Synthesis of benzyl cinnamate with insoluble salt of heteropoly acid as catalyst

Triethanolamine salt of tungstosilicic acid was prepared from tungstosilicic acid and triethanolamine,and was used in the preparation of benzyl cinnamate as catalyst for the first time.The cinnamic acid to benzacohol was1.0∶2.4,reaction temperature100℃,reaction time4hours and the amount of catalysts was0.4%(based on the mass of cinnamic acid).Under these conditions the yield of methylα-naphthylacˉetate was over94%by GC analysis,and the catalyst is insoluble in alcohol and can be recovered and reused for more than five times.