High-Temperature Quantum Tunneling and Hydrogen Bonding Rearrangements Characterize the Solid-Solid Phase Transitions in a Phosphonium-Based Protic Ionic Liquid

We report the complex phase behavior of the glass forming protic ionic liquid (PIL) d3-octylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C₈H₁₇PD₃][NTf₂] by means of solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Combined line shape and spin relaxation studies of the deuterons in the PD₃ group of the octylphosphonium cation allow to map and correlate the phase behavior for a broad temperature range from 71 K to 343 K. In the solid PIL at 71 K, we observed a static state, characterized by the first deuteron quadrupole coupling constant reported for PD₃ deuterons. A transition enthalpy of about 12 kJ mol⁻¹ from the static to the mobile state with increasing temperature suggests the breaking of a weak, charge-enhanced hydrogen bond between cation and anion. The highly mobile phase above 100 K exhibits an almost disappearing activation barrier, strongly indicating quantum tunneling. Thus, we provide first evidence of tunneling driven mobility of the hydrogen bonded P−D moieties in the glassy state of PILs, already at surprisingly high temperatures up to 200 K. Above 250 K, the mobile phase turns from anisotropic to isotropic motion, and indicates strong internal rotation of the PD₃ group. The analyzed line shapes and spin relaxation times allow us to link the structural and dynamical behavior at molecular level with the phase behavior beyond the DSC traces.