Synthesis of imidazolium and pyridinium-based ionic liquids and application of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium salts as pre-catalysts for the benzoin condensation using solvent-free and microwave activation

An efficient one-pot procedure for the synthesis of ionic liquids based on nitrogen-containing heterocycles, imidazolium or pyridinium under 'green chemistry' conditions has been described. Imidazolium salts and DBU have been found to catalyze efficiently the benzoin condensation giving good yields within very short reaction time using solvent-free microwave activation conditions.