Abstract: Processes for acylating an aromatic compound are provided. In embodiments, such a process comprises combining an aromatic compound, an acylating agent, and a catalyst composition under conditions to induce acylation of the aromatic compound with the acylating agent, the catalyst composition comprising components selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid of formula R—SO3H, wherein R is a linear alkyl group substituted with one or more halogen atoms; an ionic liquid and an acid; an acid and a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid; an ionic liquid, an acid, and an aromatic; and an acid, a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid, and an aromatic. The ionic liquid does not comprise a metal halide and the catalyst composition is free of a metal halide and the aromatic, if present in the catalyst composition, is not the aromatic compound being acylated.

Abstract: Processes for acylating an aromatic compound are provided. In embodiments, such a process comprises combining an aromatic compound, an acylating agent, and a catalyst composition under conditions to induce acylation of the aromatic compound with the acylating agent, the catalyst composition comprising components selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid of formula R—SO3H, wherein R is a linear alkyl group substituted with one or more halogen atoms; an ionic liquid and an acid; an acid and a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid; an ionic liquid, an acid, and an aromatic; and an acid, a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid, and an aromatic. The ionic liquid does not comprise a metal halide and the catalyst composition is free of a metal halide and the aromatic, if present in the catalyst composition, is not the aromatic compound being acylated.

Abstract: Processes for alkylating benzene are provided. In embodiments, the process comprises combining benzene, an olefin, and a catalyst composition under conditions to react benzene with the olefin to produce an alkylbenzene, the catalyst composition comprising components selected from the group consisting of an ionic liquid, an acid, and an aromatic; an acid, a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid, and an aromatic; an ionic liquid and an acid; and an acid and a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid. The ionic liquid does not comprise a metal halide and the catalyst composition is free of a metal halide and the aromatic, if present in the catalyst composition, is not the benzene being alkylated.

Abstract: Haloalkane sulfonic acids and salts thereof are provided. In embodiments, a haloalkane sulfonic acid or salt thereof comprises an alkyl group, at least one sulfonic acid group, and one or more halogens selected from Cl, Br, I, and F, the haloalkane sulfonic acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from 2 to 9, and wherein if at least one F atom is present, the haloalkane sulfonic acid comprises at least one other halogen selected from Cl, Br, and I. Methods of making and using the haloalkane sulfonic acids/salts are also provided.

Abstract: Haloalkane sulfonic acids and salts thereof are provided. In embodiments, a haloalkane sulfonic acid or salt thereof comprises an alkyl group, at least one sulfonic acid group, and one or more halogens selected from Cl, Br, I, and F, the haloalkane sulfonic acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from 2 to 9, and wherein if at least one F atom is present, the haloalkane sulfonic acid comprises at least one other halogen selected from Cl, Br, and I. Methods of making and using the haloalkane sulfonic acids/salts are also provided.

Abstract: Processes for acylating an aromatic compound are provided. In embodiments, such a process comprises combining an aromatic compound, an acylating agent, and a catalyst composition under conditions to induce acylation of the aromatic compound with the acylating agent, the catalyst composition comprising components selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid of formula R—SO3H, wherein R is a linear alkyl group substituted with one or more halogen atoms; an ionic liquid and an acid; an acid and a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid; an ionic liquid, an acid, and an aromatic; and an acid, a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid, and an aromatic. The ionic liquid does not comprise a metal halide and the catalyst composition is free of a metal halide and the aromatic, if present in the catalyst composition, is not the aromatic compound being acylated.

Abstract: Haloalkane sulfonic acids and salts thereof are provided. In embodiments, a haloalkane sulfonic acid or salt thereof comprises an alkyl group, at least one sulfonic acid group, and one or more halogens selected from Cl, Br, I, and F, the haloalkane sulfonic acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from 2 to 9, and wherein if at least one F atom is present, the haloalkane sulfonic acid comprises at least one other halogen selected from Cl, Br, and I. Methods of making and using the haloalkane sulfonic acids/salts are also provided.

Abstract: Alkane multi-sulfonic acids and salts thereof are provided. In embodiments, an alkane multi-sulfonic acid or salt thereof comprises an alkyl group and at least two sulfonic acid groups, the alkane multi-sulfonic acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from 2 to 9, wherein the alkane multi-sulfonic acid does not comprise a halogen.

Abstract: Processes for alkylating benzene are provided. In embodiments, the process comprises combining benzene, an olefin, and a catalyst composition under conditions to react benzene with the olefin to produce an alkylbenzene, the catalyst composition comprising components selected from the group consisting of an ionic liquid, an acid, and an aromatic; an acid, a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid, and an aromatic; an ionic liquid and an acid; and an acid and a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid. The ionic liquid does not comprise a metal halide and the catalyst composition is free of a metal halide and the aromatic, if present in the catalyst composition, is not the benzene being alkylated.

Abstract: An alkylation catalyst composition is provided which comprises an acid, an aromatic, and a third component selected from the group consisting of a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid; and an ionic liquid. An alkylation process is also provided which comprises combining the alkylation catalyst composition with a feedstock under conditions to produce an alkylate product for a motor fuel additive. The alkylate product produced by the alkylation process is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are double salt ionic liquids that include at least one organic cation and at least two metal halide anions. Methods of making the double salt ionic liquids can include combining two or more metal halide containing salts, wherein the metal halide containing salts include at least one organic cation and at least two metal halide anions. The reaction between the two or more salts at any ratio allows fine tuning, rate of dissolution, solubility, and bioavailability of the double salt ionic liquids. The ionic liquids disclosed herein can be used as a catalyst for catalyzing a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction can be an acid catalyzed chemical reaction such as a Lewis acid catalyzed reaction, a Beckmann rearrangement reaction, a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement reaction, a heterocyclic synthesis, a reaction for biodiesel production, a mercury-catalyzed type reaction, or a hydrogen-fluoride catalyzed type reaction.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of acylating an aryl substrate comprising combining a substituted aryl substrate with an acylating agent in the presence of a catalyzing medium, thereby acylating the substituted aryl substrate in the para position, wherein the catalyzing medium is an ionic liquid comprising at least one cation and at least one metal halide anion.

Abstract: Described herein are magnetic particle-ionic liquid composite materials, and methods of making and use thereof. The magnetic particle-ionic liquid composite materials can comprise an ionic liquid conjugated to a magnetic particle, wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one cation and at least one metal halide anion; and wherein the ionic liquid is not covalently bound to the magnetic particle.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of acylating an aryl substrate comprising combining a substituted aryl substrate with an acylating agent in the presence of a catalyzing medium, thereby acylating the substituted aryl substrate in the para position, wherein the catalyzing medium is an ionic liquid comprising at least one cation and at least one metal halide anion.

Abstract: Disclosed are double salt ionic liquids that include at least one organic cation and at least two metal halide anions. Methods of making the double salt ionic liquids can include combining two or more metal halide containing salts, wherein the metal halide containing salts include at least one organic cation and at least two metal halide anions. The reaction between the two or more salts at any ratio allows fine tuning, rate of dissolution, solubility, and bioavailability of the double salt ionic liquids. The ionic liquids disclosed herein can be used as a catalyst for catalyzing a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction can be an acid catalyzed chemical reaction such as a Lewis acid catalyzed reaction, a Beckmann rearrangement reaction, a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement reaction, a heterocyclic synthesis, a reaction for biodiesel production, a mercury-catalyzed type reaction, or a hydrogen-fluoride catalyzed type reaction.