EVIDENCE FOR HYDROGEN-BONDS IN 1,2-DIMETHYL-3-PROPYLIMIDAZOLIUM CHLORIDE AND ITS CHLOROALUMINATE MOLTEN-SALTS

The crystal structure of 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium chloride (DM PICI) reveals the formation of hydrogen bonds between the ring, methyl , and methylene hydrogens and the chloride ion. Although the aromatic rings are found in stacks, aromatic-aromatic interactions are preclude d by the 6.98 angstrom distance between the rings. From IR and H-1NMR spectroscopies, it is determined that only the hydrogen bonds between the ring hydrogens and the chloride ion persist in the room-temperatur e molten salts obtained from combining DMPICI with AlCl3.