Reaction with SO3 in Ionic Liquids: The Example of K2(S2O7)(H2SO4)

The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate, [bmim]HSO4, turned out to be resistant even to strong oxidizers like SO3. Thus, it should be a suitable solvent for the preparation of polysulfates at low temperatures. As a proof of principle we here present the synthesis and crystal structure of K-2(S2O7)(H2SO4), which has been obtained from the reaction of K2SO4 and SO3 in [bmim]HSO4. In the crystal structure of K-2(S2O7)(H2SO4) (orthorhombic, Pbca, Z = 8, a = 810.64(2) pm, b = 1047.90(2) pm, c = 2328.86(6) pm, V = 1978.30(8) angstrom(3)) two crystallographically unique potassium cations are coordinated by a different number of monodentate and bidentate-chelating disulfate anions as well as by sulfuric acid molecules. The crystal structure consists of alternating layers of [K-2(S2O7)] slabs and H2SO4 molecules. Hydrogen bonds between hydrogen atoms of sulfuric acid molecules and oxygen atoms of the neighboring disulfate anions are observed.