Catalytic acetylation of (+)-cedrol with heterogeneous catalyst H2SO4/SiO2 under solvent free conditions

Heterogeneous catalyst, H2SO4/SiO2 was synthesized by immobilizing sulfuric acid on silica gel as solid support. Silica gel was prepared from kaolin, originating from Belitung island Indonesia. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by various techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy and BET method and was applied for the acetylation of (+)-cedrol compound using acetic anhydride under solvent free conditions. The optimum conditions for catalytic acetylation were found at 353 K for 20 h reaction period, the molar ratio (+)-cedrol/acetic anhydride 1:10 in the presence of 5%-w of catalyst converted 88,7% (+)-cedrol into cedryl acetate. Results revealed catalyst could possibly be used for cedryl acetate synthesis from (+)-cedrol.