Ionic liquids, with their unique properties, including low volatility, high polarity, good thermal stability over a wide temperature range and selective dissolving capacity by a proper choice of cations or anions, have attracted increasing interest in the organic transformations as reactioin medium as well as catalyst (ligand). Compared with traditional organic solvents, ionic liquids have great advantages in obtaining products with high isolated yields and good to excellent selectivities, accelerationg reaction rate in some cases, ease of work-up, as well as recycling use with or without catalysts after simply recoveration. The paper reviews the advanced progress in the application of ionic liquids as reaction medium as well as catalysts to organic synthesis, mainly including coupling reaction, Michael addition, Baylis-Hillman reaction, Diels-Alder reaction, Aldol reaction, Knoevenagel condensation, cyclorization reaction, alkylation and acylation, oxidation and reduction etc.

Key words: cyclorization reaction, alkylation and acylation, oxidation and recycling use, Knoevenagel condensation