Several gamma-valerolactone (GVL) based solvents including methyl 4-methoxyvalerate (1a), ethyl 4-ethoxyvalerate (1b), tetramethylammonium 4-hydroxyvalerate (2a), tetrabutylammonium 4-hydroxyvalerate (2b), and cholinium 4-hydroxyvalerate (2c) were prepared and characterized. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.