Structural analysis of low melting organic salts: perspectives on ionic liquids

Ionic liquid-forming salts often display low melting points (a lack of crystallisation at ambient temperature and pressure) as a result of decreased lattice energies in the crystalline state. Intermolecular interactions between the anion and cation, and the conformational states of each component of the salt, are of significant interest as many of the distinctive properties ascribed to ionic liquids are determined to a large extent by these interactions. Crystallographic analysis provides a direct insight into the spatial relationship between the cations and anions and provides a basis for an enhanced understanding of the physico-chemical relationship of the ionic liquids. This perspective article examines the crystallographic studies of relevance to ionic liquid-forming organic salts as a basis for the rational design and synthesis of novel ionic liquids.