The Double Role of Ionic Liquids in Electroorganic Synthesis: Green Solvents and Precursors of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

Frequently, in spite of the use of a green reagent (the electron), the electrochemical methodologies are unable, owing to the presence of VOCs-supporting electrolytes solutions, to suggest very eco-friendly and competitive procedures of organic synthesis. In this paper, the possible utilization of room temperature ionic liquids, RTILs, as environmental-friendly solvents, instead of volatile and toxic solvents VOCs containing massive quantities of supporting electrolytes, has been reported. In addition, some new procedures of electroorganic synthesis, concerning the double role of RTILs as green solvents and precursors of electrogenerated N-heterocyclic carbenes (as organocatalysts and bases) have been emphasized.