A series of itaconate esters, eg dimethyl itaconate, dibutyl itaconate and diisooctyl itaconate, were synthesized using solid acid SO42−/MxOy (M= Ti4+, Fe3+, Zr4+, Al3+) and SO42−/TiO2–SiO2 modified with lanthanide ion (Ln= La3+, Ce4+, Sm3+) as catalysts. It was found that SO42−/TiO2–SiO2 modified with lanthanide ion were of the same excellent catalytic activity as sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Moreover, Ln∼ SO42−/TiO2–SiO2 is of ...