Amino acid based ionic liquids: A green and sustainable perspective

Chiral and highly functionalized natural amino acids are readily available by renewable methods in high quantities. They can be easily converted into both anions and cations for the synthesis of ionic liquids. This mini review describes the synthesis of amino acid derived ionic liquids (AAILs) with a focus on the most recent developments. Some specialised applications for AAILs, namely in the fields of chiral solvents, acid catalysis and CO2 absorption will be highlighted.