Sulfonated charcoal as a mild and efficient catalyst for esterification and trans-esterification reactions

Abstract

Sulfonated charcoal was found to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the acetylation of alcohols in acetic acid. Esterification of different carboxylic acids with different alcohols was also achieved with this catalyst. Acetylation and formylation of alcohols can also be catalysed efficiently in ethyl acetate and ethyl formate in high yields.

Keywords:

• Esterification
• Trans-esterification
• Sulfonated charcoal
• Acetylation
• Formylation

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of this study by Research Shiraz University Council.