The synthesis and characterization of novel ionic liquids with dual-functional groups on imidazolium cations

I&EC 225

Youquan Deng, ydeng@lzb.ac.cn, Centre for Green Chemistry and Catalysis, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
The design and synthesis of novel ionic liquids (ILs) with peculiar physicochemical properties has been one of the hot topics in the current ILs research. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of novel ILs with dual-functional groups on imidazolium cations. Characterization with DSC, TG/DTA, and electrochemical method etc. suggested that these ILs showed some interesting features differed from traditional ILs with mono-functional cations. For example, the specific heats (Cp) of ILs are all exceed 2.0 J·g-1·K-1 (even 2.36 J·g-1·K-1), which is much higher than [BMIm][BF4] (Cp=1.614 J·g-1·K-1). ILs containing two cyano groups has the much higher electrochemical window, and an irreversible oxidation of +3.4V could be achieved. Also, ILs showed peculiar features in solubility, for example, some ILs are almost insoluble with acetone and ethanol. The other possible physicochemical properties and their potential applications as functional materials in catalysis, selective dissolubility, and photoelectric fields are still under investigation.