Low melting N-4-functionalized-1-alkyl or polyfluoroalkyl-1,2,4-triazolium salts.

Butane sulfobetaines 2a,b, zwitterionic oxo perfluorocarboxylates 3a,b, and functionalized triazolium bromides 4b,c and 5a-c have been synthesized and subsequently reacted to give a series of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fluorinated and nonfluorinated N-1-alkyl-N-4-functionalized-triazolium compounds (6a-11b). With the exception of 11b (mp 41 degrees C), all are liquids at room temperature. Metathesis of the fluorinated quaternary triazolium halides with other anions led to the formation of a new class of compounds, namely, (R)(R(funct))-TazY(-), Y = PF(6), (CF(3)SO(2))( 2)N, and CF(3)SO(3), in good isolated yields. All of the new compounds were characterized by (1)H, (19)F, and (13)C NMR, and MS spectral and elemental analyses. Thermal analyses indicate that high temperatures are attainable prior to decomposition. DSC studies show glass transitions for several samples, and all functionalized compounds, 5-11, have T(g)s or T(m)s <100 degrees C. Densities range between 1.4 and 1.61 g cm(-)(3). 1-Heptyl-4-(butyl-4-sulfonic acid) triazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate, 6b, in its role as a Brønsted acid, is an effective solvent/catalyst for high yield esterification and hetero-Michael addition reactions and may be recycled for repetitive use.