Raman and FTIR Spectroscopic Studies of 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Trifluoromethylsulfonate, its Mixtures with Water and the Solvation of Zinc Ions

Abstract

In this paper we report on the interactions of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([EMIm]TfO) with water and the solvation of zinc ions in neat [EMIm]TfO and [EMIm]TfO-water mixtures investigated by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The structures and physicochemical properties of the [EMIm]TfO-water mixtures are strongly dependent on the interaction between cations, anions, and water. The structure was changed from ionic-liquid-like to water-like solutions upon addition of water. In addition, zinc salts can precipitate in 0.2 M Zn(TfO)2/[EMIm]TfO upon addition of 10 % (v/v) water, presumably as a result of polarity change of the solution. The average coordination number of TfO(-) per zinc ion calculated from Raman spectra is 3.8 in neat [EMIm]TfO, indicating that [Zn(TfO)4](2-), and [Zn(TfO)3](-) complexes are present in the solution. However, in the presence of water, water interacts preferentially with the zinc ions, leading to aqueous zinc species. The solvation of zinc ions in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([Py(1,4)]TfO) was also investigated. In [Py(1,4)]TfO, there are, on average, 4.5 TfO(-) anions coordinating each zinc ion, corresponding to the weak interaction between [Py(1,4)](+) cations and TfO(-) anions. The species present in [Py(1,4)]TfO are likely a mixture of [Zn(TfO)4](2-) and [Zn(TfO)5](3-).