Tunable Microwave Flow System for Scalable Synthesis of Alkyl Ionic Liquids

A continuous flow auto-frequency tuning single-mode microwave reactor is disclosed as a powerful platform to synthesize alkyl imidazolium salts as ionic liquids/ionic liquid precursors in up to near-quantitative yields, 100-600 g h(-1) productivities and record space-time yields. Challenges faced, including viscosity changes, dielectric property changes, and phase separations, were addressed by different operation modes of the reactor without reactor redesigning. Depending on the purpose, this highly productive method could prove to be useful for intensive applications of ionic liquids.