1-Propyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dihydrogen Phosphate brings together a unique blend of organic and inorganic chemistry. The molecular formula C7H15N2O4P reflects a structure based on an imidazolium ring, carrying both a methyl and a propyl group on the nitrogens. These organic cations match with dihydrogen phosphate anions, which bolster the ionic nature of this material. This combination forms a salt built to behave quite differently from traditional organic solvents or simple inorganic phosphate salts. On paper, the molecular weight clocks in at around 222.18 g/mol. The architecture gives this compound a set of physical and chemical traits that have drawn interest for research and real-world applications.
From firsthand experience, physical form can shift, hinging on temperature and purity. In its isolated state, 1-Propyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dihydrogen Phosphate takes the form of a low-melting solid or thick liquid, with some samples settling as stable powders. It may also be offered as chunky flakes or sparkling crystals, depending on synthesis or storage. Solutions crafted using water or other solvents can display exceptional clarity. The density stands at roughly 1.25 to 1.35 g/cm³ at ambient temperature—a heft that’s easy to confirm in the lab with a clean pycnometer and a bit of care about air bubbles. This material does not release fumes, and it has a surprisingly low volatility, which means spills don't linger in the air like strong acids or organic amines.
Handling this chemical feels different from working with routine salts or acids commonly used in my own research. It has a tactile presence—not chalky, more like a soft wax or damp pearl in many batches. Reactive with water, yet not explosive, 1-Propyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dihydrogen Phosphate resists thermal breakdown up to a fair temperature threshold, usually above 200°C, though always check the data sheet from your current batch supplier to confirm. As a raw material, it does not burn or support combustion easily; it stands apart from traditional organic solvents in this way. The phosphate anion won’t decompose under mild heat, holding up through most laboratory handling procedures, and even slow heating for solvent removal or crystal growth.
Researchers and manufacturers watch this material closely for its ionic liquid properties. It supports use as a solvent for chemical reactions that require non-aqueous but non-volatile environments, convenient for catalysis and electrochemistry. Thanks to the phosphate head, the molecule lends itself to making stable solutions for working with biomolecules, organic synthesis, or specialty separations. In my direct work with enzyme immobilization and substrate transport, blends using this salt gave increased stability and interesting selectivity in processes that usually struggled for repeatability using only water or ethanol.
Chemical materials always come bundled with questions about safety, and here real experience runs deep. 1-Propyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dihydrogen Phosphate, while more forgiving than many laboratory acids, still demands gloves and eye protection. Accidentally getting a bit on the skin feels only slightly irritating, but it can sting if left unwashed. Ingesting or inhaling dust should always be avoided. Standard protocols in academic and industrial labs involve good ventilation, careful weighing, and thorough cleanup even after simple blending or solution-making for experiments. If the compound spills, water suffices for clean-up, and most facilities with standard fire and chemical safety gear handle it easily.
This chemical carries standard warnings, yet nothing extreme. Neither especially hazardous nor benign, it earns lab respect through common routes: careful labeling, sealed containers, and good chemical hygiene. For trade and customs, the Harmonized System (HS) Code for this material usually fits within 2933.19; this covers heterocyclic compounds, including imidazolium derivatives. This ensures clear movement across borders for industrial imports or research exchanges. Waste should be handled as with most organic phosphates—not down the sink, but collected for proper disposal to avoid environmental loading.
The starting materials for 1-Propyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dihydrogen Phosphate include imidazole, alkyl halides (such as propyl chloride), methylating agents, and phosphoric acid. My colleagues note that each upstream source sets the purity, cost, and trace by-product profile for the final salt. Manufacturing generates little volatile solvent waste if the synthesis follows aqueous or “solvent-free” approaches now popular for ionic liquids. Water used in washing and crystallizing sometimes contains trace imidazolium ions, so capture and treatment play a role in sustainable handling, especially in large-scale operations.
Scaling up applications of this compound means facing classic questions—how to boost purity, how to minimize energy use in production, and what to do about trace residues once the chemical is spent. Technologists have moved toward integrating closed-loop systems for water and solvent recovery, relying on evaporators or advanced membrane filtration to grab valuable ions from process waste. Collaboration between researchers and industry has helped replace energy-intensive crystallizations with milder, water-based methods that keep by-products to a minimum. Regular meetings in research groups have helped share techniques for “green” synthesis and data-backed risk assessment, ensuring workers and the environment stay protected.
Chemicals with novel properties—like the unique mix found in 1-Propyl-3-Methylimidazolium Dihydrogen Phosphate—drive change in both research and industrial practice. My work with such materials has taught that their role in making reactions safer, less wasteful, and more selective pays dividends over time. Often, it’s not the most famous or well-known compounds that spark the biggest jumps in process improvement, but those with the right combination of structure, stability, and practical handling traits. Gathering feedback from the lab bench, reviewing ongoing safety data, and finding better ways to recycle or neutralize waste must move in lockstep as new uses emerge.
