A variety of carbonyl compounds can be converted into oximes efficiently and conveniently in a novel ionic liquid/water bi-phasic system in the presence of sodium bicarbonate at ambient temperature. The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim]PF6 is immiscible with water or diethyl ether and can be easily recycled for reuse without noticeable droping in activity after separation of the products. The protocol is rapid, the yields are excellent, the method is simple and the ionic liquid can be reused.
Efficient electrophilic substitution reaction of indoles with various aromatic aldehydes were carried out with a catalytic amount of sodium hydrogensulfate monohydrate (NaHSO4.H2O) in ionic liquid n-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([Bpy]BF4) to afford the corresponding bi(indolyl)methanes in excellent yields. The notable advantages of this protocol in terms of low cost of catalyst and ionic liquid, mild conditions, simple operation, short reaction time, high yields and recycling of the ionic liquid.
