Facile immobilization of base ionic liquids onto graphene oxide in water at room temperature as heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification

Abstract The basic ionic liquids (ILs) 1-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide was immobilized on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) by silanization with the siloxane-terminated ILs in water at room temperature for the first time. The catalytic performances of the GO grafted with the basic ILs were investigated in transesterification reactions. The high catalytic activities and excellent product selectivities of GO grafted with the basic ILs in transesterification reactions can be ascribed to the large amount of ILs on the GO surface. The high dispersibility of GO in water prompted our investigation of grafting of a basic ILs on a GO surface. This method is the most efficient, simple, and green approach for the immobilization of ILs reported to date.