Phosphorous-based ionic liquids as condensing agent and medium for efficient esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols and phenols

N-(diphenylphosphino)triethyl- and tributylammonium salts are introduced as easily prepared, cheap and stable ionic liquids that act as the condensing agent and media for the efficient esterification of acids with alcohols and phenols. This class of ionic liquids is immiscible with the ester products and thus allows simple and easy separation of the desired products from the reaction mixture.