Hydrogenation of C-C double bonds in an ionic liquid reaction system using the obligate anaerobe, Sporomusa termitida.

Sporomusa termitida reduced caffeate (1mM) in anaerobic, two-liquid phase, reaction systems containing either tetradecane or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [[bmim][PF6]] (20% v/v). The initial rate and final product yield were 20 and 7% lower, respectively, in [bmim][PF6]. Since caffeate partitioned only into the aqueous phase, the lower rate cannot be attributed to mass transfer barriers. Therefore, [bmim][PF6] inhibited the biocatalyst, perhaps unsurprisingly since it is very polar and hydrolyses to produce HF.