1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium halogenoaluminate ionic liquids as reaction media for the acylative cleavage of ethers

Ionic liquids derived from 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (emimI), and aluminium chloride have been shown to be suitable solvents for the acylative cleavage of a series of cyclic and acyclic ethers. Difunctionalised ω-iodobenzoate adducts have been isolated from the cleavage of cyclic ethers performed in Lewis acidic ionic liquids (i.e. AlCl3:emimI ratio is greater than 1:1) in the presence of benzoyl chloride.