Use of Ionic Liquid as Green Catalyst, Reagent as Well as Reaction Medium in Chemical Transformation

1Introduction The toxic and volatile nature of many organic solvents, particularly chlorinated hydrocarbons that are widely used in organic synthesis have posed a serious threat to the environment. Thus, design of organic solvent - free reaction and use of alternative green solvents like water, supercritical fluids, and ionic liquids have received tremendous attention in recent times in the area of green synthesis. The ionic liquids have been the subject of considerable current interest as environmentally benign reaction media in organic synthesis because of their unique properties of nonvolatility, noninf1ammability, and recyclability among others and during last few years ionic liquids have been successfully employed as green solvents for a variety of important reactions.However, the ability of ionic liquid as a clean catalyst and reagent has not been explored to any great extent although it is of much importance in the context of green synthesis.