1-Decyl-2,3-Dimethylimidazolium Chloride belongs to the class of ionic liquids that have taken root in many specialty chemical applications. Positioned as a salt in the imidazolium family, this compound exhibits a unique range of physical and chemical features, making it both a laboratory staple and an industrial workhorse. Sporting a structure with a ten-carbon decyl side chain attached to a 2,3-dimethylimidazolium cation, paired with a chloride anion, this material veers away from the generic picture many imagine when thinking of ionic compounds: instead of forming brittle crystals, it often transitions to a waxy solid, pearl, or even a viscous liquid, depending on its purity, temperature, and handling. The extended alkyl chain deeply influences its solubility, surfactant abilities, and how it interacts with solvents, opening up possibilities in both academic research and manufacturing.
This substance stands out with its nuanced molecular formula, C15H31ClN2. The molar mass clocks in around 274.87 g/mol. A bottle of pure 1-Decyl-2,3-Dimethylimidazolium Chloride tends to look like colorless flakes, crystalline powder, or sometimes slightly pearled granules when properly prepared and stored. It can exhibit a melting range beginning around 50°C to 60°C – a result of the long carbon chain, which brings flexibility and changes the way these molecules pack together. The density normally falls around 0.95 to 1.05 g/cm³, showing only slight variation between its solid and liquid states. In the laboratory, it dissolves well in polar solvents like water, ethanol, or dimethyl sulfoxide, though not every solvent works efficiently due to the combined effects of its hydrophobic tail and ionic head group.
The compound gets its character from the imidazolium ring flanked by methyls at the 2 and 3 positions, then stretched by a decyl chain at the 1-position. This spatial arrangement gives rise to amphiphilic tendencies similar to surfactants: one end of the molecule clings to water, the other dances more easily with oils, surfactant phases, or organic solvents. Such a structure helps applications that demand compatibility with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments. The crystalline arrangement may break down above its melting temperature, yielding a clear, colorless, viscous liquid, but beneath that temperature, it can sustain various solid forms useful in materials science or purification technologies.
For customs, regulatory, and shipping purposes, 1-Decyl-2,3-Dimethylimidazolium Chloride is listed under an HS Code commonly falling in the range for organic chemicals, specifically tailored to salts and derivatives of heterocyclic compounds with a nitrogen hetero-atom. Lab shipments and industrial-grade offerings must state purity, water content, form (crystalline powder, flakes, pearl, or viscous liquid), batch number, and shelf-life estimates. Storage typically calls for cool, dry spaces, sealed containers, and a check on humidity levels, since ionic liquids readily absorb water from the air, which in turn affects density, viscosity, and function in downstream processes. Bulk supply usually goes by weight (kilograms or tons), with researchers opting for smaller glass or HDPE pack sizes, labeled for safety and traceability.
Manufacturers tend to offer the material as flakes, fine powder, or small round pearls. The preparation technique determines the ultimate form: slower cooling from the melt phase yields stout crystals; rapid quenching makes smaller, more granular material. The liquid form emerges above its melting point but can be kept stable as a solid under standard atmospheric conditions. Larger research volumes arrive as crystalline blocks or large pearls, while more delicate formulations for high-throughput screening come as fine powders or solutions, diluted to exact concentrations for repeatable results. Handling each format involves practical considerations: flakes break apart easily and dissolve more readily, larger crystalline pieces promise better purity but dissolve more slowly and may take up more volume during storage.
Density plays a role in everything from formulation to shipping. Most samples present with a molecular (true) density just above water, making transfer and mixing predictable in aqueous or organic solvents. The difference in bulk density versus the density of the melt (or its pure form) depends on handling, compaction, and particle size. Fluffy powder packs less densely, creating more open space within a container, while larger pearls or compressed crystals approach the molecular density more closely. Researchers and manufacturers control for this because changes in bulk density modify how much material fits in a vessel, affect dissolution rates, and sometimes alter downstream reaction yields.
Handling the material in solution offers a flexible avenue for many types of research and industrial uses. Preparing solutions requires accurate weighing and robust protocols for both dilution and mixing: high-purity water or polar organic solvents, unreactive glassware, and temperature control to maintain stability in solution. At standard concentrations, a liter of solution may contain tens to hundreds of grams of material, depending on end use—whether it be catalysis, materials processing, electrochemistry, or solvent engineering. Solubility and viscosity both change with temperature and concentration, so practical experience helps keep preparations repeatable, scaling from bench experiments all the way to pilot-plant production runs.
Safety considerations need to be front and center. While touted for their low volatility compared to traditional solvents, many ionic liquids, including this one, exhibit moderate toxicity to aquatic life and irritation risk upon contact with skin and eyes. Inhalation of dust or vapor should be avoided. Personal protective equipment, localized ventilation, and careful labeling minimize risk for people who handle raw materials and finished products. Safety data sheets recommend gloves, safety glasses, lab coats, and sometimes face shields, especially if manipulating the substance in solid or powdered form. Disposal practices strictly follow chemical waste regulations, ensuring the chloride anion does not enter wastewater streams in an uncontrolled fashion. Anyone working routinely with this material must train for spill response, first aid measures, and proper secondary containment procedures.
Making the cation begins with simple imidazole derivatives, functionalized by methylation and alkylation, each step drawing on industrial-scale chemistry of nitrogen heterocycles and long-chain alkyl halides. The final step, ion exchange to add chloride, rounds out the list of inputs. At every stage, suppliers strive for higher purity, better handling characteristics, and lower environmental impact. Production generates both chemical and water-based byproducts that require careful capture, neutralization, and permitted disposal. Sourcing sustainable raw materials or recycled solvent streams can reduce lifecycle impacts, a consideration for organizations concerned about green chemistry standards. In the bigger picture, regulatory agencies encourage both makers and end-users to develop effective capture, reuse, or destruction technologies for ionic liquid waste, as some of their degradation products can resist conventional wastewater treatment methods.
This compound has carved out niches across solvent extraction, catalysis, advanced material synthesis, electrochemical devices, and separation science. Its dual nature opens up separation and solubilization roles unreachable by most common ionic or organic solvents. The strong ionic interactions with halides and metal centers make it especially useful in challenging reaction media or custom solvent blends. As regulatory frameworks tighten around solvent use and waste generation, the focus on degradability, recycling, and reduced hazard grows sharper. Potential solutions involve designing new derivatives with lower bioaccumulation and easier breakdown, implementing recovery loops for spent liquids, and moving toward renewable feedstock chains. Responsible use calls for both incremental improvements on the ground and systemic changes to supply chain and disposal standards, keeping safety, health, and the environment front of mind as these materials find wider adoption.
