title: Stability of [MeBu3N][Tf2N] under gamma irradiation.
abstract: The stability of the ionic liquid [MeBu3N][Tf2N], dry or after contact with water (where [MeBu3N]+ is the methyltributylammonium cation and [Tf2N](-) is the bistriflimide anion), was studied under 137Cs gamma irradiation in argon and in air. In a quantitative study with an absorbed dose of 2 MGy this ionic liquid was highly stable regardless of the radiolysis conditions. The radiolytic disappearance yields determined by ESI-MS were -0.38 and -0.25 micromol J(-1) for the cation and anion, respectively. ESI-MS, NMR, and liquid chromatography coupled with ESI-MS identified a large number of degradation products in very small quantities for the same dose. The cation radicals were formed by the loss of a Bu group, the Me group, or two H atoms to form a double bond with the butyl chain. Radiolysis of the anion produced mainly F and CF3 radicals. The anion radicals recombined with the cation to form a wide range of secondary degradation products regardless of the radiolysis conditions.
authors.affiliation: CEA Marcoule, DCRP/SCPS, BP 17171, 30207, Bagnols sur Cèze Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bossé
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berthon
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zorz
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monget
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berthon
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bisel
authors.forename: Solène
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Legand
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moisy