1-Cyanopropyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide: Unpacking the Chemical’s Core Details

What Is 1-Cyanopropyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide?

1-Cyanopropyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide stands out in the world of advanced chemicals with a molecular structure built for both stability and performance. This compound brings together a cyanopropyl group married to a methylimidazolium cation, matched with the unique properties of a dicyanamide anion. The chemical formula, C9H12N6, speaks to a robust makeup loaded with nitrogen atoms, making the molecule a player in ionic liquid technology, extraction processes, and advanced material science. Its raw materials roots come from established pipelines within the broader field of ionic liquids and organic synthesis, harnessing methylimidazole, alkyl halides, and dicyanamide salts that shape its backbone. HS code categorization generally falls around 2926.90, which professionals in the import-export trade will see tagged to special organic chemicals and heterocyclic compounds—making it easier to track trade, compliance, and regulatory paths. 

Physical Properties and Structure

Looking at the substance, 1-Cyanopropyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide moves between multiple distinct forms depending on temperature, pressure, and purity. In the solid state, it usually appears as flakes or crystalline powder, sometimes pressed into pearls for specific dosing needs. Purity and storage conditions dictate whether it remains free-flowing or firms up. The density punches in around 1.05 to 1.15 g/cm3 measured at 20°C, landing between typical organics and the denser ionic liquids. As a liquid, the colorless to pale yellow solution hints at stability, while in crystalline form, it offers a shimmer that tells you purity and proper storage have been respected.

Performance, Hazards, and Handling

Performance as an ionic material makes this compound a favorite in labs and early-stage manufacturing. It dissolves salts, outperforms many legacy solvents, and pulls duty as an electrolyte in advanced batteries and electrochemical setups. Handling safety demands respect as a chemical: even though the dicyanamide ion sidesteps the worst hazards of classic cyanides, the molecule isn’t risk-free. Long sleeves, gloves, goggles, and a strong fume hood remain the gold standard. In personal experience, spill incidents remind you that clean-room habits and fast containment are more important than ever. It can give off harmful fumes if heated, and ingestion or long-term skin exposure could bring toxic effects. Its hazardous profile means it can’t be treated like supermarket chemistry—secure storage, locked cabinets, ventilation, and informed staff are non-negotiable. Disposal joins the conversation, as the presence of nitriles and cyanamides calls for high-temperature incineration or certified hazardous waste channels, which most municipal facilities can’t handle properly.

Specification, Dosage, and Application

For virtually every order I’ve seen, specs stretch from particle size distribution for powders, moisture limits for solids, and reference-grade concentration for liquid samples. Standard containers hold 0.5 to 5 liters—glass bottles for lab work, custom drums for bulk transfer. Customers ask for detailed COAs, non-reactivity in storage, and clarity on each property before finalizing a purchase. Crystal-clear solutions and high-purity pearls see demand from battery startups and university chemistry groups pushing into next-generation electrolyte testing. Application environments can push the material into higher temperatures or electrochemical extremes, with density shifts and form changes monitored every step of the way. Property tables list physical constants, melting point (sometimes sub-70°C for some variants), solubility in water, alcohols, and common organics, so engineers or researchers know exactly how it will behave when mixed, pressurized, or shocked. Each supplier should confirm both the batch’s origin and the protocol that keeps it within molecular specifications—driving reproducible results for critical experiments or pilot-scale development.

Why This Compound Matters

Innovation owes a debt to chemicals like 1-Cyanopropyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide because they let us break away from volatile, flammable, or highly toxic legacy chemicals. Electrochemistry, dye-sensitized solar cells, and selective separation of metals from waste—all lean heavily on ionic liquids that offer higher decomposition thresholds and lower vapor pressures. Using materials designed at a molecular level, like this compound, can shrink environmental footprints and open new doors to recycling rare or hazardous raw materials. The catch introduces complexity: any new chemistry adds training, with a learning curve around both risks and rewards. I’ve watched as teams dig deep into datasheets, simulate spills or reactions, and work the kinks out of any new formulation. Outreach from suppliers, clear safety data, and up-to-date certification play as much a role as the molecule itself in how widely it gets adopted.

Balancing Benefits and Downsides

No one chemical solves every problem. I’ve seen projects swim and sink depending on how well teams adjusted to storage quirks or regulatory shifts. This ionic liquid, for example, demands a close eye on both end-of-life impact and hazard labeling, especially for projects scaling past kilogram batches. Price points often push smaller labs or budget-strapped projects to weigh the performance jump against added regulatory or disposal burdens. Frequent training sessions, proper PPE, and a close relationship with chemical safety officers prove just as crucial as the certificate of analysis taped to each shipment.

Steering Toward Better Solutions

Looking forward, there’s a real conversation around safer alternatives and greener manufacturing. Continuous research into less hazardous ionic liquids, plus tighter recycling and reclamation loops, shows promise. Until those are ready for the spotlight, daily diligence on-site—combined with supplier transparency—helps cut risks and keeps teams productive. Community feedback from real-world labs or pilot lines, published open-access, drives knowledge up so others sidestep predictable pitfalls. It’s not just about high purity or shiny crystals. The story of each material, through use and feedback, shapes the next generation of chemistry, for better performance and safer working environments.