A new approach for facile synthesis of phytosteryl phenolates

•A one-step method for producing phytosteryl phenolates with important bioactivities has been developed for the first time.•Scandium triflate was chosen to be the most desirable catalyst and could maintain its catalytic activity after five runs.•The highest yield of 85.7% of phytosteryl ferulate was obtained after optimization.•Conjugation of phenolic acids with phytosterol rendered higher oil solubility.