Room temperature molten salts: Neoteric "green" solvents for chemical reactions and processes

Ionic liquids, especially those based on the 1,3-dialkylimidazolium cation, with a large range of liquid phase, negligible vapour pressure, low viscos ity and high thermal and chemical stability are emerging as a new class of 'green' solvents for extraction and separation processes, organic synthesis and catalysis. The main milestones reached in the last two years, on the u se of ionic liquids in green technologies, are reviewed.