Pulse radiolysis studies of p-terphenyl in the ionic liquid methyltributylammonium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, [MeBu3N][NTf2]

The properties of intermediates resulting from radiolysis of solutions of p-terphenyl (TP) in the ionic liquid (IL) methyltributylammonium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([MeBu3N][NTf2]) have been examined by pulse radiolysis. Pulse radiolysis of a solution of TP in [MeBu3N][NTf2] gives insight into the nature of the primary products of [MeBu3N][NTf2] radiolysis. The p-terphenyl anion radical (TP·−) is formed during radiolysis via a direct reaction with solvated electrons and reaction of singlet excited states (1TP*) with the electron donor triethylamine (Et3N). The TP* in the irradiated IL solution is formed by energy transfer from excited products of the IL itself and partly by direct photoexcitation of TP by Cherenkov light. To distinguish between the intermediates derived from the TP and to characterize the primary radiolysis products of [MeBu3N][NTf2], pulse radiolysis of the solutions was conducted under argon in the presence or absence of TP and/or Et3N.