Probing anion–cellulose interactions in imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids: a density functional study Original Research Article

The interactions of the cellulose molecule with several anions, including acetate , alkyl phosphate, tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate anions which are most commonly involved in the imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), have been studied by performing density functional theory calculations. Based on calculated geometries, energies, IR characteristics, and electronic properties of the cellulose–anion complexes, it is found that the strength of interactions of anions with cellulose follows the order: acetate anion > alkyl phosphate anion > tetrafluoroborate anion > hexafluorophosphate anion, which is consistent with the experimentally observed solubility trend of cellulose in the corresponding imidazolium-based ILs. The present study may provide basic aids to some extent for understanding the dissolution behavior of cellulose in the imidazolium-based ILs.