Evidence of CT complex formation between a probe and unreacted methylimidazole in imidazolium cation based ionic liquids: sensing by functionalised 2-benzyledinemalononitrile.

ABSTRACT

Here we report for the first time that unreacted N-methylimidazole (MIM) which is often a common impurity, can corrupt the results of a photophysical investigation of a probe molecule in imidazolium cation based RTILs. In addition, we propose a new type of sensor (functionalised 2-benzyledinemalononitrile derivative) for easy colorimetric detection and quantitative estimation of unreacted colourless MIM in RTILs.