Thermodynamics Research Center / ThermoML | Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data

ABSTRACT

An alternative and more benign method was employed to synthesize tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (FAP) ionic liquids (IL). Ion-exchange chromatography was used instead of the typical electrochemical fluorination developed by Ignat'ev and coworkers. The resulting procedure is simple, and can be readily performed, as the use of corrosive hydrofluoric acid and the production of toxic and explosive byproducts were circumvented. Functionalization of the alkyl group of the imidazolium cation with a methoxy and a nitrile moeity was employed to observe changes in properties. The success of the synthesis was confirmed by 1H, 19F, and 31P NMR, IR, and UV-VIS spectroscopy techniques. Quantitative product yields of approximately 80% (w/w) were obtained. The water content and viscosity values of the synthesized FAP-based ILs were found to be lower compared to other fluorinecontaining ionic liquids. Thermal analyses resulted in high thermal degradation temperatures greater than 573.15 K. Electrochemical analyses showed potential windows of values greater than 5.0 V, indicating electrochemical stability. Based on the basic properties observed, the FAPbased ILs synthesized in this study may be useful as gas absorbents, electrolytes, and other applications, especially those involving extended temperature ranges.