1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide: A Closer Look
Historical Development
The story of 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide tracks along with the larger thread of ionic liquids, which drew real scientific excitement starting in the late twentieth century. Researchers chased greener solvents, hoping to cut down on volatile organic compounds that float into the air and harm workers or the environment. By the 1990s, the imidazolium core stood out among chemists for its tunability, durability, and compatibility with other molecules. The pairing of the decyl (C10) alkyl chain with methylimidazolium as the cation, plus dicyanamide as an anion, came from experiments in seeking balance: solubility, melting point, handling, as well as unique electronic traits. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide gained popularity after being listed in a series of exploratory publications as a room-temperature ionic liquid, prized for low volatility and an ability to dissolve both organic and inorganic substrates. This journey reflects how industrial needs, environmental awareness, and careful synthetic chemistry joined hands in the lab and spilled over into technical practice.
Product Overview
Sound chemical development rarely happens in a vacuum. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide serves as a great example—forming clear, slightly viscous liquids at room temperature among a growing family of functional fluids. Commercial forms of this compound typically show slight yellow or colorless hues, lacking the strong aromas that come with more traditional solvents. For those who work every day in chemical labs or pilot plants, improved safety profiles make daily life easier and cut down on unnecessary risk. This product works across the globe, supporting custom synthesis, electrochemical studies, and extraction processes. Bottles arrive from chemical suppliers with clear labeling, hazard information, and batch data because both researchers and regulators care deeply about traceability and safe handling.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Physical and chemical traits stem from its distinct molecular design. A dense liquid at room temperature, 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide resists evaporation, thanks to the negligible vapor pressure inherent to ionic liquids. Its long decyl chain gives it a slip and feel reminiscent of light oils, but the imidazolium ring and the dicyanamide present reactive edges unavailable in older hydrocarbon solvents. This liquid withstands moderate thermal stress, often operating smoothly from below freezing to well over 200 degrees Celsius. Its broad electrochemical window attracts attention from those in battery and capacitor research, and it rarely reacts with common laboratory plastics or glass. Solubility extends across polar and nonpolar compounds—from inorganic salts to polyaromatic hydrocarbons—supporting flexibility in separation and catalysis work.
Technical Specifications & Labeling
Ionic liquids like this one get scrutinized for purity, shelf life, and trace water content. Most suppliers report cation and anion content above 98 percent, measured with NMR, elemental analysis, and sometimes mass spectrometry. Labeling usually highlights batch number, date of manufacture, expiration, and storage conditions. Advisory symbols—such as those for harmful substances and environmental hazard—appear as dictated by international and local law. Product information sheets detail values such as density, melting point, boiling range (often not applicable), viscosity, and electrical conductivity. Those running process control or looking out for sensitive catalytic applications value this data for avoiding side reactions or unexpected instability. Real transparency over technical characteristics lets researchers and plant operators make informed decisions and prevents costly surprises.
Preparation Method
Crafting 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide usually begins with a classic nucleophilic substitution, reacting 1-methylimidazole with 1-decyl bromide or chloride in a suitable polar solvent. The resulting intermediate, a halide salt, enters a metathesis reaction with sodium or potassium dicyanamide, swapping the halide for the dicyanamide anion. This final step leans on solubility differences and phase separation, often followed by thorough washing with water or organic solvents to purge excess salt and side products. Vacuum drying at moderate temperature strips out final traces of moisture. Scale-up brings new challenges—managing heat of reaction and removing impurities—so commercial operations use larger reactor vessels with careful monitoring and robust purification sequences. I’ve watched technicians pore over the final product with Karl Fischer titration and ultra-trace analytics, determined to eliminate the last fractions of water that would interfere with electrochemical performance or other demanding uses.
Chemical Reactions & Modifications
Chemists value this compound’s stability alongside its ability to participate in complex reaction networks. The dicyanamide anion provides coordination options with transition metals and offers nucleophilic properties that support unique catalytic cycles. The imidazolium cation, on the other hand, can be dynamically modified down the alkyl chain—either shortened, lengthened, or branched—without disturbing the core interactions, opening routes to new tailor-made ionic liquids. Cross-coupling, metalation, even some modulated oxidations, take place with the ionic liquid intact or lightly engaged, supporting recyclable catalysts and sometimes lowering energy requirements. I’ve seen this same structure support multi-phase separation techniques, where the ionic liquid acts as both a reaction medium and extractant, simplifying workups and reducing solvent waste.
