Density Functional Theory Study of the Ionic Liquid [emim]OH and Complexes [emim]OH(H2O)n (n=1,2)

In this work, the structure of the ionic liquid [emim]OH and the influence of water molecules on this ionic liquid were studied by the DFT theory at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level. The calculation results indicate that [emim]OH cannot exist in the form of ion pairs, rather it is inclined to exist the form of water and imidazole carbene. Further studies showed that water mainly influences the anion: it can disperse the negative charge of the O atom of the OH− anion and form hydroxyl–water clusters with the anion. When there are two water molecules in the ionic liquid, the system is most likely to exist in the form of ion-pairs that are composed of hydroxyl–water clusters and cations. Configurations formed near the C2-H fragment of imidazole were favored, and hydrogen bonding interaction plays an important role in the ionic liquid system.