Exploration of 4,5-dimethyl-1H-imidazole N-oxide derivatives in the synthesis of new achiral and chiral ionic liquids

New 1-alkoxy-3-alkyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium bromides were synthesized by alkylation of the corresponding 1-alkylimidazole 3-oxides, which were conveniently prepared via condensation of alpha-(hydroxyimino)ketones, primary aliphatic amines, and formaldehyde. By using enantiomerically pure chiral amines, optically active imidazolium Salts were obtained. Treatment with sodium tetrafluoroborate in acetone yielded the corresponding imidazolium tetrafluoroborates. All these compounds, with only one exception, were obtained as oils, which are considered as potential ionic liquids and 'chiral ionic liquids'. The reduction of the chiral or non-chiral 1-alkylimidazole 3-oxides with Raney-Ni, followed by alkylation with alkyl bromides and subsequent ion exchange to tetra fluoroborates, gave the corresponding 1,3-dialkylimidazolium salts, most of them showing properties of ionic liquids. The alkylation of 1-butyl-4,5-dimethylimidazole 3-oxide and the corresponding imidazole, respectively, with 1,3-dibromopropane led to the first bis-imidazolium dibromides and bis-tetrafluoroborates. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.