Esterification of phthalic anhydride by alcohols in the presence of titanium bis(β-diketonates)

In the esterification of phthalic anhydride by 2-ethylhexanol in the presence of titanium bis(β-diketonates), the rate constants of the reaction increase with decreasing stability of the chelate. The relation of the rate constant of the reaction of phthalic anhydride with normal C6-C9 alcohols catalyzed by bis (acetylacetonato) dibutoxytitanium and butyl orthotitanate in a medium of the corresponding diesters is extremal in nature because of the different degree of hydrolysis of the catalyst during esterification.