 115.0 m(2)g(-1) and 1.32 mmol H+/g was prepared from fine construction sand and sodium carbonate and sulfonated with H2SO4. In a 10% (w/w) basis, it is very efficient for catalyzing the esterification of carboxylic acids with phenol. The reaction processes were performed using conventional heating and under microwave irradiation. The yields were higher in the microwave-irradiated esterification. The catalyst could be used for three esterification sequences in both processes.