Ionic liquids, formed by combining 1 mole of 3-butyl-1H-methylimidazolium chloride with two moles of a Group III-A metal chloride (Al, Ga, In), were examined for toluene carbonylation reactivity to determine the effect changing the M(III) cation. The ionic liquids were characterized for total HCl pickup using a classical volumetric device to determine the effect of changing the Lewis acid partner (MCl₃) upon the HCl absorption. These ionic liquids were characterized for acidity indirectly by ¹³C-NMR of labeled CH₃-*CO-CH₃. These results were correlated by a mechanism where the Brønsted acidity of the ionic liquid was regulated by the M³⁺Cl₃.

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