Theoretical studies on the butene double bond isomerization catalyzed by 5-H of 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium fluoride

The isomerization of 1-butene to trans-2-butene catalyzed by 5-H proton of 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium fluoride (EMImF) has been studied with density functional theory of quantum chemistry. The equilibrium states geometries and transition state geometry are optimized at the levels of B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), respectively. The apparent activation barrier of isomerization is about 208 kJ/mol theoretically. It indicates that the 5-H proton on the imidazole ring of EMImF has certain catalytic activity to the butene double bond isomerization, which is similar to that of the 4-H proton. According to the data of intrinsic coordinate path, it can be determined that the isomerization is an elementary course and the hydrogen exchange of butene with EMImF is synergetic.