title: 1,3-dimethylimidazolium-2-carboxylate: the unexpected synthesis of an ionic liquid precursor and carbene-CO2 adduct.
abstract: 1,3-Dimethylimidazolium-2-carboxylate is formed in good yield, rather than the anticipated organic salt, 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl carbonate, as the reaction product resulting from both N-alkylation and C-carboxylation of 1-methylimidazole with dimethyl carbonate; the crystal structure of the zwitterion exhibits pi-stacked rings and two-dimensional sheets constructed by hydrogen-bonds from imidazolium-ring hydrogens to the carboxylate group.
authors.affiliation: Center for Green Manufacturing, Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Holbrey
authors.forename: W Matthew
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tkatchenko
authors.forename: Ezzedine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouajila
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tommasi
authors.forename: Robin D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rogers