was added to redissolve the imidazolium iodide. After stirring, the formed salts were left to settle. The clear solution was transferred to a 1L round bottom flask and the remaining solids were washed with CH2Cl2 (3x50 mL). The CH2Cl2 solution was dried on Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated to 70 mL, then diethyl ether (220 mL) was added under stirring. After settling of the solid imidazolium salt, the liquid layer was removed by syringe. Diethyl ether (150 mL) was added, the suspension was stirred, and the ether was removed. The remaining imidazolium salt was washed three times with diethyl ether (3x100 mL) and then dried under vacuum. Yield 5.05 g (98%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CD3CN): 8.90 (s, 1H, 2-H), 7.27 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 4H, Ph), 6.97 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 4H, Ph), 3.79 (s, 6H, OCH3), 3.67 (s, 6H, 1+3-CH3). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CD3CN): 162.13, 136.92 (2-C), 133.70, 133.24, 115.61, 56.63 (OCH3), 35.69 (1+3-C). 1,3-Dimethyl-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazolium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide. A conical flask equipped with a stirring bar was charged with 4,5-di(4-methoxy)phenyl-1,3dimethylimidazolium iodide (4.50 g, 10.31 mmol). Milli-Q water (20 mL) was added, followed by LiNTf2 (3.26 g, 11.35 mmol, 1.1 eq.) and CH3CN (20 mL). After stirring for 24 h, CH3CN was removed by a slow flow of N2, CH2Cl2 (20 mL) was added to dissolve the imidazolium NTf2 salt and the layers were transferred to a separation funnel. Some Milli-Q water (20 mL) was added and the aqueous layer was extracted four times with CH2Cl2 (4x100 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with Milli-Q water (20 mL) to remove last traces of LiNTf2 and dried on Na2SO4. After evaporation of CH2Cl2 and further drying under vacuum, the product was obtained as a viscous amber oil. Yield 6.08 g (100%). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CD3CN): 8.50 (s, 1H, 2-H), 7.26 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 4H, Ph), 6.97 (d, J = 8.9 Hz, 4H, Ph), 3.79 (s, 6H, OCH3), 3.65 (s, 6H, 1+3-CH3). 13C NMR (101 MHz, CD3CN): 162.42, 136.63 (2-C),
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