Two　supported　ionic　liquids　using　molecular　sieve　SBA-15　as　supporter　were　prepared　and　employed　as　efficient　catalysts　for　the　synthesis　of　2-butanol　(SBOH)　via　the　transesterification　of　sec-butyl　acetate　and　methanol　(MeOH).　[SBA-15-Ps-im]HSO4　performed　better　in　the　catalytic　activity　and　was　chosen　for　further　studying　the　influence　of　experimental　conditions.　The　effects　of　various　parameters,　such　as　the　catalyst　dosage,　initial　reactant　molar　ratio,　and　reaction　time　on　the　reaction　were　investigated　systematically.　The　maximum　conversion　of　sec-butyl　acetate　(89.2%)　was　obtained　under　the　optimum　reaction　conditions.　In　addition,　the　catalyst　of　supported　ionic　liquids　can　be　easily　separated　by　simple　filtration,　and　the　reusability　test　indicates　that　the　catalyst　has　outstanding　utility　for　repeated　use.　©　2016　Curtin　University　of　Technology　and　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.　©　2016　Curtin　University　of　Technology　and　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.