ESTERIFICATION OF ACETIC-ACID WITH STYRENE - ION-EXCHANGE RESINS AS CATALYSTS

Esterification of acetic acid with styrene was carried out in the presence of cation exchange resins as catalysts in the temperature range 20-60-degrees-C. The reaction was accompanied by dimerization of styrene. The selectivity with respect to the ester (1-phenylethyl acetate) was greatly influenced by the catalyst, solvent and operating conditions. Some experiments were carried out in the presence of homogeneous catalysts such as 98% H2SO4 and p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) to find their utility for obtaining the ester. Optimum conditions for realising high selectivity with respect to the ester have been delineated. Monodisperse K2661 was found to be the best catalyst amongst those studied, in so far as the selectivity with respect to the ester was concerned.