Abstract: There is provided a plastic or gel material comprising a mixture of: (a) a compound of formula (I) or a mixture of two or more compounds of formula (I), (R?)n(Xn?) (I) or a hydrate thereof, wherein n, R+ and Xn? have meanings given in the description; (b) one or more uncharged organic compounds, each of which compounds comprises at least one oxygen atom and at least one hydrogen atom that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond with Xn?; and (c) one or more polysaccharides, wherein each polysaccharide is a polymer of pyranose monomers, at least 30% of which monomers are in the ?-anomeric conformation. There is also provided articles formed from such materials, uses of such materials and processes for forming such materials.

Abstract: Ionic compounds having a freezing point of no more than 50° C., formed by the reaction of at least one amine salt of the formula R1R2R3R4N+X? (I) with at least one hydrated salt, which is a chloride, nitrate, sulphate or acetate of Li, Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Bi, La or Ce; wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently a C1 to C5 alkyl or a C6 to C10 cycloalkyl group, or wherein R2 and R3 taken together represent a C4 to C10 alkylene group, thereby forming with the N atom of formula (I) a 5 to 11 membered heterocyclic ring, and wherein R4 is hydrogen, or phenyl, or C1 to C12 alkyl or cycloalkyl group, optionally substituted with at least one group selected from OH, Cl, Br, F, I, phenyl, NH2, CN, NO2, COOR5, CHO, COR5 and OR5, wherein R5 is a C1 to C10 alkyl or cycloalkyl group, and X? is an anion capable of being complexed by the said hydrated salt.

Abstract: Ionic compounds with a freezing point of up to 100° C. are formed by the reaction of an one amine salt of formula (I) R1R2R3R4N+X?, such as choline chloride with an organic compound (II) capable of forming a hydrogen bond with X; such as urea, wherein the molar ration of I to II is from 1:1.5 to 1:2.5. R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be H, optionally substituted C1 to C5 alkyl, optionally substituted C6 to C10 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C6 to C12 aryl, optionally substituted C7 to C12 alkaryl, or R1 and R2 taken together may represent a C4 to C10 optionally substituted alkylene group, thereby forming with the N atom of formula I a 5 to 11-membered heterocyclic ring and all of R1, R2, R3 and R4 are not identical, X? may be NO3?, F, Cl?, Br?, I?, BF4?, ClO4?, CN?, SO3CF3?, or COOCF3?. The ionic compounds are useful as solvents, and electrolytes for example in electroplating, electrowinning, and electropolishing, and as catalysts.

Abstract: Ionic compounds with a freezing point of up to 100° C. are formed by the reaction of an one amine salt of formula (I) R1R2R3R4N+X−, such as choline chloride with an organic compound (II) capable of forming a hydrogen bond with X; such as urea, wherein the molar ration of I to II is from 1:1.5 to 1:2.5. R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be H, optionally substituted C1 to C5 alkyl, optionally substituted C6 to C10 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C6 to C12 aryl, optionally substituted C7 to C12 alkaryl, or R1 and R2 taken together may represent a C4 to C10 optionally substituted alkylene group, thereby forming with the N atom of formula I a 5 to 11-membered heterocyclic ring and all of R1, R2, R3 and R4 are not identical, X− may be NO3−, F, Cl−, Br−, I−, BF4−, ClO4−, CN−, SO3CF3−, or COOCF3−. The ionic compounds are useful as solvents, and electrolytes for example in electroplating, electrowinning, and electropolishing, and as catalysts.

Abstract: An ionic liquid having a melting point of no more than 60° C., formed by the reaction of a quaternary ammonium compound of the formula: R1R2R3R4N+X−  (I) or a mixture of two or more therof; with a halide of zinc, tin or iron, or a mixture of two or more thereof.