Molecules 2012, 17, 5319-5338; doi:10.3390/molecules17055319 OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules Article A Convenient Synthesis of Triflate Anion Ionic Liquids and Their Properties Nikolai V. Ignat’ev 1,*, Peter Barthen 2, Andryi Kucheryna 3, Helge Willner 3 and Peter Sartori 4 1 Merck KGaA, PM-ABE, Ionic Liquids Research Laboratory, Frankfurter Str. 250, Darmstadt D-64293, Germany 2 Inorganic Chemistry, Henrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, Düsseldorf D-40225, Germany; E-Mail:
[email protected] 3 Inorganic Chemistry, Bergische University Wuppertal, Gauss Str. 20, Wuppertal D-42119, Germany; E-Mails:
[email protected] (A.K.);
[email protected] (H.W.) 4 Professor Emeritus, Inorganic Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstrasse 1, Duisburg D-47048, Germany; E-Mail:
[email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +49-151-1454-3102; Fax: +49-6151-728-587. Received: 7 March 2012; in revised form: 13 April 2012 / Accepted: 13 April 2012 / Published: 7 May 2012 Abstract: A solvent- and halogen-free synthesis of high purity triflate ionic liquids via direct alkylation of organic bases (amines, phosphines or heterocyclic compounds) with methyl and ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (methyl and ethyl triflate) has been developed. Cheap and non-toxic dimethyl and diethyl carbonate serve as source for the methyl and ethyl groups in the preparation of methyl and ethyl triflate by this invented process. The properties of ionic liquids containing the triflate anion are determined and discussed. Keywords: methyl triflate; ethyl triflate; ionic liquids; viscosity 1.