Bridged tetraquaternary salts from N,N'-polyfluoroalkyl-4,4'-bipyridine.

4,4'-Bipyridine (1) with excess of polyfluoroalkyl bromide or iodides 2a-d at 100-110 degrees C without solvent gave the monoquaternary salts 3a-d in >90% yields. However, 1 with 2.5 equiv of 2a-c in DMF at 110 degrees C resulted in the diquaternary salts 5a-c in >85% yields. In DMF, 5a-c were obtained in comparable yields when a molar excess of 2a-c reacted with 3a-c. 1,4-Dibromobutane with 3a,b in DMF at 100 degrees C led to the tetraquaternary salts 7a,b in approximately 85% yields. In water or acetone/water as a solvent, salts 3a-d and 5a-c were metathesized with LiN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) and KSO(3)CF(3) to produce monoquaternary ionic liquids 4a-h in >88% yields and diquaternary ionic liquids 6a-f in >86% yields, respectively. Tetraquaternary ionic liquids 8a,b were obtained when LiN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) was reacted with salts 7a,b. These compounds were stable to 340 degrees C as determined by DSC. They are the first N-mono-, N,N'-di-, and N,N,N',N'-tetra-4,4'-polyfluoroalkylbipyridinium quaternary salts and ionic liquids.