Structural characterization of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium chloride ionic liquid by reversible SO2 gas absorption

A unique new ionic liquid-gas adduct solid state compound formed between 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium chloride ([tmgH]Cl) and sulfur dioxide has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The structure contains SO2 molecules of near normal structure kept at their positions by Cl-S interactions. The crystals belong in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbcn, with unit cell dimensions of a = 15.6908(10) Å, b = 9.3865(6) Å, and c = 14.1494(9) Å, angles α = β = γ = 90°, and Z = 8 at 120 K. The [tmgH]Cl has a very high absorption capacity of nearly 3 mol of SO2 per mol of [tmgH]Cl at 1 bar of SO2 and at room temperature. However, part of the absorbed SO2 was liberated during the crystallization, probably because the crystal only accommodates one molecule of SO2 per [tmgH]Cl. The nature of the high absorption capacity of [tmgH]Cl as well as of the homologous compounds with bromide and iodide are discussed. Some of these salts may prove useful as reversible absorbents of SO2 in industrial flue gases.