In a straightforward and fast protocol, a mixture of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium fluoride ([DMIM]F) and 1-butylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Hbim]BF₄) efficiently catalyzed the reaction of epoxides with ketene silyl acetals (KSA) to give various γ-lactones under metal-free conditions. Diverse kinds of the desired γ-lactones were directly prepared with high regioselectivities and yields in a simple one-pot procedure using [DMIM]F as Si-O bond activator and [Hbim]BF₄ as solvent and acidic ionic liquid catalyst. The ionic liquid mixture was recovered and reused three times and no loss in its activity was observed.
Keywords: catalyst; flourous ionic liquid; one-pot synthesis; regioselective; γ-lactone.