Preparation of fructone catalyzed by aluminium sulfate in ionic liquid medium

Fructone (2,4-dimethyl-2-ethylacetoacetate-1,3-dioxolane) was synthesized from ethyl acetoacetate (EAA) with 1,2-propanediol (PPO) catalyzed by aluminium sulfate in the presence of ionic liquid. The combination of aluminium sulfate and [bmim]BF4 exhibited good catalytic activity and high selectivity towards fructone. A synergistic effect of aluminium sulfate and [bmim]BF4 on the acetalization was observed. After the reaction was completed, the products could be separated from the reaction mixture extracted by dimethyl ether, and the catalyst and ionic liquid could be directly recycled several times without a significant decrease in the activity and selectivity towards fructone. (C) 2010 King Saud University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.