title: Ionic liquids: just Molten salts after all?
abstract: While there has been much effort in recent years to characterise ionic liquids in terms of parameters that are well described for molecular solvents, using these to explain reaction outcomes remains problematic. Herein we propose that many reaction outcomes in ionic liquids may be explained by considering the electrostatic interactions present in the solution; that is, by recognising that ionic liquids are salts. This is supported by evidence in the literature, along with studies presented here.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Hon Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Si Jia
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Stephen R D
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Croft
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D009570:Nitriles; C038682:benzyl bromide