Synthesis and Catalytic Activity in Esterification Reaction of Copper Methanesulfonate

Copper methanesulfonate was synthesized and characterized by TGA and FT-IR. It was used as a catalyst in the esterification of acetic acid with isoamyl alcohol. Various factors that affected the esterification have been investigated. Under the condition of acetic acid 167mmol, 1.0 ∶1.1 molar ratio of acetic acid to isoamyl alcohol, 0.25% catalyst(molar percent of acetic acid), refluxing 2.0h, no water-carrying agent, the esterification yield of isoamyl acetate reached 96.0%. The catalytic activity of copper methanesulfonate is higher than that of copper sulfate, copper chloride, cupric nitrate, copper acetate and other Lewis acids. In the reaction copper methanesulfonate is water-tolerent, after reaction the catalyst can be reused by simple phase-separation. Copper methanesulfonate can be used as a catalyst in the synthesis of other esters.