Syntheses of the first N-mono- and N,N'-dipolyfluoroalkyl-4,4'-bipyridinium compounds

Reactions of 4,4'-bipyridine (1) with excess of polyfluoroalkyl iodides (2a-d) at 100-110 degrees C, under neat conditions, led to the formation of monoquaternary salts (3a-d) in > 90% yields. Salts 3a-d were metathesized with LiN(SO2CF3)2 either in water or water/acetone mixtures to form ionic liquids (4a-d), respectively, in > 88% yields. When 1 was reacted with 2.5 equivalent of 2a-c in DMF at 110 degrees C, the diquaternary salts 5a-c were formed in > 85% yields. Alternatively, 5a-c were also synthesized by heating a mixture of 3a-c and 2a-c (1.25 equivalent) in DMF. The metathesis reaction of 5a-c with LiN(SO2CF3)2 produced dicationic ionic liquids (6a-c) in > 86% yield.