Synthesis of Benzyl Acetate Using Solid Superacid S_2O_8 2-/ZrO_2-Cr_2O_3 as Catalyst

A new type of solid superacid catalyst S 2O 8 2-/ZrO 2-Cr 2O 3 was prepared by using ZrOCl 2·8H 2O, CrCl 3·6H 2O and (NH 4) 2S 2O 8 as the main raw material. The catalyst was used catalytic synthesis benzyl acetate by the esterification reaction of acetic acid with benzyl alcohol. The effect of acetic acid/benzyl alcohol molar ratio, the amount of catalyst used,reaction time, remove water reagent kind and amount on the yield of benzyl acetate have been investigated. Under the typical reaction condition: Catalyst is 0.5g, benzyl alcohol is 0.18mol, acetic acid is 0.36mol, benzene is 10ml, refux time is 2.0h, the yield of benzyl acetate could reach 80.1%. The catalyst can be easily recovered and reused, having very good activity stability on the synthesis of benzyl acetate.