Regiospecific Phenyl Esterification to Some Organic Acids Catalyzed by Combined Lewis Acids

Abstract

A new and efficient method for the preparation of various phenyl esters has been achieved by a simple reaction of an acid with phenol in the presence of anhyd. ZnCl₂ and a catalytic amount of AlCl₃. This combined Lewis acid also catalyzes the selective phenyl esterification to different dioic acids and is very simple and high yielding.

Keywords:

• Dicarboxylic acid
• esterification
• mixed Lewis acid catalysts
• regiospecific

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Department of Chemistry, Rajshahi University, Bangladesh, for the necessary chemicals and to Md. Shahidul Islam, an instrument engineer, Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, for ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra.