Synthesis of ethyl acetate catalyzed by Brnsted acidic ionic liquids

Synthesis of ethyl acetate catalyzed by Bronsted acidic ionic liquids(IL) was studied.Ethanol conversion of 92.3% and selectivity to ethyl acetate of 100% was attained under the following condition: n(ethanol)∶n(acetic acid)=1,quantity of ionic liquid equivalent to that of the catalyst(60 ℃.) Ethyl acetate could be conveniently decanted out from the ionic liquid,because those ionic(liquids) were entirely miscible with water while the ester was immiscible with those ionic liquids.The ionic(liquid) can be repeatedly used for over 5 times after separation with the product,vacuum drying and dehydration,without remarkable loss in the conversion and selectivity.