The ionic liquid 1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C 4 mim] + Cl À ) was investigated as reaction media for the homogeneous acylation of cellulose with 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. The preparation of cellulose furoate depending on the reaction conditions, the cellulose type and the pyridine content was studied. Cellulose furoates with a degree of substitution in the range from 0.46 to 3.0 were accessible, i.e., under mild conditions, with a low excess of reagent and in a short reaction time. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, perpropionylation, 1 H-and 13 C NMR spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy.