Esterification of secondary alcohols by using bis(sulfophenyl) phosphonate-formaldehyde resin as a catalyst

The bis(sulfophenyl) phosphonate-formaldehyde resin was prepared by the rea ction of diphenyl phosphonate-formaldehyde resin with fuming sulfuric acid. This resin was used as an acid catalyst for esterification of saturated se condary alcohols with saturated fatty acids. The yields of the esters forme d with saturated secondary alcohols (C-3-C-9) and saturated fatty acids (C- 2-C-6) were about 70-80% at 100 degrees C. The yields of esters formed with saturated secondary alcohols(C-3-C-9) With Saturated fatty acids(C-6-C-9) were about 60-80% at 100 degrees C except a few esters of higher alcohols a nd higher fatty acids.