Elucidation of molecular interactions between a DBU based protic ionic liquid and organic solvents: thermophysical and computational studies

Abstract

Precise determination of thermodynamic properties of binary mixtures containing ionic liquids (ILs), plays an important role in process design and potential engineering applications of these mixtures. Thermodynamic studies can provide an insight into the nature of intermolecular interactions occurring between the solute and solvent in solutions. In this regard, thermodynamic properties of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-en-8-ium trifluoroacetate [DBUTFA] in two organic solvents viz. N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been evaluated at different temperatures (293.15 to 328.15) K. Apparent molar property data were fitted to a Redlich–Mayer type of equation to compute infinite dilution values and empirical parameters. The experimental studies suggest that the nature of the interactions between DBUTFA and organic solvents are influenced by temperature. DBUTFA interacts more strongly with DMF at low temperature (<308.15 K), whereas it interacts more strongly with DMSO at higher temperatures (>308.15 K). Density functional level of theory (DFT) was employed to investigate intra-ionic and inter-ionic interactions between the ions of PIL and organic solvents. The computational results are in good agreement with experimental results.