Amberlyst-15 has also been used for production of biodiesel (BD). Talukder and coauthors
reported that palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a byproduct from the palm oil refinery process,has been utilized as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production via Amberlyst-15 catalyzed esterification.3b The BD yield obtained using Amberlyst-15 is 97%.Transesterification of esters with alcohols has been accomplished using Amberlyst-15.
Chavan and co-workers reported that Amberlyst-15 acts as a Bronsted acid catalyst for
transesterification of various _-ketoesters with different alcohols including allylic alcohols and sterically hindered secondary and primary alcohols in refluxing conditions. In a specific
Example, the transesterified _-ketoester 4 can be prepared from _-ketoesters 3 using Amberlyst- 15 under refluxing in toluene. (Scheme 2).3c Pappu et al.3d reported that methyl stearate, a model biodiesel compound undergoes transesterification with higher alcohol n-butanol using Amberlyst-15 as acid catalyst.