Molecular solvent effect on the acidity constant of protic ionic liquids

In this work how the microscopic properties of a molecular solvent affect the chemical environment of the protic ionic liquids (PILs) was analyzed. Using Reichardt’s dye as indicator of acidity, new acidity constant values for eight PILs (pKaPILs) were determined by spectrophotometric titration. Modifying the character hydrogen bonding donor of the molecular solvent it is possible to handle the PIL acid strength. Thus, we can turn basic PILs into acidic ones thereby the molecular solvent could be used as ‘additive’ for PILs, which allowed us to tune PILs design.