Calorimetric determination of the enthalpy of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide synthesis: a key quantity in thermodynamics of ionic liquids.

The enthalpy of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [C(4)mim]Br ionic liquid synthesis reaction 1-methylimidazole (liq) + 1-bromobutane (liq) --> [C(4)mim]Br (liq) was determined in a homemade small-volume isoperibol calorimeter to be Delta(r)H degrees (298) = -87.7 +/- 1.6 kJ x mol(-1). The activation energy for this reaction in a homogeneous system E(A) = 73 +/- 4 kJ x mol(-1) was found from the results of calorimetric measurements. The formation enthalpies for the crystalline and liquid [C(4)mim]Br were determined from the calorimetric data: Delta(f)H degrees (298)(cr) = -178 +/- 5 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(f)H degrees (298)(liq) = -158 +/- 5 kJ x mol(-1). The ideal-gas formation enthalpy of this compound Delta(f)H degrees (298)(g) = 16 +/- 7 kJ x mol(-1) was calculated using the methods of quantum chemistry and statistical thermodynamics. The vaporization enthalpy of [C(4)mim]Br, Delta(vap)H degrees (298) = 174 +/- 9 kJ x mol(-1), was estimated from the experimental and calculated formation enthalpies. It was demonstrated that vapor pressure of this ionic liquid cannot be experimentally determined.