An Improved Greener Esterification of Fatty Alcohols Using a Renewable Acid–Ionic Liquid Couple as Catalyst–Solvent

Abstract

We have developed a simple and efficient method for the esterification of various organic acids with C4–C18 alcohols using the 1‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate–para‐toluenesulphonic acid (OMIM/BF₄–PTSA) couple, without organic solvent, either by classic heating or by microwave irradiation. The utilisation of the OMIM/BF₄–PTSA couple presents considerable advantages: high yield, low temperature, short reaction time, isolation of the ester by simple decantation, easy reuse of the catalyst couple.

Keywords:

• Esterification
• Ionic liquids
• Green chemistry
• Reaction time
• Fatty alcohols