Spectroscopic Evidence for an Attractive Cation–Cation Interaction in Hydroxy‐Functionalized Ionic Liquids: A Hydrogen‐Bonded Chain‐like Trimer

Abstract

We address the formation of hydrogen bonded domains among the cationic constituents of the ionic liquid (IL) 1‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)pyridinium tetrafluoroborate [HPPy][BF4] by means of cryogenic ion vibrational predissociation spectroscopy of cold (ca. 35 K) gas‐phase cluster ions and quantum chemistry. Specifically, analysis of the OH stretching bands reveals a chain‐like OH⋅⋅⋅OH⋅⋅⋅OH⋅⋅⋅BF4− binding motif involving the three cations in the cationic quinary cluster ion (HPPy+)3(BF4−)2. Calculations show that this cooperative H‐bond attraction compensates for the repulsive Coulomb forces and results in stable complexes that successfully compete with those in which the OH groups are predominantly attached to the counter anions. Our combined experimental and theoretical approach provides insight into the cooperative effects that lead to the formation of hydrogen bonded domains involving the cationic constituents of ILs.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 24, 2018
Source ID
10.1002/anie.201808381

Entities

People

  • Anne Strate
  • Fabian S Menges
  • Helen J Zeng
  • Mark A. Johnson
  • Ralf Ludwig
  • Thomas Niemann

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • German Research Foundation
  • University of Rostock
  • Yale University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry
  • Materials science

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Quantum Computing