Hydroxy‐Functionalized Basic Ionic Liquids—An Unexpected “Hydroxy” Effect on the Transesterification of Glycerides with Methanol

Abstract New task‐specific ionic liquids, hydroxy‐functionalized 1‐methyl‐3‐alkylimidazolium hydroxides, were used as catalysts in the transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol. In comparison to the well‐described 1‐methyl‐3‐butylimidazolium hydroxide [bmim]OH, the new ionic liquids show unexpectedly high catalytic activity. In case of the ionic liquid [glymim]OH, which is structurally similar to glycerol, the conversion of rapeseed oil was nearly 100 %.