The phase behaviour of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates; ionic liquids and ionic liquid crystals

Air- and water-stable 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate salts with the general formula [C_n-mim][BF₄] (n = 0–18) have been prepared by metathesis from the corresponding chloride or bromide salts. The salts have been characterised by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, microanalysis, polarising optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Those with short alkyl chains (n = 2–10) are isotropic ionic liquids at room temperature and exhibit a wide liquid range, whereas the longer chain analogues are low melting mesomorphic crystalline solids which display an enantiotropic smectic A mesophase. The thermal range of the mesophase increases with increasing chain length and in the case of the longest chain salt prepared, [C₁₈-mim][BF₄], the mesophase range is ca. 150 °C.