Acid-base property of N-methylimidazolium-based protic ionic liquids depending on anion.

Proton-donating and ionization properties of several protic ionic liquids (PILs) made from N-methylimidazole (Mim) and a series of acids (HA) have been assessed by means of potentiometric and calorimetric titrations. With regard to strong acids, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (Tf(2)NH) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH), it was elucidated that the two equimolar mixtures with Mim almost consist of ionic species, HMim(+) and A(-), and the proton transfer equilibrium corresponding to autoprotolysis in ordinary molecular liquids was established. The respective autoprotolysis constants were successfully evaluated, which indicate the proton-donating abilities of TfOH and Tf(2)NH in the respective PILs are similar. In the case of trifluoroacetic acid, the proton-donating ability of CF(3)COOH is much weaker than those of TfOH and Tf(2)NH, while ions are predominant species. On the other hand, with regard to formic acid and acetic acid, protons of these acids are suggested not to transfer to Mim sufficiently. From calorimetric titrations, about half of Mim is estimated to be proton-attached at most in the CH(3)COOH-Mim equimolar mixture. In such a mixture, hydrogen-bonding adducts formation has been suggested. The autoprotolysis constants of the present PILs show a good linear correlation with dissociation constants of the constituent acids in an aqueous phase.