1-Butylsulfonic-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride shows up in chemistry labs as a specialty ionic liquid. Its structure comes from the fusion of a 1-butylsulfonic group and a 3-methylimidazolium core, finished with chloride as the counterion. Chemists use this compound because of its mix of stability and versatility, making it useful far beyond just one niche. The formula reads C8H17ClN2O2S and the molecular weight lands at 240.75 g/mol. Commercial shipments often use the HS Code 29211100, linking it to its classification among organic base compounds. The material’s physical nature can shift based on environmental conditions—forms include flakes, solid powder, pearls, and sometimes a viscous, almost honey-like, liquid at certain temperatures. Generally, the most encountered appearance sits between fine white to faintly yellow crystals or powder.
The unique property set of 1-Butylsulfonic-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride grows out of its imidazolium ring and the butylsulfonic tail. The molecule’s ionic arrangement helps it dissolve in water and polar solvents; it narrowly avoids evaporation under normal conditions, thanks to a high boiling point and low vapor pressure. Chemists notice its density often clocks in near 1.2 to 1.3 g/cm³ in the solid state, and it melts at a moderate temperature, turning from a crystalline solid to a dense, clear liquid. The chloride anion in the structure brings moderate corrosiveness, particularly when water is present. In a research setting, the compound acts as both a solvent and reactant in organic synthesis, extraction, or catalysis work, due to its ability to carry charge and break down solutes that other materials won’t touch.
Pick up a sample of 1-Butylsulfonic-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride, and you may see it as white glistening pearls or amorphous powder, solid at room temperature. Once tossed in a beaker with water or polar solvent, it quickly dissolves, forming a colorless to pale yellow solution. Its use extends across pharmaceutical research, battery and electrochemical studies, and green chemistry processes like biomass transformation. The solid form stores easily, but people transferring the material into solution should use glassware—its ionic strength can react with some plastics over time. Measured in grams, liters, or kilograms, depending on scale, this chemical’s consistency and solubility offer flexibility for researchers. Each lab batch should be sourced from vetted raw materials to keep unwanted impurities away from sensitive systems.
Density impacts every step with this compound. At room temperature, packed crystals move less freely than the dissolved counterpart, giving container transfers a manageable, non-dusty pour. For solid-phase chemists, the sizable molecular weight makes accurate preparation straightforward, whether scaling up a reaction or measuring sub-gram samples for analytical techniques. The crystalline form helps with storage, reducing caking or clumping that can plague finer powders. In solution, the substance resists breaking down unless pushed by heat or aggressive reagents—that’s a good sign, meaning shelf life keeps up with experimental demand. The regularity of its crystals lends itself to consistent, reproducible behavior in most reactions, and the relatively low volatility keeps accidental inhalation risks smaller than with many small-molecule solvents.
This compound wears the badge of a specialty chemical, so safety demands attention. The chloride ion pushes the material into the moderately hazardous category, mostly from contact and inhalation. Chemists working with 1-Butylsulfonic-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride use gloves and goggles, keeping open flames and uncontrolled reactions away from solutions. If spilled, collection with absorbent pads and thorough washing prevents sticky residues. Avoiding skin and eye contact controls irritation; small particles won’t aerosolize like classic solvents, but it still pays to use a fume hood for larger procedures. The chemical’s breakdown products don’t belong in drains or trash—proper hazardous waste channels protect users and the environment. Emergency showers and eyewash stations stay crucial in any area making use of this compound, as would any serious chemistry lab.
Manufacturers rely on strict sourcing for both the imidazole and butylsulfonic acid building blocks, as well as the chloride donor. Quality begins with clean, well-documented raw materials, with full traceability and purity assessments at every stage. A batch that falls short on specs can derail a sensitive pharmaceutical synthesis or mislead data in electrochemical tests. Experienced suppliers follow ISO quality management, test every incoming material, and provide thorough certificates of analysis. Every finished batch stays under close watch for density, color, melting point, and chemical purity, since even minor contamination can trigger safety problems or invalidate experiments.
Dealing with 1-Butylsulfonic-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride means facing the new ways chemistry and production lines work. Its blend of ionic character and solid/liquid variability puts it in the toolkit for shrink-wrapping hazardous processes in safer, less volatile environments. Years spent between research and production lines show this material can open doors to simpler, more sustainable chemical pathways—provided the risks are handled with care and the supply chain stays rigorous. New processes built on this and related materials could shortcut some of the most polluting steps in resource conversion or pharmaceutical synthesis. The more attention paid to its structure, safety profile, and raw material chain, the higher the quality and reliability for everyone from lab tech to end-user. Direct experience across projects confirms—the future of chemical processing often starts with mastering the details and behaviors of specialty compounds like these.
