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

A SiO₂-SO₃H amorphous catalyst containing a small surface area of 115.0 m²g-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.