Green Chemistry: Microwave Synthesis of 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Halide (Bromide and Iodide) Ionic Liquids and its Use as Medium in the Diels-Alder Reaction

Abstract

The effectiveness of the substitution of room temperature ionic liquids for traditional aromatic solvents in the Diels-Alder Reaction was investigated. Two 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Halide (Bromide and Iodide) ionic liquids were synthesized in the microwave and were then used as solvents/catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction between maleic anhydride and 1,3-cyclohexadiene. The product of this Diels-Alder reaction was analyzed via gas chromatography, whose results confirmed that the ionic liquids successfully catalyzed the Diels-Alder reaction at room temperature. Furthermore, the recyclability of the ionic liquids was investigated, and from the analysis of GC spectra from repeated Diels-Alder reaction products, it was determined that the ionic liquids can be reused as solvents multiple time with miniscule changes in percent conversion.