We report here on the synthesis of a series of ether- and hydroxyl-containing halide salts based on DABCO diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, for conversion into ionic liquids with varying anions. Some of these halide salts have been converted into liquid ionic phosphates (LIPs) and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides. The halide salts were synthesized by reacting an alkyl halide with DABCO using microwave-assisted synthetic techniques and conventional methods. The corresponding ionic liquids were synthesized by anion exchange. Microwave-assisted synthetic reaction conditions, such as the temperature, the nature of the reaction solvent and the length of reaction time, have been varied. Preliminary results show that quaternization has been achieved. Structure determination of these ionic liquids was done using 1H, 13C and 31P NMR. Preliminary characterization including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of a homologous series of compounds is reported. Dramatic differences in melting points were observed with anion variation of DABCO compounds. A comparison of these two synthetic techniques and characterization of these compounds will be reported.This work was supported in part at BNL by the U. S. DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences under contract # DE-AC02-98CH10886 and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Program.