Alkyltrioctylphosphonium chloride ionic liquids: synthesis and physicochemical properties.

A series of alkyltrioctylphosphonium chloride ionic liquids, prepared from trioctylphosphine, and the respective 1-chloroalkane (C(n)H(2n+1)Cl), where n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 or 14, is presented. The cynosure of this work is the manner in which the variable chain length impacts the physical properties, such as melting points/glass transitions, thermal stability, density and viscosity. Experimental density and viscosity data were interpreted using QPSR correlations and group contribution methods. We present the first example of an empirical alternation effect for ionic liquids. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011