| abstract |
The present invention is to provide a method for preparing an ester condensate and a catalyst therefor; wherein the method enables synthesis of enormous amounts of ester condensates comprising a specific structure in good yield, by a reaction of carboxylic acid and alcohol in equimolar amounts, while generation of by-products is prevented; wherein the catalyst exhibits good catalytic efficiency as a catalyst for use, the use of the catalyst in small amount is sufficient, and the catalyst is reusable and can be used repeatedly; therefore, the method for preparing an ester condensate of the present invention and the catalyst therefor can be applied to industrial methods which are preferable in view of green chemistry. Esterification reaction is performed by using a catalyst comprising a zirconium(IV) compound and/or a hafnium(IV) compound and an iron compound and a gallium compound. It is preferable that the zirconium(IV) compound is a compound represented by Zr(OH) a (OR 1 ) b , (wherein, R 1 represents an acyl group or an alkyl group, and each of a and b is 0 or any one of integers of 1 to 4 and the relationship of a+b=4 is satisfied), and a zirconium(IV) halide. |