The dramatic acceleration effect of imidazolium ionic liquids on electron transfer reactions

Imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) exhibited a dramatic acceleration effect on the electron transfer from metal complexes such as (C5Me5)2Fe(II) and (C5Me5)2Co(II) to the oxygen molecule; this acceleration effect can be ascribed to the stabilization of the oxygen radical anions by coordinating with the acidic C2-H of imidazolium ILs.