Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Per-O-Acetylation and Benzylidene Ring-Opening Reaction

Tunable aryl imidazolium ionic liquids acting as Bronsted acid ionic liquids were found to be efficient catalysts for per-O-acetylation and reductive ring opening of benzylidene acetals. This method requires a truly catalytic amount of the least expensive available ionic liquids that are water-stable and reusable and also stable at room temperature. The reactions were obtained in one hour with good to excellent yields. These reactions can form C-O and C-H bonds with a high atom economy. Furthermore, the ionic liquid is an anomeric selective catalyst in per-O-acetylation and reductive ring opening of benzylidene acetals of sugar moieties.