Titania supported silicotungstic acid: An efficient solid acid catalyst for veratrole acylation

Titania supported silicotungstic acid (STA) with different STA loading (10–25 wt%) and calcination temperature (650–750 °C) were prepared by wet impregnation method. The catalysts have been represented by a general formula xSTiO2y (where x denotes wt%, S denotes STA and y denotes calcination temperature in °C). These catalysts were characterized by techniques such as X-ray diffraction, surface analysis, FTIR–pyridine and TPD–NH3 and were used as heterogeneous solid acid catalysts in the liquid phase acylation of veratrole with acetic anhydride (Ac2O). It was found that 20STiO2700 gave the highest activity in acylation reaction due to its highest acidity.