Chemistry:C4mim

1-n-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium

Identifiers
CAS Number	80432-08-2 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:61333
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1198608 Y
ChemSpider	2015918 Y
PubChem CID	2734162
UNII	02N2G4U2OV Y
InChI InChI=1S/C8H15N2/c1-3-4-5-10-7-6-9(2)8-10/h6-8H,3-5H2,1-2H3/q+1 Key: IQQRAVYLUAZUGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES CCCC[n+]1ccn(C)c1
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H15N2+
Molar mass	139.2181 g mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Tracking categories (test):

• SizeSet

C4mim is a shorthand for the 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation; where C4 refers to the butyl group. It is also abbreviated Bmim, and (rarely) Bumim. Salts containing this imidazole cation are ionic liquids. A common example of such is [C4mim][Cl], or 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Other examples include BMIM-PF₆, [Bmim]BF₄ and C4mim-FeCl₄, the latter of which is a magnetic ionic liquid.

These salts are currently of interest in industry due to their ability to be infinitely recycled and their amenability to solvation at room temperature, making them excellent green solvents. C4mim is based on the parent compound 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole with one electron removed from the imidazole arene group. The stability of this cation lies in the fact that the resulting electronic vacancy is delocalised across the arene group, albeit unequally so.

Chemical structure of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

See also

• Ethylammonium nitrate

External links

• Press release from the EPA describing the use of C4mim