Esterification of succinic anhydride to di-(p-cresyl) succinate over heterogeneous acid clay catalysts is reported. Montmorillonite clay samples exchanged with different cations were prepared and catalytic activity of the resulting materials was investigated in the synthesis of di-(p-cresyl) succinate esters. Among the exchanged clay catalysts, Al3+ and H+-mont were found to be more active for the esterification of succinic anhydride with p-cresol. The activity of Mn+-mont was found to be directly related to the charge to radius ratio of Mn+-ions. The influence of molar ratio of reactants, reaction time, and catalyst amount on the esterification reaction was investigated. The esterification was found to follow the second order rate kinetics and the kinetic parameters such as rate constant (k), equilibrium constant (K) and Gibbs free energy (DeltaGdegrees) for the reaction have been determined. The activity of Al3+-mont clay catalyst for the esterification of succinic anhydride with phenol, m-cresol, o-cresol, p-nitrophenol and resorcinol have been studied. Regeneration and reusability of the clay catalyst has also been investigated. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.