On the characterization of some [bmim][X]/co-solvent binary mixtures: a multidisciplinary approach by using kinetic, spectrophotometric and conductometric investigations

In order to study the intrinsic characteristics and to evaluate the structural variations determined by the addition of a co-solvent to 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmim]BF₄]) we examined the behaviour of some probes in bmim]BF₄]/co-solvent binary mixtures. The rate constants of the piperidino-catalyzed rearrangement of the Z-phenylhydrazone of the 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole into the relevant 4-benzoylamino-2,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole as well as the spectrometric properties of pyrene and Nile Red were evaluated. With the same purpose also ¹H NMR and conductivity measurements were carried out. By comparison the behaviour of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonylimide)/1,4-dioxane mixtures has been analyzed. The whole of data confirms the presence of weak interactions that determine a partially preorganized structure for bmim]X]. This is perturbed at some degrees by quantity and nature of guest molecules. For example conductivity measurements support the idea that different charged aggregates are present in the bmim]X]/co-solvent binary mixtures.