Design of 1-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide as the first nanostructured molten salt and its catalytic application in the condensation reaction of various aromatic aldehydes, amides and β-naphthol compared with tin dioxide nanoparticlesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5ra02718g

1-Methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide {[HMIM]C(CN) 3 } as a novel, green and nano molten salt catalyst was designed and fully identified by IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, mass, thermal gravimetric (TG), derivative thermal gravimetric (DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The catalytic application of {[HMIM]C(CN) 3 } for the one-pot three-component condensation reaction of various aromatic aldehydes, amides and β-naphthol was studied through the preparation of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthols at room temperature under solvent-free conditions in comparison with nano SnO 2 . In the presented investigations, some products were produced and reported for the first time. 1-Methyl imidazolium tricyanomethanide {[HMIM]C(CN) 3 } as a novel nano molten salt (MS) was synthesized and applied for the synthesis of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthols and compared with tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles.