Ammonium ionic liquids with anions of natural origin

Abstract

This study was focused on presenting a new class of ionic liquids (ILs) with anions of natural origin. The salts were obtained by hydrolysis of defined triglycerides or edible vegetable oils (coconut oil and canola oil) by quaternary ammonium hydroxides. The basic physicochemical properties of the obtained products were studied and their microbial and deterrent activity was determined. Additionally, their susceptibility to biodegradation was evaluated. The described synthesis pathway utilizes vegetable oils and quaternary ammonium hydroxides as reactants in order to obtain ILs with anions of natural origin, which are characterized by specific biological activity. The majority of the prepared ILs exhibited excellent feeding deterrent properties and could be classified as readily biodegradable compounds. The employed method is characterized by low cost of substrates, high yields and high purity of the obtained products. It might potentially find application as a tool to synthesize environmentally friendly ILs with attractive properties for a wide range of applications.