Halogen bonding effect on electrochemical anion oxidation in ionic liquids.

Three Ionic liquids (ILs) based on an imidazolium core have been compared and used as solvents for the oxidation of various anions. Electrochemical experiments as well as NMR titrations and X-ray diffraction analyses unambiguously confirm the crucial role of non-covalent halogen bonding on the oxidation potentials and consequently the electrochemical window of the respective ILs.