Poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazolium) poly(ionic liquid)s: synthesis and the unique behavior in loading metal ions

TL;DR

This paper reports the synthesis of novel poly(ionic liquid)s based on 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazolium and explores their unique ability to load metal ions, showing improved performance over similar imidazolium-based polymers.

Contribution

It introduces a new class of poly(ionic liquid)s with a straightforward synthesis method and demonstrates their enhanced metal ion loading capacity compared to imidazolium counterparts.

Findings

Poly(4-ethyl-1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazolium) poly(ionic liquid) shows improved metal ion loading.

Systematic investigation of thermal properties and solubilities.

Unique behavior in metal ion loading compared to imidazolium-based polymers.

Abstract

Herein we report the synthesis of a series of poly(4-alkyl-1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazolium) poly(ionic liquid)s either via straightforward free radical polymerization of their corresponding ionic liquid monomers, or via anion metathesis of the polymer precursors bearing halide as counter anion. The ionic liquid monomers were first prepared via N-alkylation reaction of commercially available 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole with alkyl iodides, followed by anion metathesis with targeted fluorinated anions. The thermal properties and solubilities of these poly(ionic liquid)s have been systematically investigated. Interestingly, it was found that the poly(4-ethyl-1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazolium) poly(ionic liquid) exhibited an improved loading capacity of transition metal ions in comparison with its imidazolium counterpart.