Facile and Selective Preparation of Esters from Carboxylic Acids Catalyzed by Aluminumdodecatangstophosphate (AlPW12O40) as a Versatile, Recyclable and a Highly Water Tolerant Green Lewis Acid Catalyst

Aluminumdodecatangstophosphate (AlPW12O40 ) as a highly water tolerant, recyclable green Lewis acid has been applied as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of esters from long chain aliphatic and aromatic acids and alcohols in high yields. This catalyst is also selective for the esterification of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary ones.