There are a variety of methods for production of modern day plastics, mainly consisting of synthetic polymerization of petroleum-derived organics.  To improve flexibility, additives called plasticizers prevent the polymers from forming a structure too rigid for many applications.  Plasticizers act in that they are embedded into the plastic to interact with intermolecular forces within the main polymer.  These loosely bound molecules, along with unreacted monomers, easily break away, affecting the air quality, particularly in enclosed spaces.  In an attempt to create plastics that will be considered odorless, and thus profitable for enclosed spaces, we have designed a variety of imidazolium-based monomers to be linked for the synthesis of a polymer. Imidazolium compounds, also known as ionic liquids, are salts with an organic cation and typically an inorganic anion.  As salts, they have virtually no vapor pressure and are often touted as green solvents.  <i>N,N</i>-disubstituted imidazolium diesters and dialcohols will lead to the synthesis of polyesters.  Additional work will include designing crosslinking molecules to increase flexibility and enhance strength, and preparing plasticizers to preserver a moderate amount of “free space” with the polymer structure. Both will be ionic liquid based to avoid adding volatile compounds.

Poly(ionic) liquids: Imidazoles with ester linkages

251st National Meeting (2016)

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