Ionicity and proton transfer in protic ionic liquids

Proton transfer in protic ionic liquids is poorly understood. Some acid/base proton transfer reactions do not proceed to the extent that is expected from Delta pK(a)(aq) data from aqueous solutions, yet some do. In this work we have investigated protic ionic liquids obtained by proton transfer from a common acid, acetic acid, to a range of amine bases of similar pK(a)(aq) values. Probe indicator observations, transport property data allowing the construction of Walden plots and computational studies all suggest that there is a clear distinction between the behaviour of simple primary vs. tertiary amines, the proton transfer being more complete in the former case than the latter. The origins of this seem to be related to the hydrogen bonding ability of the ammonium ions in providing a good solvating environment for the ions produced by the proton transfer.