Synthesis and applications of new ionic liquids

During this PhD thesis we have tried to overcome some problems related to the synthesis and application of ionic liquids improving both preparation methods of ionic liquids and the system recyclability when these salts are used as solvents in some common organic reactions. We have optimized the methylation procedures of tertiary amines with DMC avoiding the use of high pressures and temperatures. We have synthetized a new class of pyrazolium-based ionic liquids, more resistant to oxidation processes and thus suitable for ion cells applications or, more in general as solvents for oxidative processes. We have applied ILs as reaction media in the Wacker oxidation of styrene by hydrogen peroxide using PdCl2 as catalyst comparing the efficiency of hydrophilic and hydrophobic systems. Tribromide-based ionic liquids have been synthesized and investigated as both efficient solvents and bromination agents and the different physicochemical properties of the reaction media have been used to improve the efficiency of the bromination process.