Investigation of Homogeneous Acid Catalyst Deactivation Via Preferential Water Solvation

We investigate the deactivation of sulfonic acid catalysts by water for the purpose of developing more water-tolerant catalysts for biomass upgrading.  Homogeneous acid-catalyzed esterification reactivity experiments demonstrated catalyst deactivation by water, while solution calorimetry showed water preferentially solvated functionalized sulfonic acids over esterification reactants and solvents.