LAUSR

Abstract Olefin oligomerization reaction catalyzed by new catalyst systems (a Bronsted-acidic ionic liquid as the main catalyst and tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride as the co-catalyst) has been investigated. The synthesized Bronsted acidic ionic liquids were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and 13C NMR to analyze their structures and acidities. The influence of different ionic liquids, ionic liquid loading, different co-catalysts, catalyst ratios (mole ratio of ionic liquid to co-catalyst), reaction time, pressure, temperature, solvent, source of reactants, and the recycling of catalyst systems was studied. Among the synthesized ionic liquids, 1-(4-sulfonic acid)butyl-3-hexylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([HIMBs]HSO4) exhibited the best catalytic activity under the tested reaction conditions. The conversion of isobutene and selectivity of trimers were 83.21% and 35.80%, respectively, at the optimum reaction conditions. Furthermore, the catalyst system can be easily separated and reused; a feasible reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of the distribution of experimental products.