Homogeneous butyrylation and lauroylation of poplar wood in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

Wood meal was dissolved under identical conditions in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C(4)mim]Cl) and homogeneously esterified with butyryl chloride and lauroyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine as a neutralizer. The effect of the molar ratio of reagent to the hydroxyl groups in wood on the properties of the esterified wood and the possible mechanism of the homogeneous esterification of wood in this reaction medium were studied. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of the esterified wood were characterized by FTIR, solid-state CP/MAS (13)C NMR, TGA/DTG and SEM. The results confirmed that the homogeneous modifications were successfully processed and highly substituted wood esters could be obtained by reacting the dissolved wood in this homogeneous system.