Hf[N(SO2C8F17)2]4 as a highly active and recyclable Lewis acid catalyst for direct esterification of methacrylic acid with methanol in a fluorous biphase system

The activity of Hf[N(SOCF)] catalyst for the direct esterification of methacrylic acid with methanol was studied and compared with representative acid catalysts including the present industrially employed HSO and Nafion SAC-13. It was found that Hf[N(SOCF)] in a fluorous biphase system (FBS) is most effective based on initial rate analysis and yield. In the simulated industrial solution (the reaction mixture was preliminarily doped with HO, HO/MAA = 1.6 mmol), the initial rate with Hf[N(SOCF)] was shown to be about 9 times that with HSO. Meanwhile, an excellent yield (86%) and selectivity (97%) were obtained with Hf[N(SOCF)], which are superior to the other evaluated catalysts. Furthermore, the immobilized fluorous phase was completely recovered and reused without loss of its catalytic activity either in the simulated industrial solution (both with and without preliminarily doping with HO) or in the practical industrial solution.