A novel proton-gradient-transfer acid complexes as an efficient and reusable catalyst for fatty acid esterification

• 作者: Xiaomin Zhang Wenjie Xiong Zengyu Yin Yongle Chen Youting Wu Xingbang Hu
• 来源期刊: 绿色能源与环境（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2022,（1）
• 所属期刊栏目: Research papers
• 页码范围: 137-144
• 页数: 8页
• 语种: 英文

摘要

In this work, a series of novel proton-gradient-transfer acid complexes (PGTACs) were developed. Their physicochemical properties, including thermal stability, melting point, and Hammett acidity, were measured. The effects of catalyst loading, reaction temperature, and substrate expansion on the catalytic performance were systematically studied. It is found that the combination of bidentate N-heterocycle and H2SO4 (1:2 M ratio) could form simultaneously N–H covalent bond and N…H hydrogen bond, which makes the PGTACs excellent catalysts integrate the advantages of strong acids (high catalytic activity) and ionic liquids (phase separation) in the esterification reaction. Moreover, these PGTACs can be reused by convenient phase separation without obvious diminution of catalytic activity. It is concluded that these PGTACs are potential alternative candidates for esterification reaction in the process of industrial catalysis.