Zeolite-catalyzed esterification I. Synthesis of acetates, benzoates and phthalates

The synthesis of ethyl, n-butyl, isopentyl and benzyl acetates, ethyl and n-butyl benzoates and dioctyl phthalates was achieved by using a H-ZSM-5 and two HY zeolites as catalysts under conditions similar to the classical case with sulfuric acid catalyst. A high yield of acetates was obtained with essentially 100% selectivity. HY was an excellent catalyst for the synthesis of phthalates. The production of benzoates on the zeolite catalysts was slow, though zeolite HY with high Si/Al ratio would seem a useful catalyst for this difficult esterification reaction.