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Updated: May 22, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
A convenient synthesis of triflate anion ionic liquids and their properties
Nikolai V Ignat'ev1, Peter Barthen, Andryi Kucheryna
1Merck KGaA, PM-ABE, Ionic Liquids Research Laboratory, Frankfurter Str. 250, Darmstadt D-64293, Germany. nikolai.ignatiev@merckgroup.com
Abstract:
A solvent- and halogen-free synthesis of high purity triflate ionic liquids via direct alkylation of organic bases (amines, phosphines or heterocyclic compounds) with methyl and ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (methyl and ethyl triflate) has been developed. Cheap and non-toxic dimethyl and diethyl carbonate serve as source for the methyl and ethyl groups in the preparation of methyl and ethyl triflate by this invented process. The properties of ionic liquids containing the triflate anion are determined and discussed.
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