Synthesis of Methyl Nicotinate by Esterification Reaction Using MoO3/SiO2 Bifunctional Catalyst

J. G. Chandorkar¹*, S. B. Umbarkar², C.V. Rode¹, V. B. Kotwal²

¹Aarti Drugs Ltd., Mumbai, India.

²Homogeneous Catalysis and Catalysis Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune - 411 008, India.

Pyridinecarboxylic acids undergo esterification on refluxing with alcohols in the presence ofsulphuric acid.. In the case of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, in which the basicity of the nitrogen atom is reduced, esterification products are obtained in high yields. In the case of pyridinecarboxylic acids, in which the pyridine nitrogen atom displays considerable basicity, and the reported yields of Methyl Nicotinate is about 79%. In our experiments this sulphuric acid is replaced by 20%Molybdenum on Silica catalyst (Solid Catalyst) which also found as working as Bifunctunal catalyst.

Esterification; Methyl Nicotinate; Nicotinic acid (Niacin)