Low temperature ionic liquids - a laboratory curiosity or technological revolution? Part 1. Physical and chemical properties

1,3-Dialkylimidazoles salts with different substituents have low melting po int, often below room temperature. Tetrachloroaluminates of 1,3-dialkylimid azoles form a new class of solvents. They are not volatile, inflammable and conduct electric current. However, they require insulation from ambient mo isture. More recently, moisture-insensitive low temperature ionic liquid we re synthesized, e.g., tetrafluoroborates and hexafluorophosphates of 1,3-di alkylimidazoles.