Abstract

The catalyst immobilisation in a liquid phase represents an attractive mean to preserve high reaction rates and selectivities, also leading to an easy recycling. To attain this goal, organic products should be extracted in a simple way from the catalytic phase giving metal-free compounds; for this reason, ionic liquids exhibiting high affinity for metallic species and low affinity for low polar compounds, turn into a promising medium for the synthesis of fine chemicals. In the present Accounts, we illustrate this approach through our research involving both types of catalysts, molecular organometallic compounds and metallic nanoparticles, dispersed in an ionic liquid phase.