Theoretical study of physicochemical properties of ionic liquid [mim][C(CN)3]

Intermolecular interactions between cation and anion in methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide ionic liquid [mim][C(CN)(3)] have been studied at different levels of theory. Structures, interaction energies, hydrogen bonding, physical and topological properties, as well as NMR spectra of the ionic complexes have been investigated. Nucleus-independent chemical shifts were used to characterize the change of aromaticity of the cation ring upon complexation. The effect of different solvents on the stability of complexes and monomers was examined. The obtained natural bond orbital parameters show that in all ion pairs the charge transfer takes place from anion to cation. The LP(N) -> sigma*(N-H) and LP(N) -> sigma*(C-H) donor-acceptor interactions are the most important interactions in these complexes. It is predicted that Na <-H-N interaction is stronger than Na <-H-C one.