Imidazolium-based ionic liquids that contain perrhenate anions are very efficient reaction media for the epoxidation of olefins with H₂O₂ as an oxidant, thus affording cyclooctene in almost quantitative yields. The mechanism of this reaction does not follow the usual pathway through peroxo complexes, as is the case with long-known molecular transition-metal catalysts. By using in situ Raman, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, we have shown that the formation of hydrogen bonds between the oxidant and perrhenate activates the oxidant, thereby leading to the transfer of an oxygen atom onto the olefin demonstrating the special features of an ionic liquid as a reaction environment. The influence of the imidazolium cation and the oxidant (aqueous H₂O₂, urea hydrogen peroxide, and tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide) on the efficiency of the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene were examined. Other olefinic substrates were also used in this study and they exhibited good yields of the corresponding epoxides. This report shows the potential of using simple complexes or salts for the activation of hydrogen peroxide, owing to the interactions between the solvent medium and the active complex.

An ionic liquid (IL) EPReO₄ (N-ethylpyridinium rheniumate) was prepared. The density and surface tension values of the IL were determined in the temperature range of 293.15–343.15 K. The ionic volume and surface entropy of the IL were estimated by extrapolation, respectively. In terms of Glasser's theory, the standard molar entropy and lattice energy of the IL were estimated, respectively. Using Kabo's and Rebelo's methods, the molar enthalpy values of vaporization of the IL, Δ^g_lH⁰_m (298 K), at 298 K and, Δ^g_lH⁰_m (T_b), at hypothetical normal boiling point were estimated, respectively. According to the interstice model, the thermal expansion coefficient of IL EPReO₄ (α) was calculated and compared with experimental value, finding their magnitude order is in good agreement by 8.98%.