The acid-functionalized ionic liquid ([HSO(3)Pmim]HSO4) was synthesized by a two-step method. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) show that the synthesis method is feasible and high purity of ionic liquid can be obtained. Using [HSO(3)Pmim]HSO4 as the catalyst, we studied the reaction kinetics of synthesizing sec-butyl alcohol from sec-butyl acetate and methanol by transesterification in a high-pressure batch reactor. The effects of temperature, initial molar ratio of methanol to ester, and catalyst concentration on the conversion of sec-butyl acetate were studied. Based on its possible reaction mechanism, a homogeneous kinetic model was established. The results show that the reaction heat Delta H is 10.94 x 10(3) J.mol(-1), so the reaction is an endothermic reaction. The activation energies Ea+ and Ea- are 60.38 x 10(3) and 49.44 x 10(3) J.mol(-1), respectively. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.