The course of hydrolysis of an ester, 4-acetoxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid catalyzed with poly(1-methyl-3-allylimidazolium bromide) (IIa), poly[l-methyl-3-(2-propinyl)imidazolium chloride] (IIb) and poly[l-methyl-3-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)imidazolium bromide] (IIc) in a 28.5% aqueous ethanol was investigated as a function of pH and compared with low-molecular weight models, viz., l-methyl-3-alkylimidazolium bromides (the alkyl group being methyl, propyl, and hexyl, resp). Polymers IIb, IIc possessed a higher activity at pH above 9, while the models were more active at a lower pH with a maximum at pH 7.67. The catalytic activity at the higher pH is attributed to an attack by the OH- group, while at the lower pH it is assigned to a direct attack of water on the substrate. The rate of hydrolysis of 4-acetoxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid is proportional to the catalyst concentration [IIc] and proceeds as a first-order reaction. The hydrolysis depends on the composition of the solvent and was highest at 28.5% (vol.) of ethanol in water. The hydrolysis of a neutral ester, 4-nitrophenyl acetate, was not accelerated by IIc.
