Coordination chemistry of the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion: molecular interactions in room temperature ionic liquids

Room temperature ionic liquids composed of bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anions and 1,3-ethylmethylimidazolium (EMI) cations are shown to stabilize monomeric ligand deficient transition metal complexes via four distinct binding modes: monodentate nitrogen or oxygen coordination and/or bidentate oxygen–oxygen or nitrogen–oxygenʹ coordination ((eta)^1 –N, (eta)^1 –O, (eta)^2 –O,Oʹ and (eta)^2 –N,O).