Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) versus volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in organic electrosynthesis: the requirement of a careful comparison

The possible utilization of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), instead of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in the electrochemical procedures of organic synthesis has been discussed. The synthesis of βlactams, the activation of carbon dioxide and its utilization as renewable carbon source, and the carbon-carbon bond formation reactions via umpolung of aldehydes (benzoin condensation and Stetter reaction) and via Henry reaction have been selected as typical electrochemical methodologies. The results, related to procedures performed in RTILs, have been compared with those performed in VOCs. The double role of RTILs, as green solvents and parents of electrogenerated reactive intermediates or catalysts, has been emphasized