Organoindate room temperature ionic liquid: Synthesis, physicochemical properties and application

The combination of equimolar amounts of solid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolum chloride (BMI-Cl) with solid indium trichloride affords the new room temperature and air stable ionic liquid BMI.InCl4 (mp -6 degreesC). The major physicochemical properties (density, viscosity, electrical conductivity and electrochemical window) of BMI.InCl4 are complementary to those of classical tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate analogues. However, this liquid possesses similar Lewis acidity properties to those of organoaluminate melts and can be used as recyclable media, as demonstrated here for the tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols.81155115