Tributylmethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt

Tributylmethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt is structurally complex, consisting of a tributylmethylammonium cation and a bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI) anion. It has a melting point of 27°C, close to room temperature, and appears as a liquid under slightly heated conditions. With a density of 1.261 g/cm³ and strong intermolecular forces, it is suitable for high-density storage and hydrodynamic studies.TBMA-TFSI has a high viscosity of 539 centipoise (cP), and the presence of the TFSI anion greatly reduces the pairing energy between the ionic pairs, which allows it to have a certain degree of mobility even at high temperatures.

In the structure of TBMA-TFSI, the tributylmethylammonium cation has a large molecular volume, which brings a certain degree of hydrophobicity and low polarity. It is able to interact well with non-polar molecules or organic compounds, while the TFSI anion has a better electrochemical window and low volatility. It is well suited as a green solvent and is often used in industrial processes or chemical synthesis where there is a need to avoid pollution from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, the low nucleophilicity and large size of the TFSI anion make this ionic liquid less reactive, thus ensuring high chemical stability and selectivity in multiphase catalysis or as a reaction medium.