Solvent free catalytic synthesis of 2-methylallylidene diacetate using cation-exchange resin

2-Methylallylidene diacetate (DMA) was synthesis between methacrolein (MAL) and acetic anhydride using a mesoporous strong acidic cation-exchange resin as the catalyst. The effects of the molar ratio of the reactants, catalyst loading and stirring rate were investigated. The reaction kinetic equations were established under conditions that eliminated both internal and external diffusions. Kinetic constants such as the pre-exponential factor and the activation energy were also determined. The mechanism is proposed according to the kinetic study.