1-Pentyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide stands out as a member of the ionic liquid family, a group of chemicals known for their low melting points and unique solvent abilities. Chemists and engineers often look for substances that can dissolve an array of compounds without evaporating at room temperature. This compound earns steady attention because of its molecular structure, which combines the 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium cation and the dicyanamide anion. It manages to balance useful solubility properties with decent thermal stability, which matters in both industrial and research applications.
A close look at 1-Pentyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide's skeleton brings up the imidazolium ring, substituted with pentyl and methyl groups, which influence both its flexibility and solubility. Its molecular formula, C11H18N5, shows off a low molecular weight for an ionic liquid, allowing it to behave as a fluid under wider temperature ranges. A dicyanamide counterion adds another layer of chemical versatility, offering a pair of cyanide groups but without the toxic volatility users sometimes worry about in other cyanide compounds.
Lab experience reveals that this compound comes in several forms—one batch may arrive as shiny, crystalline flakes, another as a fine, nearly white powder, and sometimes, depending on storage and humidity, even a viscous liquid or beadlike pearls. Handling new shipments means checking for clumping or caking, since moisture can shift the appearance from rigid solid to sticky mass. Its density usually hovers around the 1.08–1.11 g/cm³ mark, which lands it between water and most common organic solvents. Most labs measure this density both at room temperature and at slightly elevated temperatures, since ionic liquids of this class perform differently as they warm. As a crystalline solid, it reflects light with a dull sheen, and in liquid form, it tends toward a clear to faintly yellow tint.
Many buyers want detailed specifications for trace metals, water content, and purity, since impurities can hinder product performance in advanced uses like battery electrolytes or extraction processes. Most suppliers will guarantee at least 98% purity, with water content less than 0.5%. Specifications sometimes stretch to include particle size distribution when sold as powders or pearls. Given its value in research and commercial development around the world, this compound shares a harmonized system (HS) code, which customs agents and logistics providers use to identify chemical imports and exports. For ionic liquids, this code falls under 2933.39, which helps companies track the flow of specialty chemicals between continents.
Handling chemicals in the imidazolium dicyanamide family brings up questions around safety and environmental impact. Direct skin or eye contact can cause irritation, so gloves and eye protection always come out before opening bottles or transferring materials. This material does not catch fire easily, and most suppliers mark it as non-flammable under typical storage conditions. As a raw material, it isn’t classified as highly hazardous or carcinogenic, but the dicyanamide anion means that, if heated to decomposition, it can release nitrogen oxides and potent irritants, so proper ventilation remains key in all labs. Disposal needs thoughtful planning: waste crews typically collect ionic liquids as chemical waste rather than washing them down drains, since these substances can resist traditional water treatment.
This specific ionic liquid rarely stays idle in a single role. Researchers turn to it when trying to dissolve both polar and non-polar compounds, which helps in developing new reaction pathways or purifying tricky mixtures. I’ve seen teams use it to extract metal catalysts, giving them a new solution phase to separate out precious goods through selective leaching. Battery makers chase it for possible use as a safe, non-volatile electrolyte. It stands up to repeated cycles without decomposing, and does not evaporate away as quickly as volatile organic solvents. These qualities help lower the environmental footprint when used on a large scale for industrial separations or recycling, since there’s less loss to the atmosphere.
Production draws on purified imidazolium salts and a carefully synthesized dicyanamide source. Small tweaks in the precursor’s purity ripple through to the final product. Quality control checks keep an eye out for residual halides, metals like iron or copper, and organic impurities, since these can throw off the ionic liquid’s performance or cause unexpected reactivity. For labs that demand the highest standards—pharmaceutical synthesis, precision battery research—suppliers often provide certificates of analysis for every lot number, aligning with international standards like ISO or GMP certification.
Every chemist handling 1-Pentyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dicyanamide quickly learns the value of proper storage, good record keeping, and responsible waste handling. This ionic liquid opens doors for new reaction types, greener extraction processes, and advances in battery technology, but these perks run alongside calls for even cleaner production, lower impurity levels, and more transparent safety data. One way forward: tighter collaboration between makers and users, creating feedback loops that refine the compound’s purity and documentation. Another route leans on open reporting of environmental behaviors—tracking how much enters water, soil, or air after use in industrial processes. Whether applied in synthesis or separation, this material points toward a future where chemists rely more on smarter, less hazardous solvents—without losing sight of old lessons around stewardship and transparency.
