il kg35 but with optimal conversion for il kg38 the most compelling results from this data set are obtained using ils kg51 and kg38 using 0 005 g catalyst after 24 h 100 conversion and selectivity were obtained more surprising is the fact that the selectivity was retained up to 48 h thus suggesting that hydrogenolysis of this compound in this il system only occurs with the unsaturated ester more evidence of this fact is observed when the non hydrogenolysed reduced product 12 is further subjected to hydrogenation conditions using an increased amount of catalyst no hydrogenolysis is observed table 14 the significance of this result is based on the fact that il kg51 completely prevents hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ester after the fourth recycle the selectivity remains constant but the conversion decreases slightly to 91 upon recycle 7 only upon recycle 8 is a significant drop in conversion observed 81 varying catalytic amounts were tested for the hydrogenation of benzyl cinnamate using il kg38 table 16 as can be seen from the results displayed in table 16 the increasing amount of catalyst favours hydrogenolysis optimum conditions being observed with 0 005 g catalyst the effect of cation chain length and the number of oxygens in the side chain was investigated to determine whether it was only the cation from ils kg51 and kg38 that gave the best selectivity table 17 it is evident from the results obtained that any difference in the length of the side chain or the number of oxygen atoms in the chain.