Efficient synthesis of 1-alkyl(aralkyl)-3-methyl(ethyl)imidazolium halides: Precursors for room-temperature ionic liquids

Facile preparation of 1-alkyl(aralkyl)-3-methyl(ethyl)imidazolium bromides and chlorides is reported. With short reaction times, the desired salts are obtained without purification in high yields from equimolar amounts of reactants.