Lewis acid-catalyzed Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes in ionic liquids

The Beckmann rearrangement of five ketoximes was done in 17 different ionic liquids by using four Lewis acids. The effect of the type of cation and the type of anion in the ionic liquid on the rate of the rearrangement reaction and product composition is compared and discussed. The effects of the hydrophobicity and the hydrogen bonding ability of ionic liquids on the rearrangement of ketoximes were investigated, as well as the catalytical activity of the Lewis acids. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.