Coordination chemistry of the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion: molecular interactions in room temperature ionic liquids.

Room temperature ionic liquids composed of bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anions and 1,3-ethylmethylimidazolium (EMI) cations are shown to stabilize monomeric ligand deficient transition metal complexes via four distinct binding modes: monodentate nitrogen or oxygen coordination and/or bidentate oxygen-oxygen' or nitrogen-oxygen coordination (eta1-N, eta1-O, eta2-O,O' and eta2-N,O).