No abstract

This supplement contains: a. Specific synthetic details for ionic liquids A, B, C b. Figures expanding on the experimental details and observations c. Description and details of electronic migration corrections Reference numbers are those in the manuscript.

Through an optimized synthetic strategy, a series of novel alkylpyridinium cobalt tetracarbonyl salts, [C(1)Py][Co(CO)(4)] (), [C(4)Py][Co(CO)(4)] () and [C(16)Py][Co(CO)(4)] () (C(n)Py = N-C(n)H(2n+1)-pyridinium), were successfully prepared in good yields, using a water-organic biphasic system. All the three compounds melt well below 100 degrees C and could be classified as ionic liquids. The compounds were fully characterized using IR, UV-Vis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis, and was structurally characterized by X-ray single crystal analysis. Compound has been found to be an efficient and reusable catalyst for the alkoxycarbonylation of propylene oxide without the aid of a base additive.