Esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols catalyzed by polyaniline salts

Polyaniline salts such as polyaniline hydrochloride, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate and p-toluenesulfonate are used as catalysts in the esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols. The activity, recovery, reusability and handling of the catalysts are found to be good. This process is being reported for the first time.