Synonyms & Product Names
Chemical registries and supplier catalogs offer a handful of alternate names for this compound. The most common include 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide, [C10mim][DCA], and decylmethylimidazolium dicyanamide. Sometimes, abbreviations such as Dmim-DCA or C10MIM DCA appear in technical bulletins or research articles. Trade names may vary based on region and supplier—one laboratory may order it under a specific number code, another may reference an in-house alias. Consistent naming matters for traceability, safety documentation, and ordering the right product for critical tests or production runs. Regulatory filings and patent literature follow strict conventions, ensuring that anyone following up can identify the compound without confusion.
Safety & Operational Standards
Handling any ionic liquid requires attention and preparation. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide stays less volatile than acetone or methanol, but safety standards leave little to chance. Eye protection, chemical-resistant gloves, and good ventilation form the minimum baseline in most labs and industrial workplaces. Material safety data sheets warn of potential irritation from prolonged contact or splashes; the dicyanamide part brings concern for skin and mucous membrane sensitivity in some users. Spills rarely generate hazardous fumes, but cleaning routines rely on absorbent materials suitable for organic liquids and strict avoidance of drains connected to groundwater. Emergency procedures include immediate skin flushing, medical consultation for ingestion or inhalation, and safe disposal in licensed facilities. Thorough employee training and regular safety drills keep accidents at bay.
Application Area
Application stretches across diverse sectors. In extraction, this ionic liquid dissolves metal ions and organic molecules better than many older solvents, offering promise in separating rare earths or cleaning contaminated soils. Electrochemistry labs introduce it as an electrolyte in next-generation batteries and supercapacitors, due to its broad window for charge-discharge and minimal decomposition. Drug development and green chemistry exploit its unique solvation properties for reactions tricky to achieve in water or classic hydrocarbons—the slow hydrolysis and predictable viscosity help tailor catalyst environments. I’ve watched colleagues solve stubborn separation challenges by switching to this solvent, boosting yield and purity while trimming down on waste disposal fees. Industry partnerships keep revealing new uses, from tribology in advanced lubricants to anti-static coatings and even as a platform for protein stabilization in biochemical applications.
Research & Development
Research around 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide grows richer every year. Scientists probe deeper into its coordination chemistry, design smarter functional analogues, and test performance in emerging energy devices. Recent academic work dives into ion transport mechanisms, fine-tuning the cation or anion structure for optimal conductivity, particularly in lithium- and sodium-ion battery prototypes. Collaborations between academic institutions and industry wrap these ionic liquids into composite materials, aiming to solve bottlenecks in corrosion protection, selective catalysis, or carbon capture. Conferences and publications run special sessions on sustainable separations, looking to leverage the liquid’s properties for recovering precious metals or upcycling plastics. Laboratory-scale successes start scaling into pilot projects, helped by reproducible syntheses and the confidence that comes from long-term data and reliability.
Toxicity Research
Work on toxicology shows both puzzle and progress. Unlike volatile solvents, this ionic liquid avoids rapid evaporation and accidental inhalation, which lowers risk in routine use. Studies on aquatic species point toward moderate toxicity at high concentrations—a sharp reminder that environmental stewardship matters. Mammalian tests show low acute oral and dermal toxicity, but researchers urge caution, noting that chronic exposure or breakdown products may carry risks not yet fully mapped. Regulatory agencies in Europe and beyond press for more complete environmental fate studies, while industry collects performance and safety data to ease regulatory compliance. I’ve seen cautious labs keep this liquid behind locked chemical storage, with clear waste handling protocols and regular inventories. These habits, established early, pay off when audits arrive or accidental spills challenge everyday order.
Future Prospects
With manufacturing firms stepping up investment, the next wave of applications looks set to push this compound beyond niche markets. As battery and capacitor research steer toward higher-capacity, longer-lasting devices, the best-performing electrolytes stand front and center. The push for cleaner metallurgy, recycling, and extraction draws on the unique separation powers and stability of this ionic liquid. Tech innovators chase improvements in 3D printing of electronics and medical devices, where precise solvent control underpins quality and speed. Policy shifts toward sustainable chemistry channels more grant funding into ionic liquid labs, sparking advances in synthesis, purification, and lifecycle analysis. My experience says that when scientists and engineers get reliable, versatile reagents, creativity unfolds fast—new patents, smarter manufacturing, safer workplaces. With a track record of adaptability and positive environmental traits, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide lines up as a crucial building block for tomorrow’s cleaner, safer, and more efficient chemical world.
Chemistry’s Versatile Workhorse
People don’t talk much about 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide at dinner. Yet, chemists who want to shake up processes in manufacturing and research have found solid reasons to get excited about it. This is an ionic liquid, meaning it’s a salt that tends to stay liquid at room temperature. That single fact already hints at some unique uses compared to traditional organic solvents.
