A Chemists’ Guide to Salt Metathesis and its Applications

Salt metathesis is a widely applicable and environmentally friendly method that aids in synthesis of ionic compounds its purification, crystallization and new material design. In this review, we have discussed on organic, inorganic, and organometallic systems that has been used to perform metathesis, enabling the isolation of new class of ionic systems with attractive properties. We focused on inorganic ions like aluminates, borates, dodecaborane, carboranes, etc. for metathesis. The topic of single-crystal to single-crystal ion metathesis, atypical for the MOF family is also touched upon. Iridium and platinum-based soft salts have been deliberated in the section of organometallic ions in metathesis. Further, imidazole-based ionic liquids, nitrogen-rich energy salts, organic radical ions using donor and acceptor ions in metathesis (TTF, Fullerene, TCNQ) have been discussed in detail in the section of organic ion metathesis. Finally, we describe the applications of ionic scaffolds in purification, sensing, stability, bistability, proton conductivity, energetics, etc. The review will enable new research on ionic metathesis, and stimulate new interests in design and synthesis of new ionic materials and its new age applications.