TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method (S1) comprises: synthesizing a mixture of phosphonium ionic liquids or salts having controlled cation distribution by (a1) reacting 1 equivalent ethyl magnesium chloride in tetrahydrofuran and 2 equivalents methyl magnesium chloride in tetrahydrofuran with phosphorus trichloride to give trimethyl phosphane, 2-methyl-butane, diethyl methyl phosphane and triethyl phosphane in a ratio of 1:2:1:trace, reacting with propyl iodide to give trimethyl-propyl-phosphonium iodide, dimethyl-ethyl-propyl-phosphonium iodide and triethyl-propyl-phosphonium iodide at a ratio of 1:2:1:trace, and ion exchange with reagent of formula (C1+-A1-) to give trimethyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3)3(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)), ethyl dimethyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3CH2) (CH3)2(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)), diethyl methyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3CH2)2 (CH3)(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)) and triethyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3CH2)3(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)) at a ratio of 1:2:1:trace, (a2) reacting a phosphorus compound of formula (PR13) with substituted magnesium halide of formula (R1aMgX1) (h1) and (R1bMgX1) (h2) give phosphorus compound of formula (R1a)3P, (R1a)2(R1b)P, (R1a)(R1b)2P and (R1b)3P, where (h1) and (h2) are present at mole fractions (fa) and (fb) and sum of fa and fb is 1, (a3) reacting a reactant of formula (PR23) with a mixture of Grignard reagents to form a product mixture, reacting the product mixture with an halogen containing compound to produce a mixture of phosphonium halides and ion exchanging the halides with an anion to form a mixture of phosphonium salts or ionic liquids, (a4) reacting 1 equivalent ethyl magnesium chloride in tetrahydrofuran and 2 equivalents methyl magnesium chloride in tetrahydrofuran with phosphorus trichloride to give trimethyl phosphane, 2-methyl-butane, diethyl methyl phosphane and triethyl phosphane in a ratio of 1:2:1:trace, reacting with propyl bromide to give trimethyl-propyl-phosphonium bromide, dimethyl-ethyl-propyl-phosphonium bromide and triethyl-propyl-phosphonium bromide at a ratio of 1:2:1:trace, and ion exchange with reagent of formula (C1+-A1-) to give trimethyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3)3(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)), ethyl dimethyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3CH2) (CH3)2(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)), diethyl methyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3CH2)2 (CH3)(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)) and triethyl propyl phosphonium salt ((CH3CH2)3(CH2-CH2-CH2)P+(A1-)) at a ratio of 1:2:1:trace.R2 = leaving group having electronegativity greater than carbon, preferably Cl, Br, I, alkyloxy, aryloxy, thio alkyl, perfluoroalkylsulfonates, tosylates and/or mesylates;R1a, R1b = alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or other compound capable of producing an organo magnesium compound;X1 = Cl, Br or I;R1 = Cl, Br, I, alkyloxy, aryloxy or other leaving group having electronegativity greater than carbon;C1- = cation;A1+ = anion, preferably -O3SCF3, -O2CCF3, -O2CCF2CF2CF3, -O3SCH3, -O3SCF2CF2CF3, -O2CCF2CF3, -O2CH, -O2CC6R5, -OCN, (-OCOCOO-)BF2-, (-OCOCOO-)2B-, (CF3)2BF2-, (CF3)3BF-, (CF3)3PF3-, (CF3)4B-, (CF3)4PF2-, (CF3CF2)3PF3-, (CF3CF2)4PF2-, (CF3CF2CF2)3PF3-, (CF3CF2CF2)4PF2-, (CF3SO2)2N-, (-OCO(CH2)nCOO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OCOCOCOO-)2B-, (-OCOCOCOO-)B(CF3)2-, (-OCOCOCOO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OCOCOO-)(CF3)2B-, (-OCOCOO-)(CF3)3PF2-, (-OCOCOO-)3P-, (-OCOCOO-)2PF2-, (-OCOCOO-)3P-, (-OCOCOO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OCOCOO-)PF4-, (-OCOCR11R12CR11R12COO-)B(CF3)2-, (-OCOCR11R12CR11R12COO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OCOCR12COO-)2B-, (-OCOCR12COO-)B(CF3)2-, (-OCOCR12COO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OSOCF2SOO-)B(CF3)2-, (-OSOCF2SOO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OSOCF2SOO-)BF2-, (-OSOCH2SOO-)B(CF3)-, (-OSOCH2SOO-)BF(CF3)-, (-OSOCH2SOO-)BF2-, BF4-, C(CN)3-, C6H5CO2-, CF3CF2CO2-, CF3B(-OOR13)3, CF3B(-OOR13)F2-, CF3BF(-OOR13)2, CF3BF3-, CF3CF2BF3-, CF3CF2CF2CO2-, CF3CF2CF2SO3-, CF3CO2-, CF3SO3-, CH3SO3-, CHO2-, CO32-, N(CN)2-, NO3-, OCN- or PF6-; andR11, R12, R13 = H or F.The ratio of different components in the mixture of molecules or salts having low average symmetry is varied by varying mole fraction or ratio of Grignard reagents in the mixture of Grignard reagents. The ratio of different phosphonium cations in the mixture of phosphonium salts or ionic liquids is varied by varying mole fraction or ratio of Grignard reagents in the mixture of Grignard reagents. The method further comprises: reacting the mixture of molecules with at least one alkyl halide to produce a corresponding mixture of phosphonium halides; and ion exchanging the halides with an anion to form a mixture of phosphonium ionic liquids or salts having selective mole fractions. Preferred Components: The mixture of phosphonium ionic liquids or phosphonium salts having controlled cation distribution was made with the mixture of at least two Grignard reagents. The reactant is phosphorus trichloride. At least one component of the mixture of molecules or salts has low symmetry exhibit symmetry lower than (C3v). At least two Grignard reagents in the mixture of Grignard reagents comprise a different organic group, where the organic group produces an organo magnesium compound. The organic group is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclyl and/or heterocyclyl. The mixture of Grignard reagents comprises 2-10 different Grignard reagents. The Grignard reagents in the mixture of Grignard reagents have a mole ratio of about 100:1 to about 1:1. The mixture of Grignard reagents comprises two Grignard reagents having a mole ratio of 10:1-1:1, preferably 2:1. The Grignard reagents comprise methyl magnesium chloride and ethyl magnesium chloride at 2:1 mole ratio. The Grignard reagents are comprised of (R1aMgX1) and (R1bMgX1). The reactant is comprised of a phosphine precursor of formula (PR13), carbonyl containing molecule comprising aldehyde, ketone or ester or metal complex. The reaction product is a mixture of phosphines having mole ratio (R1a)3P:(R1a)2(R1b)P:(R1a)(R1b)2P:(R1b)3P; and (fa3):3x (fa2x fb):3x (fax fb2):fb3. The metal complex is of formula (M1Y12). The halogen containing compound is of formula (RI) or (RBr).R = alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclyl or heterocyclyl;M1 = any metal;Y1 = Cl, Br, I, CH3C6H4SO3, CF3SO3 or OR4; andR4 = H, alkyl, alcohol, aryl, amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, CN, acyl, S containing moieties, P containing moieties, Sb, imido, carbamoyl, linkers, attachment moieties, or redox active moieties. EXAMPLE - 76.4 ml Methyl magnesium chloride and 57.3 ml ethyl magnesium chloride were mixed in a side arm round bottom flask under an atmosphere of argon. This solution was further diluted with 180 ml anhydrous, degassed tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cooled with stirring. 10 ml Phosphorus trichloride was added to the solution of Grignard reagent mixture with stirring. The reaction was stirred for 1 hour and warmed to room temperature. Degassed 12 ml 1-iodopropane was added and stirred for 3 days. The crude solid was collected, rigorously rinsed and dried and worked up to give product (mixture of 1:2:1:trace propyl trimethyl phosphonium iodide, propyl ethyl dimethyl phosphonium iodide, propyl diethyl methyl phosphonium iodide and propyl diethyl phosphonium iodide).