PROCESS FOR PREPARING CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS IN THE PRESENCE OF A TITANIUM-CONTAINING CATALYST

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for preparing carboxylic acid esters, comprising esterification of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol in the presence of a titanium-containing catalyst selected from compounds of a general formula, Tin(OR)x(OR')xOy, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 4; у is an integer from 0 to 6; x can be the same or different and is an integer from 2 to 8; R is a linear or branched C1-C18alkyl, C3-C18cycloalkyl, R' is aryl optionally comprising an electron-donor substituent; or a mixture thereof, with the proviso that if n is 1, then x is 2 and у is 0; and if n>1, then the compounds comprise at least two alkoxy groups and two aryloxy groups. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing carboxylic acid esters, wherein a compound of general formula (I) or (II), wherein q represents an integer of 1 to 4; Y is independently R or R'; or a mixture thereof, with the proviso that the compounds comprise at least two alkoxy groups and two aryloxy groups, is used as a catalyst. The claimed process allows to reduce the amount of a used catalyst and the time of the process duration, while increasing the conversion rate of initial reagents and the yield of a target product.