Article
Proton transfer and esterification reactions in EMIMOAc-based acidic ionic liquids
RSC Advances
(2017)
Abstract
Acetate-based ionic liquids (such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, EMIMOAc) have potential
applications for CO2 absorption and electrochemical reduction, chemical separations and extractions,
and Fischer esterification of alcohols, amines, and starch. Both strong and weak organic acids can be
dissolved in EMIMOAc and yield interesting proton-rich acidic ionic liquid solutions. We have used GCMS
vapor pressure measurements, spectroscopic methods, calorimetry, and viscosity/conductivity
measurements to investigate the properties and reactions of various acids dissolved in EMIMOAc. Unique
proton transfer and esterification reactions are observed in many of these acidic solutions with
carboxylic acids or sulfonic acids as solutes. Some acids react with the acetate anion to produce acetic
acid, which provides a measure of acid strength in ionic liquid solvents. In addition, we observed an
esterification reaction that might involve the imidazolium cation and the acetate anion to yield methyl
acetate.
Keywords
- Ionic liquids
Disciplines
Publication Date
March 27, 2017
DOI
10.1039/c7ra00204a
Publisher Statement
Open access article licensed under a CC Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Citation Information
Anh T. Tran, Phuoc H. Lam, Alexandra M. Miller, Dustin J. Walczyk, et al.. "Proton transfer and esterification reactions in EMIMOAc-based acidic ionic liquids" RSC Advances Vol. 7 (2017) p. 18333 - 18339 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/timothy-vaden/8/
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