Synthesis of an Ionic Liquid and Its Application as Template for the Preparation of Mesoporous Material MCM-41: A Comprehensive Experiment for Undergraduate Students

A new solvent-free microwave experiment to synthesize the ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (HDMIm-Br) in high yield is presented. The structure is confirmed by IR and H-1 NMR spectra. FIDMIm-Br is then used to prepare an organic-inorganic mesoporous material MCM-41. The microscopic arrangements of mesoporous materials MCM-41 are studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This experiment is a modification of previously reported methods for synthesizing the ionic liquid. More importantly, the comprehensive experiment helps the students design and deal with reactions reasonably and highlights the difference between basic experiments and academic research, which is useful to develop a student's reasoning and experimental skills.