CONTEXT

Frequently ionic liquids, used in organic synthesis, have two functions in that they not only serve as a solvent for the reaction but also as a catalyst or catalyst component. In other cases the ionic liquids serve only as a solvent for the catalyst that the ionic liquid is not miscible with the reactants or the reaction product. In this case, the reaction occurs at the phase boundary of the catalyst solution and the reaction products which form a separate phase. This process using two separate liquid phases is suitable, if the reaction product must be quickly removed from the reaction mixture in order to avoid subsequent reactions.

Moreover the catalyst and the reaction product can be separated under gentle conditions.

Therefore, the object underlying this invention was to find new stable imidazolium salts which can be used, in particular, in catalytic processes without having a detrimental effect on the catalytic process.