Characterization of BF4− in terms of its effect on water by the 1-propanol probing methodology

One of the most common constituent anions for room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), BF4−, was characterized in terms of its effect on H2O using the so-called 1-propanol (1P) probing methodology developed by us earlier [PCCP, 15(2013) 14548-14565]. The results indicated that BF4− is quantitatively characterized as an amphiphile with weak hydrophobic and moderate hydrophilic contributions. These results were plotted on a two-dimensional map with hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity axes, H2O defining the origin. The melting point of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate ([C2mim]BF4) was found within the trend that the larger the hydrophobicity and the hydrophilicity of the chosen counter anion, the lower the melting point of the resulting RTIL made of [C2mim]+ cation and the chosen anion. For the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([C4mim]+) based RTILs, however, redetermination of the melting point of the perfectly dry [C4mim]BF4 appears to be necessary.