Ionic liquids containing secondary hydroxyl-groups and a method for their preparation.

The invention provides ionic liqs., [R'1CH(OH)CH2]NR'nX (X = anion, R' = alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, alkylcarbonylalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, cycloalkyloxy, aryl), having a secondary hydroxyl group, and an atom-efficient method for the prepn. of these ionic liqs., by epoxidn. of a protonated nitrogen- contg. org. base (which can optionally be prepd. in situ) in the presence of an anion suitable for supporting ionic liq. formation. Thus, reaction of 1-methylimidazole with HCl in EtOH ∼ 25° followed by treatment with propylene oxide gave 1-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride. [on SciFinder(R)]