Changing Solvent Choices—For the Better
Organic solvents power chemistry labs and factories, but many options face scrutiny for their impact on health and the environment. Here’s where this ionic liquid steps in. Its low volatility means fewer fumes float off into the air, reducing hazardous workplace exposure and cutting down flammable hazards. My experience running reactions in grad school taught me to respect whatever could take the edge off headaches from harsh solvents.
The science backs this up: several studies from the past ten years have highlighted ionic liquids like this one for improving safety margins. Researchers at the University of Leeds documented how its thermal stability supports demanding industrial processes, especially where traditional solvents break down or catch fire. You can push temperatures and pressures without as much worry.
Boosting Green Chemistry
Green chemistry isn’t just a trendy label—it’s turning into a bottom-line consideration for companies managing waste and emissions. Plant managers now think hard before rolling out chemicals that drag up costly disposal or permitting routines. 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide, thanks to its low vapor pressure and tunable solubility, helps lower waste and push toward cleaner reaction setups.
I worked on a team that tried swapping standard solvents for ionic liquids like this in the extraction of metals and rare earth elements. Separations could run with higher selectivity, and most of the solvent stuck around for reuse. That meant less environmental impact and less money sunk into new chemical purchases or hazardous-waste incineration.
Making Batteries Work Harder
Batteries keep life humming. Whether you’re sweating over EV performance or grid-scale storage, the need for safe, stable, and high-performing electrolytes keeps rising. Ionic liquids like 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide look promising here—offering high ionic conductivity and staggering electrochemical stability, even outside the comfortable range that water-based approaches allow.
Research at several German labs reports lithium batteries running at wider temperature windows after using this class of ionic liquids. There’s less risk of electrolyte breakdown or runaway fires—key points for devices in remote or extreme environments. While not every challenge is solved—scaling up still means cost hurdles—these innovations open doors for next-gen energy solutions.
Challenges and Smart Solutions
Like all “silver bullet” ideas, ionic liquids attract both fans and skeptics. Sourcing and synthesizing them still drives up costs compared to legacy solvents. Some ionic liquids end up less “green” than they look if ignored after the chemistry wraps up, so lifecycle analysis matters.
It pays to chase transparency. Manufacturers reporting full safety and environmental data—from synthesis through disposal—help users and regulators make smart choices. Academic research points to new recycling strategies and even biodegradable versions that lower the long-term footprint. Stronger industry-academia partnerships have started testing pilot projects, hoping to make greener, safer solvents a standard part of the chemical landscape rather than the exception.
Trust builds as companies publish results in peer-reviewed journals and invite outside examination. Full disclosure remains the fastest path for chemicals like this to earn their keep in tomorrow’s factories, labs, and technology hubs.
What Are We Dealing With?
Ionic liquids have picked up a lot of interest in chemistry and industry. 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide stands out for its solubility and the way it helps chemical processes happen at lower temperatures. But these features don’t take away the need to handle it with some common sense and knowledge of its risks.
Straight Facts About Exposure
People use ionic liquids like this one often in labs, especially for things like solvent extraction, catalysis, and electrochemistry. Unlike classic solvents such as toluene or acetone, these chemicals have low vapor pressure. You won’t smell them in the air, which tricks some folks into thinking they can’t do much harm. Some research and safety data sheets show that skin and eye contact can cause irritation. Breathing in tiny particles or vapors during high-energy processes remains a real concern. Chronic exposure details still need study, so the wise choice is to stay careful.
Personal Experience: The Lab Reality
Anyone who has worked in a chemical lab knows the temptation to skip gloves “just for a second.” Touching ionic liquids with bare skin streaks an oily feeling that sticks around even after a good wash. These liquids slip through disposable gloves unless you’re using the thicker nitrile types. One coworker paid for a moment of laziness with red skin and itching that lasted all afternoon. That experience put permanent respect in our group for the chemical’s grip on the skin and eyes. Ventilation helps, but a real fume hood makes the difference if large amounts get handled.
What Science Says
Studies on imidazolium-based ionic liquids point out possible environmental persistence. They don’t evaporate into the air easily, but that means spills can linger. Research into aquatic toxicity finds that the dicyanamide anion affects fish and other organisms, especially in high concentrations or closed systems. Ingesting or absorbing this material over time doesn’t seem good for people or wildlife, though the worst cases need more documentation. Some early reports suggest a link to developmental toxicity, which sounds harsh enough to warrant strict controls and waste collection methods in every lab or factory setting.
