1-Butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate: the most desirable ionic liquid solvent for recycling use of enzyme in lipase-catalyzed transesterification using vinyl acetate as acyl donor

1-Butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bdmim]BF4) was found to be an excellent solvent to realize a lipase-recycling system using vinyl acetate as acyl donor. No accumulation of an acetaldehyde oligomer was observed in this solvent system and it was possible to use the lipase repeatedly 10 times while still maintaining perfect enantioselectivity and high reactivity.