Catalytic synthesis of isoamyl butyrate with copper methanesulfonate

Copper methanesulfonate is used as catalyst in esterification of isoamyl alcohol with butyric acid,the amount of catalyst,reaction time and the ratio of alcohol to acid,which effected the reaction have been investigated.Under the following conditions: 0.167 mol butyric acid,1.2∶1 molar ratio of isoamyl alcohol to butyric acid,0.5% catalyst(molar percent of butyric acid,the following as it),1.5-2.0 h,5 mL cyclohexane that act as water-carrying agent and at reflux temperature;the yield can reach 97.8%.Compared with some other Lewis acids,such as CuSO4·5H2O,copper methanesulfonate has merits of easy seperation,and it was used repeatedly 8 times without obvious loss of activity.Furthermore,the acid conversation still kept above 93.0%.