Catalytic Rosenmund–von Braun reaction in halide-based ionic liquids

Ionic liquids based on 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium halide salts (bmiX) have been used as an effective reusable reaction media in the Rosenmund–von Braun reaction of aryl halides and NaCN using copper(I) salts as catalysts. Product isolation is achieved by simple extraction using organic solvents. The copper catalysts immobilized in ionic liquid media can be reused continuously.