The present invention provides ionic liquids (ILs) comprising a carbohydrate anionic moiety and a cationic counter-ion moiety (Q.sup.+) and methods for producing and using the same. In one particular embodiment, the carbohydrate anionic moiety portion of ILs of the present invention is of the formula:

[G-L].sup.I

wherein G is selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a trisaccharide, and a derivative thereof; and L is a moiety selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00001##

wherein each of R.sup.a, R.sup.b, and R.sup.c is independently hydrogen, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, or C.sub.2-20 mono- or di-unsaturated alkenyl; A.sup. is CO.sub.2.sup., PO.sub.3H.sup., or SO.sub.3.sup.; and each of * marked carbon atom is independently a chiral center when said carbon atom has four different groups attached thereto.