were tested for one-pot selective synthesis of esters fromnitriles and alcohols. Ceria (CeO2) showed more than two orders of magnitude higher activity than the other oxides. CeO2 acted as a reusable and effective catalyst for the ester synthesisfrom various nitriles and alcohols under neutral and solvent-free conditions at 160 °C. This method provides a rare example for the synthesis of heteroaromatic