6. Conclusion. Prospective

In just a few years, ionic liquids have gone from being laboratory curiosities to solvents in their own right, with applications ranging from electrochemistry to organic synthesis. Their vapour pressure is virtually zero, and the wide range of anions and cations available means that their properties (miscibility, acid-base, solubilizing power, hydrophilicity, polarity, coordinating power) can be controlled, giving rise to the new concept of "tailor-made" solvents. These compounds are simple to prepare and, for the most part, easy to recycle. Ionic liquids are therefore excellent candidates for replacing conventional organic solvents. Most of the major reactions in organic synthesis and catalysis have been successfully re-examined in these media. Beyond the concept of the green neoteric solvent, ionic liquids offer other advantages such as enhanced chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities,...