A facile and efficient nucleophilic displacement reaction at room temperature in ionic liquids

We have investigated the use of room temperature ionic liquids as catalytic and environmentally benign solvents for the facile homogenous synthesis of benzyl salicylate by the nucleophilic displacement reaction between sodium salicylate and benzyl chloride. The reaction was found to proceed under relatively mild conditions with excellent conversion (up to 96%) without the use of PTCs. The ionic liquids were recycled and reused. The effect of temperature was also investigated. No by–products were observed after 1H NMR and GC analysis.