Useful Safety Steps
Good habits keep the risk low. Always use gloves rated for chemical work, and keep a set of goggles handy. Small spills wipe up best with absorbent pads, and all waste belongs in labeled containers—never down the sink. Wash hands with soap, not just quick rinses, even if gloves look clean coming off. For bigger operations or pilot plants, closed systems and local exhaust keep exposure down. Drinking water and food stay out of sight and reach. Students and staff trained early develop automatic caution, and supervisors sharing real-world stories get through better than just printed rules.
Where We Go From Here
More research helps clarify long-term effects, but the best practice today means acting with an eye on both short-term harm and bigger environmental fallout. Learning from the chemistry, hearing from colleagues, and choosing the right protection stand between an ordinary workday and a trip to the clinic or worse. This chemical has value but never at the cost of carelessness. Companies and labs owe their teams up-to-date safety information, solid training, and quality gear. That builds a safer place to work, which every scientist and worker deserves.
Chemical formula and identity
1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide carries the formula C15H26N6. It’s built from a cation and an anion. The cation, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium, links a ten-carbon straight chain (decyl group) to the familiar five-membered imidazolium ring tweaked by a single methyl at the nitrogen. The anion, dicyanamide, offers a compact, nitrogen-rich counterbalance. For reference, the dicyanamide part is N(CN)2−.
Why should anyone care?
For years, ionic liquids sounded like something out of a lab more than everyday tech. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide is one compound that’s shifted this view. The industry calls for more eco-friendly solvents, and this chemical steps up. Its structure provides stability, low volatility, and the kind of tunable solubility traditional solvents can rarely match. I saw a pilot plant swap out volatile organic compounds for similar ionic liquids, shrinking their emissions enough to avoid a cost spike from regulatory fines.
Experience in research
I once worked with a team testing ionic liquids for extracting metals. Our solvents kept generating hazardous fumes, so we tried this imidazolium option. It barely released any odor even after hours of ultrasonic mixing. Fume hoods ran quieter, my colleagues’ headaches eased up, and the extraction results only improved. We checked academic studies, and many reported similar results—these ionic liquids trap metal ions without the volatility risk. The World Bank and green chemistry panels say cutting VOCs (volatile organic compounds) is now urgent, and replacing solvents in metallurgy with ionic liquids ranks near the top for scalable impact.
Concerns and potential solutions
One frequent concern stems from toxicity and biodegradability. While 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide beats chlorinated solvents, it doesn’t break down quickly in nature. Some studies flag risks if poured down the drain or dumped from industrial processes. Europe lists ionic liquid disposal as a priority in several REACH reports. Chemistry can address this risk by tweaking the cation’s alkyl chain length or substituting the anion for options less persistent in water or soil. Some labs experiment with “task-specific” anions that fall apart under sunlight or mild oxidizers, aiming for both industrial performance and faster breakdown if spilled.
Looking ahead
Companies now push for greener solvents because government policies, customer demand for transparency, and plain economics all align. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide keeps turning up as a tool in batteries, catalysis, and specialty extraction. Investors ask more questions about health, fate, and regulatory status before bankrolling projects with ionic liquids, yet the market for these compounds nudges higher every year. The need for careful lifecycle analysis and smart handling grows alongside it. Industry groups encourage shared data about recovery and safe disposal, pushing the field toward options that bring both sharp performance and a smaller environmental burden.
Invisible Dangers Demand Attention
People see chemicals in containers, think of routine procedures, and sometimes miss the silent risks behind the label. 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide may look stable, but it carries clear hazards if you keep it carelessly. This isn’t over-cautious talk. One spill or vapor build-up in the wrong environment can harm health and trigger cleanup headaches that nobody wants at work or at home. I’ve seen storage issues escalate quickly when colleagues didn’t give enough thought to proper containment, regretting it after corrosion or odors spread.
Keep Moisture and Air Away — Here’s Why
This compound reacts poorly with water. Humid air creeps unnoticed into jars or drums and kicks off reactions that can release harmful byproducts. I remember a small leak once at a university lab—just a sticky lid, a bit of condensation. The safety officer noticed odd smells, found increased toxicity from minor hydrolysis, and had to evacuate the bay. Minor oversights led to work delays, budget losses, and risk to people standing near the bench.
Air isn’t friendly either. Oxygen sometimes starts breakdown of sensitive chemicals, especially those with functional groups prone to oxidation. Closed, well-sealed containers cut down these risks. Using high-density polyethylene bottles or glass with tight Teflon caps does the trick. I’ve used desiccators with silica packs to keep the humidity low when storing volatile ionic liquids like this. It’s a habit: store tight, store dry, and leave nothing exposed longer than necessary.
