Ab initio molecular dynamics of liquid 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride

Density-functional-based Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations have been performed for the ionic liquid 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride, [dmim]Cl, at 438 K. The local structure of the liquid is described in terms of various partial radial distribution functions and anisotropic spatial distributions, which reveal a significant extent of hydrogen bonding. The cation-anion distribution simulated with the BP86 functional is in qualitative agreement with the structural model derived from neutron diffraction data for the liquid, whereas the theoretical cation-cation distribution shows less satisfactory accord. Population analyses indicate noticeable charge transfer from anions to cations, and specific CH...Cl hydrogen bonds are characterized in terms of donor-acceptor interactions between lone pairs on Cl and antibonding sigma(CH) orbitals.