The structure of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (TFSI-) in the liquid state has been studied by means of Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Raman spectra of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMI+) TFSI- show relatively strong bands arising from TFSI- at about 398 and 407 cm(-1). Interestingly, the 407 cm(-1) band, relative to the 398 cm(-1) one, is appreciably intensified with raising temperature, suggesting that an equilibrium is established between TFSI- conformers in the liquid state. According to DFT calculations followed by normal frequency analyses, two conformers of C2 and C1 symmetry, respectively, constitute global and local minima, with an energy difference 2.2-3.3 kJ mol(-1). The wagging omega-SO2 vibration appears at 396 and 430 cm(-1) for the C1 conformer and at 387 and 402 cm(-1) for the C2 one. Observed Raman spectra over the range 380-440 cm(-1) were deconvoluted to extract intrinsic bands of TFSI- conformers, and the enthalpy of conformational change from C2 to C1 was evaluated. The enthalpy value is in good agreement with that obtained by theoretical calculations. We thus conclude that a conformational equilibrium is established between the C1 and C2 conformers of TFSI- in the liquid EMI+TFSI-, and the C2 conformer is more favorable than the C1 one.

The solvation structure of the lithium ion in room-temperature ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (EMI(+)TFSI(-)) and N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (BMP(+0TFSI(-)) has been studied by Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Raman spectra of EMI(+)TFSI(-) and BMP(+)TFSI(-) containing Li(+)TFSI(-) over the range 0.144-0.589 and 0.076-0.633 mol dm(-3), respectively, were measured at 298 K. A strong 744 cm-1 band of the free TFSI(-) ion in the bulk weakens with increasing concentration of the lithium ion, and it revealed by analyzing the intensity decrease that the two TFSI(-) ions bind to the metal ion. The lithium ion may be four-coordinated through the O atoms of two bidentate TFSI(-) ions. It has been established in our previous work that the TFSI(-) ion involves two conformers of C(1) (cis) and C(2) (trans) symmetries in equilibrium, and the dipole moment of the C(1) conformer is significantly larger than that of the C(2) conformer. On the basis of these facts, the geometries and SCF energies of possible solvate ion clusters [Li(C(1)-TFSI(-))(2)](-), [Li(C(1)-TFSI(-))(C(2)-TFSI(-))](-), and [Li(C(2)-TFSI(-))(2)](-) were examined using the theoretical DFT calculations. It is concluded that the C(1) conformer is more preferred to the C(2) conformer in the vicinity of the lithium ion.

Raman spectra of liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMI+) salts, EMI(+)BF4-, EMI(+)PF6-, EMI(+)CF3SO3-, and EMI(+)N(CF3SO2)2-, were measured over the frequency range 200-1600 cm(-1). In the range 200-500 cm(-1), we found five bands originating from the EMI+ ion at 241, 297, 387, 430, and 448 cm(-1). However, the 448 cm(-1) band could hardly be reproduced by theoretical calculations in terms of a given EMI+ conformer, implying that the band originates from another conformer. This is expected because the EMI+ involves an ethyl group bound to the N atom of the imidazolium ring, and the ethyl group can rotate along the C-N bond to yield conformers. The torsion energy for the rotation was then theoretically calculated. Two local minima with an energy difference of ca. 2 kJ mol(-1) were found, suggesting that two conformers are present in equilibrium. Full geometry optimizations followed by normal frequency analyses indicate that the two conformers are those with planar and nonplanar ethyl groups against the imidazolium ring plane, and the nonplanar conformer is favorable. It elucidates that bands at 241, 297, 387, and 430 cm(-1) mainly originate from the nonplanar conformer, whereas the 448 cm(-1) band does originate from the planar conformer. Indeed, the enthalpy for conformational change from nonplanar to planar EMI+ experimentally obtained by analyzing band intensities of the conformers at varying temperatures is practically the same as that evaluated by theoretical calculations. We thus conclude that the EMI+ ion exists as either a nonplanar or planar conformer in equilibrium in its liquid salts.

Time-of-flight neutron diffraction measurements were carried out for 6Li/7Li isotopically substituted 10 mol % LiPF6-propylene carbonate-d6 (PC-d6) solutions, in order to obtain structural information on the first solvation shell of Li+. Structural parameters concerning the nearest neighbor Li+...PC and Li+...PF6- interactions were determined through least-squares fitting analysis of the observed difference function, DeltaLi(Q). It has been revealed that the first solvation shell of Li+ consists in average of 4.5(1) PC molecules with an intermolecular Li+...O(PC) distance of 2.04(1) A. The angle Li+...O=C bond angle has been determined to be 138(2) degrees.