The Effect of C4H and C5H on the Microstructure of Aqueous Solutions of 1‐Alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate Ionic Liquids

As is well‐known, the C2?H proton of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (Emim]BF₄) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (Bmim]BF₄) has a strong ability to form hydrogen bonds. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effect of the interactions of the C4?H and C5?H protons on the microstructure of Emim]BF₄ and Bmim]BF₄ with water by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The differences between the relative ¹H NMR chemical shifts of C2?H, C4?H, and C5?H and between the interaction‐energy parameters obtained from these chemical shifts are minor, thus suggesting that the interactions of C4?H and C5?H may have a considerable effect on the microstructure. To confirm this, the viscosities of the systems are estimated by using the interaction‐energy parameters obtained from the ¹H NMR chemical shifts of the three studied aromatic protons and water, showing that the interactions of C4?H and C5?H also play an important role in the microstructure.