Rasta Resin-TBD as a Reusable Catalyst for Transesterification Reactions

Abstract Rasta resin-TBD has been synthesized and used to catalyze a wide range of transesterification reactions, including biodiesel synthesis and ring-opening polymerizations. It was found to be a more efficient heterogeneous catalyst than a related polystyrene-based analogue based on the Merrifield resin architecture involving divinylbenzene cross-linking. In the reactions studied rasta resin-TBD was separated from the desired products simply by filtration, and it could be regenerated and reused numerous times without significant loss of catalytic activity.