A series of novel imidazolium based ionic liquids containing the urea moiety were designed and synthesized for anion recognition. 1-Ethylurea-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Eumim]OAc) was used as the receptor for the halides and complex anions (BF 4 -, PF 6 -, BPh 4 -). 1 H NMR spectra showed that the urea protons and imidazolium C (2) [18]. They have high thermal stability and low volatility, and their physicochemical properties can be finely tuned by selection of the anion and cation. Recently, the interaction between the cations and anions was found to play a major role in controlling the physicochemical properties of ionic liquids [19][20][21]. The interaction energies of ion pairs of ionic liquids were studied by ab initio calculations, and the magnitude of the interaction energies of ionic liquids with the same cation varied with the counter anion [19]. The cation of the ionic liquid preferentially combines with the anion, which they can form the larger interaction energy. Therefore, anion exchange probably takes place when another anion is added to the ionic liquid, and this changes the specific physicochemical properties of the ionic liquid. These changes could be used to develop a method for anion recognition. In the present study, a series of imidazolium based ionic liquids containing the urea moiety were synthesized. The ionic liquids were used as receptors to recognize halides and complex anions, such as BF 4 -, PF 6 -and BPh 4 -, via the variation in the chemical shifts of the urea and imidazolium C(2) protons.