Utilisation of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium-2-carboxylates as CO2-carriers in the presence of Na+ and K+: application in the synthesis of carboxylates, monomethylcarbonate anions and halogen-free ionic liquids

1,3-Dialkylimidazolium-2-carboxylate compounds have recently been fully characterised. Here we describe the utilisation of 1,3-dimethyl (1a) and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium-2-carboxylate (1b) in a carboxylation reaction with transfer of the CO2 moiety to benzoylacetone and methanol for the synthesis, in high yield, of benzoylacetate and monoalkylcarbonate anions, respectively. Conversely, when compounds 1a and b are reacted with carbonylic substrates lacking C–H active bonds, a product resulting from nucleophilic attack of the 1,3-dialkylimidazol-2-ylidene species on the carbonyl moiety is obtained. The reported reactions can find applications in organic synthesis and in the synthesis of halogen-free ionic liquids.