Ionic liquids, 3. Synthesis and utilisation of protic imidazolium salts in homogeneous catalysis

Protonation of 1-alkylimidazoles provides halogen-free salts which act as ionic liquids and proton reservoir in proton- and metal-assisted catalytic processes like dimerisation of methyl acrylate and ring closing metathesis, and lead to significant improvements both in activity and selectivity.