On Catalysis by Ionic Liquids

A molecular level mechanism of catalysis by an ionic liquid (IL) is proposed as an electrophile nucleophile dual activation through a relay of cooperative hydrogen bonds and charge-charge interactions. Spectroscopic (H-1 NMR and IR) studies were used to probe the involvement of the C-2 hydrogen and the AcO- anion of [bmim][OAc] in the catalysis for O-t-Boc formation. Ion fishing by MALDI-TOF-TOF MS and MS-MS established the hydrogen bonded clusters