Thermal decomposition of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

To realize the potential applications of ionic liquids as working fluids and solvents one should have knowledge about their long-term stability, which depends on their thermally initiated decomposition. However, the possible decomposition pathways are not yet known accurately. 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2Mim][OAc]) is widely studied and shows potential in cellulose dissolution. In this study, we investigate possible [C2Mim][OAc] decomposition pathways by combining decomposition experiments and ab initio rate constant computations. Both approaches yield activation energies around 135 kJ·mol-1, which significantly deviate from earlier TGA measurements with open surface yielding 100 - 110 kJ·mol-1 and are probably affected by evaporation. Our study uses an improved TGA measurement protocol with a sealed pan with a tiny hole that fosters measurement of the actual chemical process leading to mass loss. Ab initio computations of this study comprise vapor-liquid equilibria of reactants and products as well as forward and reverse reaction rate constants in the gas and liquid phase. Calculations for the gas phase closely match a first-order analysis of the experiments, but calculations for the liquid phase strongly depend on the quality of solvation modeling. The computations indicate that the SN2 pathway with an activation energy of 140 kJ·mol-1 dominates thermal decomposition of [C2Mim][OAc].