Structural and electrochemical characterization of 1,3-bis-(4-methylphenyl)imidazolium chloride

The structure of 1,3-bis(4-methylphenyl)imidazolium chloride was determined and compared to its related imidazole-based carbene. The important structural difference is the greater N2–C2–N3 angle in the salt (109.6°) than in the carbene (101.2°). An electrochemical investigation of the salt revealed a single reduction at –2.32 V in the forward scan and two oxidations at –0.89 and –0.54 V following scan reversal.