Study on synthesis of p-butyl-benzoic acid methyl ester

The preparation of p-butyl-benzoic acid methyl ester by the reaction of p-butyl-benzoic acid with methanol,by using p-toluene sulfonic acid as catalyst.Factors influencing the reaction was discussed by orthogonal experiment.The result indicate that the optimal process condition are materials ratio(alcohol/acid) is 6 ∶1,the amount of p-toluene sulfonic acid is 13.3% of the total reagents,reaction time is 6 h,the temperature is 65 ℃,the volume of cyclohexane is 37.5% of the liquid,the esterification rate is 97%,the product structure is determined by refractive index,IR and etc.