Synthesis of Methyl α-Naphthylacetate by Solid Super Acid Catalyst ZrO_2-SO_4~(2-)

Methyl α naphthylacetate was synthesized with solid super acid catalyst ZrO 2 SO 2- 4. The optimum preparation conditions for the catlyst were: sediment obtained by adding ammonia water into ZrOCl 2·8H 2O solution was dried and then impregnated with 0.75 mol/L H 2SO 4, calcined 4 hours at 650 °C. The optimum preparation conditions for methyl α naphthylacetate were: catalyst was 6% of the total mass of reactants, mass ratio of alcohol to acid was 20∶1, reaction time was 4 hour. The yield of methyl α naphthylacetate was 95%. The catalyst could be used several times without regeneration and repeatability of the optimum condition was good.