Some physicochemical characteristics of molten salts derived from trimethylsulfonium bromide

Ambient temperature melts were derived from trimethylsulfonium bromide (TMSuBr) and AlBr3, AlCl3, or HBr. The aluminum halide melts have low-wavelength UV cutoffs and single-band 1H NMR spectra. In the TMSuBr–HBr system, the formation of HBr2− and likely existence of H2Br3− are indicated by 1H NMR and IR spectra. Conductivity and viscosity data indicate stronger TMSu+–anion interactions than those between substituted imidazolium and halide anions. A Grotthus mechanism may operate for conduction in TMSuBr:HBr melts. Keywords: ambiant temperature melts, trimethylsulfonium–anion itneractions, Grotthus mechanism.