Ionic liquids for clean technology

The use of room-temperature chloroaluminate(III) ionic liquids, specifically 1-butylpyridinium chloride-aluminium(III) chloride and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride-aluminium(III) chloride, as solvents for clean synthesis and catalytic processes, particularly those applicable to clean technology, is becoming widely recognised and accepted. The design principles for room-temperature ionic liquids, some of their properties, and the rationale for using these neoteric solvents, are discussed here, and an indication of the scope of these solvents for future industrial processes is given.