Transesterification of ethyl butyrate with methanol over 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium exchanged mordenite Original Research Article

Transesterification of ethyl butyrate with methanol on the organic cation-exchanged mordenite ([bmim]M20) was studied in order to examine the reactivity of the methoxide ions that were generated on [bmim]M20 by the dissociation of methanol. Since transesterification occurred by addition of NaCl, the methoxide ions on [bmim]M20 were demonstrated to be utilizable in the reaction. The activity improved with a concentration of NaCl below 3 mmol L−1, whereas it was constant at concentrations above 3 mmol L−1. The adsorption of ethyl butyrate on the partially ion-exchanged [bmim]M20 samples was observed by FT-IR spectroscopy. It was found that it was difficult for ethyl butyrate to enter the micropores of [bmim]M20. From these results, a reaction mechanism was proposed in which the methoxide ions generated in the micropores of [bmim]M20 reacted with ethyl butyrate after they diffused outside of the micropores.