a typical catalyst comprises a u201c support u201d component that is generally a polymeric material also referred to as a u201c resin u201d comprising a protic acid functionality and a u201c promoter u201d component that is generally an organic compound as used herein the term u201c functionality u201d is defined as an atom or group of atoms acting as a unit whose presence imparts characteristic properties to the molecule to which the functionality is attached in the context of the present disclosure a u201c protic acid functionality u201d is defined as a group of atoms that are covalently attached to the polymeric support component of the catalyst which can act as a source of protons e g a br u00f6nsted acid and upon deprotonation the counter anion can serve as an anionic moiety of an ionic bond with a cationically charged promoter component a suitable example of a support component is a polystyrene resin cross linked with up to 12 percent of divinylbenzene suitable examples of protic acid functionalities which are attached to the support component are a sulfonic acid functionality which upon deprotonation produces a sulfonate anion functionality a phosphonic acid functionality which upon deprotonation produces a phosphonate anion functionality and a carboxylic acid functionality which upon deprotonation produces a carboxylate anion functionality for example in one embodiment of the present disclosure the support component is a polystyrene resin cross linked with 4 of divinylbenzene and functionalized with sulfonic acid groups promoter components are typically organic compounds which can readily form stable cationic species typical promoter components comprise at least one mercaptan chain functionality and an organic skeletal functionality to which the mercaptan chain functionality is covalently bound as used herein the term u201c mercaptan chain functionality u201d is defined as an organosulfur.