A simple, mild and high yielding method for the conversion of various aldehydes to nitriles has been developed using an ionic liquid reagent, hexamethylene bis(N-methylimidazolium) bis(dichloroiodate) (HMBMIBDCI), in combination with aqueous ammonia in CH3CN at room temperature. Moreover, the treatment of aromatic and aliphatic thiols with HMBMIBDCI resulted in the corresponding disulfides in solvent-free condition at room temperature.
