Spectroscopic and Chemical Properties of Ionic Liquids: Computational Study

A brief account is given of highlights of our computational efforts - often in collaboration with experimental groups - to understand spectroscopic and chemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs). Molecular dynamics, including their inhomogeneous character, responsible for key spectral features observed in dielectric absorption, infra-red (IR) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements are elucidated. Mechanisms of chemical processes involving imidazolium-based ILs are illustrated for CO₂ capture and related reactions, transesterification of cellulose, and Au nanocluster-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with attention paid to differing roles of IL ions. A comparison with experiments is also made.