Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Applications of Ionic Liquids Derived from Natural Products

Abstract

Ionic liquids, nonvolatile salts featuring a melting point below 100 °C, are one of the few alternative solvents for environmentally friendly processes. However, like most molecular solvents, they are usually prepared by means of building blocks derived from fossil oil. Fortunately, an increasing number of ionic liquids are synthesized starting from renewable natural products such as sugars and amino acids. In the present review, we describe the detailed synthesis and applications of the biosourced ionic liquids reported in the literature over the last four years.