Transesterification of vinyl acetate with i-amyl alcohol catalyzed by nanostructured sulfated zirconia

Due to environmental concerns, it is highly desirable to replace liquid HF or H2SO4 by more benign solid acid such as sulfated zirconia (SZ). Sulfated zirconia materials have been demonstrated to be a good catalyst for the isomerization of lineal alkanes at relatively low temperatures. Our objective was: (1st) prepare nanostructured materials either by controlled hydrolysis of zirconium alkoxide or by impregnation of tetragonal zirconia with H2SO4 1 M or ammonium sulfate, (2nd) carry out the characterization by conventional techniques (X ray diffraction, electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption, FT-IR/Raman spectroscopy, UV diffuse reflectance) and (3rd) evaluate the acidity through the transesterification reaction of vinyl acetate with i-amyl alcohol to give i-amyl acetate and acetaldehyde and using toluene as solvent. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.