Addition of suitably-designed zwitterions improves the saturated water content of hydrophobic ionic liquids

摘要

The saturated water content in a hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoh'umbis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-imide, was improved from 0.4 wt% to 17.8 wt% by adding a 3-(1-butyl-3-imidazolio)propanesulfonate-type zwitterion in appropriate amounts. The mixture containing 17.8 wt% water successfully dissolved horse heart cytochrome c without significant change of the higher ordered structure.