1-Methoxyethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide stands out among ionic liquids for its role in modern chemical and material sciences. Researchers and manufacturers reach for this compound thanks to its stable ionic nature and low vapor pressure. Its clear white to off-white appearance, often found as a crystalline solid, powder, or occasionally as small pearls, hints at its consistent quality. The formula for this compound is C8H15BrN2O, with a molecular weight of about 235.12 g/mol. The essence of its design — featuring a methyl group attached to the imidazolium core with a methoxyethyl side chain — encourages unique solvating and catalytic properties valuable for many applications.
1-Methoxyethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide comes as a solid at room temperature, sometimes forming fine flakes or flowing powders that pour easily without caking up. Its density often ranges around 1.3 to 1.4 g/cm3, providing a reliable parameter for chemists blending or handling it in larger volumes, with 1 liter of pure compound weighing in just under 1.4 kilograms. As a pure material, it resists melting until heated well above 100°C, and tends not to decompose under ordinary laboratory conditions. Its solubility in water and many polar organic solvents translates into flexible utility as both a raw reagent and a process additive.
The unique structure of this compound — an imidazolium ring substituted with both a methyl and a methoxyethyl group — grants this material notable stability. These groups disrupt easy stacking in the crystal lattice, causing a lower melting point than simple imidazolium salts, which gives process engineers more working room. In high-purity liquid form, it can appear highly viscous and readily absorbs moisture from the air, which signals the need for careful handling in dry conditions.
Industrial-grade 1-Methoxyethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide is generally packaged as a free-flowing solid or as a dense crystalline powder. Bulk shipments rely on moisture-barrier packaging, as the material picks up water from even limited air exposure. Typical purity reaches above 98%, meeting specifications for most synthetic, electrochemical, or catalysis directions. Its HS Code often registers as 2933.99, slotting into the “heterocyclic compounds” segment for regulatory and customs processes.
The material arrives with clear batch records detailing density, melting point, crystalline habit, particle size, and percent assay. Because it dissolves easily, workers gain flexibility for creating solutions — sometimes up to 20% by weight in water, or even more in suitable alcohols or acetonitrile. Each batch should be tested using NMR and elemental analysis, making sure no residual solvents, halide impurities, or moisture compromise its function.
Every worker handling 1-Methoxyethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide needs solid chemical training. Although it escapes flammability risk typical of volatile solvents, it poses harm if inhaled as dust, ingested, or making contact with skin and eyes. Personal protective equipment — gloves, goggles, well-fitted lab coats — can pare back these risks. Handling in well-ventilated fume hoods keeps airborne particles and vapors in check, especially when heating or mixing with acids or bases.
Spills of this compound create slip and inhalation risks in powder-heavy labs. Wet clean-up with absorbent pads works, but the aim should always be prevention — tight-sealed containers and dry handling spaces matter. From a disposal view, the compound belongs with hazardous organic waste, given its toxicity profile and environmental persistence. It should never drain into water systems, and all waste streams require incineration or specialized solvent reclamation.
In the lab or at the pilot plant, this ionic liquid draws interest for green synthesis routes, electrochemical batteries, and catalysis cycles. Its ionic structure enhances ionic conductivity for battery electrolytes and specialty membranes, pushing forward lithium-ion or redox flow battery research. Many pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies test such imidazolium salts for their performance as phase transfer catalysts, solvents for challenging reactions, or stabilizers for metal nanoparticles.
Few raw materials combine the chemical stability and solution power of 1-Methoxyethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide. Its ability to coordinate, stabilize, and dissolve both organic and inorganic targets opens new approaches to process intensification and energy reduction. Still, the real breakthrough happens by coupling its use with responsible stewardship: constant worker education, transparent hazard labeling, and vigilant monitoring of waste streams. Only by taking these materials seriously can innovation go hand in hand with environmental and personal safety.