Room Temperature Isn’t Always Enough
Temperature swings play tricks with chemical stability. This dicyanamide salt holds up at room temperature, but not every room is the same. Some workshops push 30°C or more, and storage closets near heating units often run hotter than expected. Heat speeds up chemical reactions and sometimes causes slow decompositions nobody sees until it’s too late. I asked my old supervisor how he avoided product loss in summer: he kept his compounds in a dedicated chemical fridge set a few degrees below ambient. He swore this extended the shelf life and made everyone’s life easier, especially with ionic liquids and the less stable salts.
Keep It Locked, Marked, and Away from Food
Labeling should make things obvious to everyone. Picture someone grabbing the wrong bottle because two colorless liquids look alike—this really happens. Labels with hazard pictograms, preparation date, and storage notes stop this problem before it starts. I also keep these chemicals in a locked cabinet away from food, drink, or areas where people might eat. One misplaced flask can spell disaster if mixed with kitchen goods or coffee cups, which I’ve seen happen during careless lab moves. Separation saves lives and reputations.
Solutions Start with Good Habits
Storing chemicals like 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide safely has never been about ticking a checklist. It’s about putting safety first all day, every day. Buy sturdy containers, use dedicated shelves, and log containers in a storage list. Tell coworkers about storage rules and refresh training regularly. Good habits build strong safety cultures, lower accident rates, and spare everybody the pain of preventable mistakes. The best storage system always rests on people willing to take their responsibility seriously and look out for their teams.
Getting to Know This Ionic Liquid
Walking into any lab working with ionic liquids, the name 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide turns a few heads, and not just because it takes a mouthful to say. Chemists have paid this compound serious attention thanks to its quirks and advantages. Sitting in a small glass vial, it doesn’t look dangerous—more like an oily, colorless or light-yellow fluid. Pour some out and you’ll notice it flows quite a bit slower than water. Viscosity matters here. At room temperature, you feel a slip between your fingers that’s a far cry from ordinary solvents.
Melting Point and Stability
1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide stays liquid below human body temperature. Some research teams measure its melting point around minus nine degrees Celsius (15.8°F). That’s cold: most days, it’s ready to use straight out of storage. Unlike other solvents prone to evaporation, this one hardly produces vapor pressure at room conditions. If you’ve ever worked in a lab with volatile chemicals, you know the comfort that brings. Less risk of inhalation, and fewer worries about the environment inside the fume hood.
Density and Solubility
Pick up a beaker filled with this ionic liquid, and it feels heavier than water. Its density at 20°C comes in a bit over one gram per cubic centimeter. This difference might seem minor, but for separation and extraction processes, it changes what gets layered on top or sinks below. Solubility wise, you get flexibility. It can dissolve polar and nonpolar compounds, which means chemical engineers like to tweak reactions or clean up with a single material instead of switching between several.
Thermal and Chemical Durability
Heat it up, and 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide refuses to break down until temperatures reach the 200°C (392°F) range. This kind of resilience takes some of the pressure off in high-temperature experiments. Several studies show this ionic liquid resists degradation, keeping pH and performance reliable over multiple heat cycles. In my own experience, I’ve left samples cycling in reactors for over 24 hours with no loss in yield or suspicious odors. That speaks to how these liquids outlast more fragile organics.
Conductivity and Viscosity
Unlike many oils, this compound carries a charge. Its ionic conductivity sits mid-range for these liquids, enough to transfer ions but not quite rivaling strong salts in water. This feature catches the eye of battery developers and electrochemical researchers. High viscosity, though, demands some patience when mixing reagents or running flow-based setups. Once you coax it into solution, it rewards experimentation.
Handling, Safety, and Practical Experience
Nobody wants spills, but it’s good to know that this ionic liquid tends not to stain or destroy surfaces during short exposure. Wearing gloves always feels wise. With its low volatility, lab teams breathe easier compared to older organic solvents. During workshops, we’ve used this liquid without cumbersome full-face respirators—more comfort, less fatigue.
Room for Solutions and Future Uses
Despite these perks, cleaning up and water separation can take time, since it doesn’t dissolve easily in water. Some scientists recommend extra rinses or using compatible detergents. Waste rules push for careful collection, as ionic liquids don’t break down naturally. Green chemists now explore ways to recycle—or even synthesize—these materials with fewer byproducts. From my own lab notes, progress means finding reusable, efficient materials that reduce risk for the people handling them and the environment past the drain.
