The nucleophilic reactivity of a representative series of anions has been measured in [hmim][ClO4] 3i,[hm2im][ClO4] 3′ i, and [hmim][PF6] 3l ILs in the reaction with n-alkyl methanesulfonates and compared with that found in common molecular solvents (MeOH, DMSO, PhCl). The reactivity is found to depend on both the imidazolium cation–anion interaction and the specific solvation by water present in the IL, the water playing the main ...
