Preparation of fructone catalyzed by water-soluble Br(φ)nsted acid ionic liquids

Fructone (2-methyl-2-ethylacetoacetate-1,3-dioxolane), a flavouring material, has been synthesized from ethyl acetoacetate and glycol using five water-soluble Br(φ)nsted acid ionic liquids as catalysts for the first time. The used Br(φ)nsted acid ionic liquids include [Hmim]Tfa, [Hmim]Tsa, [Hmim]BF4, [Bmim]HSO4, [Bmim]H2PO4, and [Hmim]BF4 showed the highest catalytic activity for the preparation of fructone. After reaction, the product could be isolated from the reaction system automatically, and the ionic liquid could be directly reused without dehydration.