Advances in chiral ionic liquids derived from natural amino acids

Ionic liquids (ILs) possess a number of unique properties; hence they have received much interest as green media for synthesis, analysis, catalysis, separation, and energy provision. More recently, chiral ionic liquids (CILs), which are derived from natural amino acids with chirality, biodegradability, reduced toxicity, and high biocompatibility, have also attracted interest. This report provides an overview of the design, synthesis, properties, and applications of these new CILs derived from natural amino acids. This is a current area of research that is poised for rapid development and expansion. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.