A new hypercrosslinked supermicroporous polymer, with scope for sulfonation, and its catalytic potential for the efficient synthesis of biodiesel at room temperature

Abstract

We have designed a new hypercrosslinked supermicroporous polymer (HMP-1) with a BET surface area of 913 m² g⁻¹ by FeCl₃via a catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction between carbazole and α,α′-dibromo-p-xylene. Upon sulfonation HMP-1 yielded a very efficient solid acid catalyst for the production of biodiesels via esterification/transesterification of free fatty acids (FFA)/esters at room temperature.