Ethyl cinnamate was synthesized by esterification of cinnamic acid with ethanol in the presence of stannic chloride pentahydrate catalyst. The effects of amount of the catalyst, cinnamic acid/ethanol molar ratio and reaction time on the yield of ethyl cinnamate were investigated. Yield of 91.4% was attained under the following condition: cinnamic acid∶ethanol∶stannic chloride =1∶75∶022, reflux, 3 h. The catalytic activity of ferric chloride hexahydrate, ammonium ferric sulfate dodecahydrate and sodium bisulfate monohyd...