Synthesis, characterization and properties of amide anions based ionic liquids containing nitrile group

A series of novel amide anion based ionic liquids containing nitrile groups have been synthesized using the method of ion-exchange between potassium amide and various quaternary halide salts such as trimethylamine, triethylamine, tributylamine, N-methylpyrrolidine, and N-methylimidazole. All of the functionalised ionic liquids were characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and MS. The synthesized ionic liquids exhibited advantageously high thermal stability. The decomposition temperature of ionic liquids measured via TGA ranged from 224 to 289 °C. The functionalised ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium propionyl cyanamide ([EMIm][N(CN)COC₂H₅]), was used as a ligand in the palladium catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. The yields of the coupling reaction increased by 10%-20% by the addition of [EMIm][N(CN)COC₂H₅].