The carbon material functionalized with NH2+ and SO3H groups catalyzed esterification with high activity and selectivityElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details, XRD pattern, SEM image, TGA pattern, FT-IR spectra, 13C MAS NMR spectrum, 1H NMR spectra, 13C NMR spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c4gc01395f

• Main Authors: Zhan, Shaoqi, Tao, Xiaochun, Cai, Liangzhen, Liu, Xiaohui, Liu, Taoping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 20.10.2014
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/c4gc01395f

A novel carbon-based solid acid was conveniently prepared by heating a mixture of d -glucose, p -toluenesulfonic acid and diphenylammonium tosylate. Its structure was measured by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, 13 C MAS NMR and EA to illustrate that the carbon material has been functionalized with NH 2 + and SO 3 H groups and has a strong "hydrophobic effect". It can be used to catalyze the esterification reaction of carboxylic acids with equimolar amounts of sterically demanding and acid-sensitive alcohols with high reactivity (yield up to 90%) and selectivity (up to 95%) in heptane at 80 °C. It could be easily recovered and reused more than ten times without loss of activity. A novel carbon material was prepared conveniently, which can catalyze the esterification reaction with high reactivity and selectivity.