Kinetic studies on liquid phase transesterification of dimethyl malonate with benzyl alcohol over modified ceria as efficient solid acid catalysts

Abstract

Solid acids such as ceria, zirconia, ceria-zirconia, sulphated-ceria and sulphated-ceria-zirconia (SCZ) have been prepared by impregnation method and characterized by NH₃-TPD for surface acidity, powder XRD for crystallinity and IR spectroscopy for functionality. Liquid phase transesterification of benzyl alcohol (BA) with dimethyl malonate (DMM) has been carried out in presence of these solid acid catalysts. Dibenzylmalonate (DBM) has been obtained as a major transester product. Various parameters such as reaction time, weight of catalyst, molar ratio of reactants and reaction temperature have been varied to obtain highest transester yield. Highest transester yield (88%) was obtained in presence of SCZ catalyst at a molar ratio of DMM:BA = 1:5, reaction time of 3 h and a temperature of 140 ^○C. Kinetic experiments confirm that SCZ catalytic system was efficient and facile.