Reversible Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids

Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) hold great promise for their potential as customizable and environmentally friendly (\\\'green\\\') solvents. Georgetown University researchers discovered a new class of RTIL solvents called \\\"amidinium carbamates\\\"" that can be repeatedly interconverted between ionic-liquid and non-ionic-liquid states by simply bubbling either carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas (at one atmosphere of pressure). Interconversion between different polarities offers a distinct advantage of customizing reaction environments including options of either solvating or precipitating chemical-reaction components. Additionally amidinium-carbamate solvents do not require maintaining absolutely dry atmospheres as compared to existing technologies. Georgetown University is seeking a commercial partner to license and develop these polarity-convertible amidinium-carbamate solvents."