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Review
. 2018 Jun;10(3):691-706.
doi: 10.1007/s12551-018-0419-2. Epub 2018 Apr 26.

Ionic liquids: a brief history

Tom Welton  1
Affiliations
Review

Ionic liquids: a brief history

Tom Welton. Biophys Rev. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

There is no doubt that ionic liquids have become a major subject of study for modern chemistry. We have become used to ever more publications in the field each year, although there is some evidence that this is beginning to plateau at approximately 3500 papers each year. They have been the subject of several major reviews and books, dealing with different applications and aspects of their behaviours. In this article, I will show a little of how interest in ionic liquids grew and developed.

Keywords: Catalysis; Dynamics; Electrochemistry; Green chemistry; Industrial applications; Ionic liquid; Structure; Synthesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Tom Welton declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Phase diagram of [C2C1im]Cl-AlCl3
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Some commonly used cations for ionic liquids
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Some commonly used anions for ionic liquids
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Synthesis of alkoxyphenylphosphanes
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Snapshots of simulation boxes of [Cnmim][PF6]: a [C2C1im][PF6] CPK colouring; b [C2C1im][PF6] same configuration as in a with red/green (charged/nonpolar) colouring; c [C4C1im][PF6]; d [C6C1im][PF6]; e [C8C1im][PF6]; f [C12C1im][PF6]
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The molecular structure of a mixed phosphine-NHC palladium complex formed in [C4C1im][BF4]
Scheme 2
Scheme 2
Proposed complex formation in a DES. The ChCl-urea DES has a eutectic point at a 1:2 ratio
Scheme 3
Scheme 3
Proposed complex formation in lithium glyme solvate ionic liquid. The lithium salt-glyme molar ratio is 1:1
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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