Method for producing ionic liquids, ionic solids or mixtures thereof

1. A process for preparing ionic liquids, ionic solids or mixtures thereof and having the general formula [Q + ] n [Z n− ] from cationic synthesis modules including said [Q + ] and having the general formula [Q + ] n [Y n− ] and anionic synthesis modules comprising said [Z n− ] as their anion,

where said [Q + ] of said cationic synthesis module is a quaternary ammonium [R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + ], phosphonium [R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 P + ] or sulfonium [R 1 R 2 R 3 S + ] cation or an analogous quaternized nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur heteroaromatic,

where the radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 are all identical, partly identical or different,

the radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radicals, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radicals or derivatives of these radicals which are substituted by further functional groups and

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 may also be joined to one another (polyvalent radical), and

wherein said [Y n− ] of said cationic synthesis module is a hydrogencarbonate [HCO 3 ], carbonate [CO 3 2− ], monoalkylcarbonate or monoarylcarbonate [ROCO 2− ], and

where R is a linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic or [ROCO 2− ] is another monosubstituted carbonate, and

wherein said anionic synthesis module is reacted with said cationic synthesis module [Q + ] n [Y n− ] to remove the anion [Y n− ] of the cationic synthesis module and replace it by said anion [Z n− ] of said ionic liquids, ionic solids or mixtures.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that preferably a storable cationic synthesis modules are reacted with anionic synthesis modules in a modular production process to give ionic compounds.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the cationic synthesis module [Q + ] n [Y n− ] is treated in a Bronsted acid/base reaction with an n-basic Bronsted acid H n Z as anionic synthesis module, resulting in the carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, monoalkylcarbonate or monoarylcarbonate anion [Y n− ] being given off as gaseous carbon dioxide and replaced by the desired anion [Z n− ] and water or, in the case of the monoalkylcarbonates or monoarylcarbonates [ROCO 2 − ], the corresponding alcohols ROH being formed as by-products.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that n-basic Brønsted acid H n Z is added as such or as a solution in water and/or other solvents in a stoichiometric amount or in excess, with, in particular, volatile acids H n Z preferably being added in excess.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the n-basic Bronsted acid H n Z can also be added in such a stoichiometry that not the completely dissociated conjugate anion [Z n− ] but the associated protonated anions [H m Z n-m− ], m<n, are formed.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction is carried out in an aqueous, aqueous/organic or organic solvent (addition of polar solvents such as lower alcohols, ketones, sulfoxides, ethers, nitrites, etc.) or, if the cationic synthesis module [Q + ] n [Y n− ] is liquid at the temperature selected, also in the absence of solvents.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that

the acid/base reaction is accelerated by application of a vacuum.

8. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a suitable metal salt [M 2+ ] [Z n− ] 2/n as anionic synthesis module, preferably a strontium, barium, zinc or manganese salt, particularly preferably a calcium salt, is reacted with the carbonate precursor [Q + ] 2 [CO 3 2− ] as cationic synthesis module in a type of reaction known as “metathesis”, resulting in sparingly soluble metal carbonate [M 2+ ] [CO 3 2− ], preferably strontium, barium, zinc or manganese carbonate, particularly preferably calcium carbonate, being precipitated and the carbonate ion of the carbonate precursor [Q + ] 2 [CO 3 2− ] being replaced by the desired anion [Z n− ].

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that

the precipitated sparingly soluble metal carbonate [M 2+ ] [CO 3 2− ], preferably strontium, barium, zinc or manganese carbonate, particularly preferably calcium carbonate, is separated from the desired ionic compound [Q + ] n [Z n− ] by filtration, centrifugation or other suitable methods.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that

the reaction is carried out in an aqueous, aqueous/organic or organic solvent (addition of polar solvents such as lower alcohols, ketones, sulfoxides, ethers, nitrites, etc.) or, if the cationic synthesis module [Q + ] 2 [CO 3 2− ] and the desired ionic compound [Q + ] n [Z n− ] are liquid at the temperature selected, also in the absence of solvents.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction is carried out batchwise, semibatchwise or continuously.

12. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction mixture is stirred, shaken or mixed in another way.

13. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction mixture is heated or cooled.

14. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that after the reaction is complete the solvent is removed by distillation, vacuum distillation, thin film evaporation, rotary evaporation or other suitable methods.

15. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the end product (the ionic compound [Q + ] n [Z n− ]) is freed of impurities by use of adsorbents such as activated carbon, silica gel or aluminum oxide or by application of a vacuum or by extraction.

16. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that commercially available industrial chemicals are used.

17. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that aqueous systems, particularly preferably pure water, are used as solvent.

18. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction times are from a few minutes to a maximum of one hour.

19. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the storable cationic synthesis modules are reacted with the anionic synthesis modules only immediately before production of the ionic compound.

20. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that no halogen and/or silver compounds are employed.

21. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the ionic carbonate precursor [Q + ] n [Y n− ] (cationic synthesis module) is produced by quaternization of linear or cyclic amines NR 1 R 2 R 3 , phosphines PR 1 R 2 R 3 , sulfides SR 1 R 2 or analogous nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur heteroaromatics by means of organic carbonic esters R 4 O(CO)O 5 in a nucleophilic substitution reaction, where the radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 are all identical, partly identical or different and the radicals are linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radicals, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radicals or derivatives of these radicals which are substituted by further functional groups, and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , R 5 may in each case also be joined to one another (polyvalent radical).

22. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the ionic carbonate intermediate precursor [Q + ] n [X n− ] (cationic synthesis module) is prepared from an ionic intermediate precursor [Q + ] n [X n− ], where [X n− ] is a halide, sulfate, sulfonate or any other anion, by “metathesis” and a hydrogencarbonate [M n+ ] [HCO 3 ], a carbonate [M + ] 2 [CO 3 2− ] n or a monoalkylcarbonate or monoarylcarbonate [M n+ ] [RCO 3 − ] n , where [M n+ ] is a suitable metal cation and R is a linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radical or a derivative of these radicals which is substituted by further functional groups, is added in a suitable, dry solvent with exclusion of atmospheric moisture and the mixture is stirred to form the desired ionic compound [Q + ] n [Y n− ] (cationic synthesis module), with the corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt [M n+ ] [X − ] being precipitated as a solid and being removed, in particular, by filtration, centrifugation or other suitable methods.

23. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that [Y n− ] is a hydrogencarbonate [HCO 3 − ], [X n− ] is a sulfate [SO 4 2− ] and [M n+ ] is a strontium or barium or particularly preferably calcium cation and the quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, sulfonium or analogous heteroaromatic sulfate [Q] 2 + [SO 4 2− ] has been produced by alkylation or arylation of linear or cyclic amines NR 1 R 2 R 3 , phosphines PR 1 R 2 R 3 , sulfides SR 1 R 2 or analogous nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur heteroaromatics by means of organic sulfates R 4 O(CO)O 5 and the metal salt added to the sulfate [Q] 2 + [SO 4 2− ] is a hydrogencarbonate [M n+ ][HCO 3 − ] 2 which has been produced beforehand or in situ in aqueous or aqueous-organic solution by reaction of the corresponding sparingly soluble alkaline earth metal carbonate [M n+ ] [CO 3 2− ] with carbon dioxide, with the sparingly soluble strontium, barium or calcium sulfate which precipitates being, in particular, removed by filtration, centrifugation or other suitable methods, where the radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 are all identical, partly identical or different and these radicals are linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radicals, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radicals or derivatives of these radicals which are substituted by further functional groups, with R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , R 5 in each case also being able to be joined to one another (polyvalent radical).

24. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the ionic carbonate precursor [Q + ] n [Y n− ] (cationic synthesis module) is prepared by reaction of quaternary hydroxides [Q + ][OH − ] and alkoxides [Q + ][RO − ] with carbon dioxide, where R is a linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radical or a derivative of this radical which is substituted by further functional groups.

25. The process as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the ionic carbonate precursor [Q + ] n [Y n− ] (cationic synthesis module) is prepared by liquid ion exchange between a medium- to long-chain quaternary compound [Q′ + ] n [Y n ] and a quaternary compound [Q + ][Y n− ] in aqueous or aqueous-organic solution in accordance with

[Q′ + ] n [Y n− ]+[Q + ] n [X n− ]->[Q + ] n [Y n− ][Q′ + ] n [X n− ]

where

[Q′ + ] is a quaternary ammonium [R′ 1 R′ 2 R′ 3 R′ 4 N + ], phosphonium [R′ 1 R′ 2 R′ 3 R′ 4 P + ] or sulfonium [R′ 1 R′ 2 R′ 3 S + ] cation or an analogous quaternized nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur heteroaromatic,

where the radicals R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 3 , R′ 4 , are all identical, partly identical or different,

the radicals R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 3 and R′ 4 , are linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radicals, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radicals or derivatives of these radicals which are substituted by further functional groups and

R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 3 , R′ 4 , may also be joined to one another (polyvalent radical)

and at least one of the radicals R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R′ 3 , R′ 4 , has 4-30 carbon atoms,

and [Y n− ] is a hydrogencarbonate [HCO 3 ], carbonate [CO 3 − ], monoalkylcarbonate or monoarylcarbonate [R′OCO 2 − ], and

where R′ is a linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic or [R′OCO 2 − ] is another monosubstituted carbonate,

where [Q + ] is the desired cation of the ionic precursor, [X n− ] can be a chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate, p-toluenesulfonate, methanesulfonate, trifluoromethane-sulfonate, trifluoroacetate anion or any other anion, which is obtained from a classical quaternization reaction of a corresponding linear or cyclic amine NR 1 R 2 R 3 , phosphine PR 1 R 2 R 3 , sulfide SR 1 R 2 or analogous nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur heteroaromatics,

with [Q′ + ] n [X n− ] separating out as water-immiscible phase after liquid ion exchange has occurred

and the desired ionic precursor [Q + ] n [Y n− ] being present in aqueous or aqueous-organic solution after separation of the water-immiscible phase [Q + ] n [Y n− ]

and this precursor [Q + ] n [Y n− ] finally being able to be isolated by removal of the solvent (evaporation, distillation, etc.).

26. A process for preparing ionic liquids, ionic solids or mixtures thereof and having general formula [Q + ] n [Z n− ] from cationic synthesis modules including said [Q + ] and having the general formula [Q + ] n [Y n− ] and anionic synthesis modules comprising said [Z n− ] as their anion,

where said [Q + ] of said cationic synthesis module is a quaternary ammonium [R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + ], phosphonium [R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 P + ] or sulfonium [R 1 R 2 R 3 S + ] cation or an analogous quaternized nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur heteroaromatic, where the radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 are all identical, partly identical or different,

the radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radicals, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic radicals or derivatives of these radicals which are substituted by further functional groups and

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 may also be joined to one another (polyvalent radical), and said [Y n− ] of said cationic synthesis module is an alkoxide [RO − ],

where R is a linear, cyclic, branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic or a derivative of these radicals which is substituted by further functional groups, and

wherein said anionic synthesis module is reacted with said cationic synthesis module to remove the anion [Y n− ] of the cationic synthesis module and replace it by said anion [Z n− ] of said ionic liquids, ionic solids or mixtures.

27. The process as claimed in claim 26 , characterized in that storable cationic synthesis modules are reacted with anionic synthesis modules in a modular production process to give ionic compounds.

28. The process as claimed in claim 26 , characterized in that the storable cationic synthesis modules are reacted with the anionic synthesis modules only immediately before production of the ionic compound.