LAUSR

Abstract Three novel heteropolyanion-based Bronsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs), butane mono sulfoacid-functionalized 1,10-phenanthrolinum, butane mono and bis sulfoacid-functionalized 1,4-dimethylpiperazinium salts of phosphortungstate catalyst (PhBs1-PW, [PipBs1]3-PW and [PipBs2]3-(PW)2) were synthesized and well characterized with FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, Electro-Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS), Elemental analysis (CHNS), EDX and TG analysis techniques. The esterification reactions of monocarboxylic acids with monohydric alcohols were carried out using these catalysts. The introduced catalysts present a self-separation performance after reaction, which can be easily recovered and quite steadily reused as confirmed by six-run recycling test. Moreover, bis sulfoacid-functionalized 1,4-dimethylpiperazinium salt of phosphortungstate showed the best catalytic performance among the prepared catalysts for the esterification reaction.