Highly recyclable, imidazolium derived ionic liquids of low antimicrobial and antifungal toxicity: A new strategy for acid catalysis

Imidazolium derived ionic liquid catalysts have been developed which are aprotic and of low antimicrobial and antifungal toxicity, yet which can act as efficient Bronsted acidic catalysts in the presence of protic additives. The catalysts can be utilised at low loadings and can be recycled 15 times without any discernible loss of activity.