Insights into structure-property relationships in ionic liquids using cyclic perfluoroalkylsulfonylimides

Room temperature ionic liquids of cyclic sulfonimide anions ncPFSI (ring size: n = 4-6) with the cations [EMIm]⁺ (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium), [BMIm]⁺ (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) and [BMPL]⁺ (BMPL = 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium) have been synthesized. Their solid-state structures have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and their physicochemical properties (thermal behaviour and stability, dynamic viscosity and specific conductivity) have been assessed. In addition, the ion diffusion was studied by pulsed field gradient stimulated echo (PFGSTE) NMR spectroscopy. The decisive influence of the ring size of the cyclic sulfonimide anions on the physicochemical properties of the ILs has been revealed. All ILs show different properties compared to those of the non-cyclic TFSI anion. While these differences are especially distinct for ILs with the very rigid 6cPFSI anion, the 5-membered ring anion 5cPFSI was found to result in ILs with relatively similar properties. The difference between the properties of the TFSI anion and the cyclic sulfonimide anions has been rationalized by the rigidity (conformational lock) of the cyclic sulfonimide anions. The comparison of selected IL properties was augmented by MD simulations. These highlight the importance of π⁺-π⁺ interactions between pairs of [EMIm]⁺ cations in the liquid phase. The π⁺-π⁺ interactions are evident for the solid state from the molecular structures of the [EMIm]⁺-ILs with the three cyclic imide anions determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Structural, surface, and computational analysis of two vitamin-B1 crystals with sulfonimide-based anions

Two crystals incorporating the thiamine·HCl cation and the fluorinated anion 1,3-disulfonylhexafluoropropyleneimide have been characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The host-guest interactions of thiamine with the anions are analyzed and characterized using Hirshfeld surface analysis. The cations in both structures form a dimer in the solid-state via reciprocal hydrogen bonding through the amine and hydroxyl moieties. Additional investigation into the interactions responsible for dimer formation found that the sulfur atom in the thiazolium ring interacting with several hydrogen atoms to form stabilizing interactions. These interactions in the dimer are further analyzed using reduced density gradient analysis and the results are correlated to the fingerprint plots derived from the Hirshfeld surfaces. Moreover, specific interactions are observed from the cyclical anions, with both the fluorine and sulfonyl oxygen atoms participating in bridging interactions, displaying the diverse host-guest properties of thiamine.

Synthesis of an Adduct-Type Organic Ionic Crystal with Solid-State Ionic Conductivity from A Thiocyanate-Based Ionic Liquid and B(C6F5)3

We synthesized the novel adduct-type organic ionic crystal [C3mim][SCN·B(C6F5)3] (1) by the reaction of 1–methyl–3–propylimidazolium thiocyanate ([C3mim][SCN]), which is a room temperature ionic liquid, and B(C6F5)3, a bulky Lewis acid. The formation of a coordinative B–N bond between the SCN anion and the B(C6F5)3 in 1 was revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. We showed that 1 displays ionic conductivity in the crystalline state and that doping 1 with sodium thiocyanate and B(C6F5)3 results in a dramatic increase in ionic conductivity compared to that of 1.