Ionic liquids based on imidazolium salts incorporating a nitrile functionality

摘要

Novel chemical compounds of the general formula K+A, in which K+ is a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring having 1-3 hetereo atoms, which can be independently N, S, or O; with the proviso that at least one of the hetereo atoms must be a quaternized nitrogen atom having a RCN substituent, wherein R is alkyl (C1 to C12); the heterocyclic ring having up to 4 or 5 substituents independently chosen from the moieties: (i) H; (ii) halogen or (iii) alkyl (C1 to C12), which is unsubstituted or partially or fully substituted by further groups, preferably F, Cl, N(CnF(2n+1x)Hx)2, O(CnF(2n+1x)Hx), SO2(CnF(2n+1x)Hx)2 or CnF(2n+1x)Hx where 1n6 and 0x13; and (iv) a phenyl ring which is unsubstituted or partially or fully substituted by further groups, preferably F, Cl, N(CnF(2n+1x)Hx)2, O(CnF(2n+1x)Hx), SO2(CnF(2n+1x)Hx)2 or CnF(2n+1x)Hx where 1n6 and 0x13; and A is any anion that provides a salt with a low melting point, below about 100° C.; A can be halide, BF4, PF6, NO3, CH3CO2, CF3SO3, (CF3SO2)2N, (CF3SO2)3C, CF3CO2 or N(CN)2 or [BF3RCN] These compounds can be used as industrial solvents, especially as ligands for efficient catalyst recycling.