Synthesis of cyclohexyl methacrylate from methacrylic acid and cyclohexene over resin catalyst

Cyclohexyl methacrylate (CHMA) was synthesized by the esterification of methacrylic acid and cyclohexene over a macroporous polystyrene sulfonate cation exchange resin catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, catalyst dosage and mole ratio of methacrylic acid to cyclohexene on the esterification were investigated. The results showed that the cation exchange resin was an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of CHMA. Under the optimum conditions of ethacrylic acid dosage 51.2 g, n(methacrylic acid):n(cyclohexene) 4.0, w(resin catalyst) (based on the total mass of methacrylic acid and cyclohexene) 3%, w(hydroquinone as inhibitor) (based on the mass of methacrylic acid) 1%, reaction temperature 90°C and reaction time 7 h, the conversion of cyclohexene and the selectivity to CHMA could reach 89.0% and 95.3%, respectively. The resin catalyst could be reused 10 times, and its activity and structure were unchanged essentially.