Glycidyl esters synthesis catalysed by ion-exchange resins

Ion-exchange resins not previously used for this purpose were employed to study the synthesis of glycidyl esters. The reaction was carried out both with free acids and their sodium salts. The model reaction was the synthesis of glycidyl stearate. Crude glycidyl stearate was afforded in yields greater than 90% in a nonaquous, but not anhydrous system with GC purity above 99%. The phase-transfer catalytic (PTC) mechanism is proposed for the investigated reaction.