1-Butyl-4-methylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide stands out as an ionic liquid used across laboratories and industries. It sits at the intersection of modern chemistry’s push for safer, cleaner solvents and the demand for materials that keep pace with shifting regulations. The molecular formula C15H23F6N3O4S2 describes a structure where a butyl and a methyl group link to a pyridinium ring, counterbalanced by the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion. This chemistry shapes everything, from its unique handling requirements to its behavior in specialized applications.
The compound’s backbone—the 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium cation—pairs up with the bulky bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion. The combination brings both the ionic character and the low volatility that set it apart from standard organic solvents. Its formula, C15H23F6N3O4S2, and a molar mass just over 479 grams per mole, spell out the significant role that fluorinated groups have on the way it behaves. Looking beyond numbers and diagrams, this ionic liquid owes its unusual features to the way those sulfonyl groups disrupt lattice packing, which pushes down its freezing point and makes it stay liquid under conditions that turn many salts solid.
Once you deal with this chemical, its true value emerges: high thermal stability, almost negligible vapor pressure, clear to pale yellow liquid or semi-solid at room temperature, and an ability to dissolve a broad range of organic, inorganic, and polymeric materials. The density sits around 1.35 to 1.42 grams per cubic centimeter, so it weighs more than water but flows easily. Depending on production and purification steps, it looks like a viscous liquid, oily solid, or fine powder. Some batches show up as translucent pearls or irregular flakes, but in use, consistency matters more than looks. When dissolved or mixed, it quickly imparts ionic character to the medium, enabling new routes for electrochemical synthesis or catalysis.
Push deeper into real-world uses and the impact widens. 1-Butyl-4-methylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide forms the backbone of many battery electrolytes, reducing flammability and boosting conductivity. Electrochemists mix it into capacitor and solar cell research, looking for better lifespans and improved charge cycles. It unlocks stubborn separations, extracting rare metals from ores or recycling streams. As a raw material, it streamlines catalyst recovery in pharmaceutical manufacturing and embraces difficult separations in analytical chemistry. In academic labs, teams prize its versatility, switching between liquid and solid phases as protocols demand. Its non-volatility cuts down on lab emissions, showing up as a sustainable alternative that doesn’t trade performance for environmental goals.
Buyers and handlers focus on purity (usually >99%), water content (often less than 0.5%), and how it holds up under storage. Authorized shipments follow the HS Code 2933399990, aligning it with other heterocyclic compounds but marking it out due to its fluorinated side chains. Batches arrive with full traceability, specifying appearance, density, and solubility data. Labs check for residual chloride or color, knowing that even minor impurities can shift the melting range or undercut performance in high-precision applications. Handling guides put a spotlight on stability: protects against moisture pick-up, shields from prolonged light and heat, and always uses gloves and goggles.
For all its upside, this chemical demands respect. Exposure risks center on the skin and eyes, with irritation possible on direct contact. Fume-free under standard conditions, it sidesteps many hazards tied to volatile organic solvents, but spills and waste can impact aquatic environments, especially because of the sulfonyl and fluorinated building blocks. Chronic toxicity data remain limited—so labs and manufacturers lean toward caution: work in well-ventilated spaces, avoid unnecessary ingestion or inhalation, and handle waste as hazardous. Its non-flammable profile means safer storage and shipping, a step forward from older, fire-prone solvent systems. Regulatory reviews put extra scrutiny on the dispersal of fluorinated byproducts, but current practices favor controlled, contained processes that limit accidental releases.
Raw materials for this ionic liquid start with tailored pyridine derivatives and specialty fluorinated compounds, manufactured using advanced, tightly monitored synthetic routes. This lifts production costs, but the value per liter for users pursuing advanced battery research or high-value extraction makes up for it. Companies innovate to reclaim spent ionic liquid, trying closed-loop practices to minimize waste. Each step in the lifecycle—from monomer to solution—calls for advanced containment, skilled handling, and responsible disposal. As the world turns toward greener chemistry, 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide stands as a benchmark: a modern material drawn from complex raw streams, engineered for solutions where performance and sustainability finally converge.
