The synthesis of isobutyl salicylate with isobutyl alcohol and salicylic acid as reactants and rare-earth solid superacid SO~4^2^- /TiO~2/La^3^+ as catalyst have been studied. The factors that had influence on the reaction were investigated. The results showed that the optimal conditions were (for 0.1 mol of salicylic acid) using 1.0 g of catalyst and 15 mL of benzene (to remove water) with the molar ratio of isobutyl alcohol to salicylic acid being 3:1 and the reaction time being 3.0 h; The yield of isobutyl salicylate under such conditions was about 96.2%.

Key words: RARE EARTH, SUPERACID, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, LANTHANUM ION, CATALYSIS, ESSENCES, ESTERIFICATION, SALICYLIC ACID, ISOBUTANOL, SOLID ACID CATALYST