Microwave-Assisted Modification of Poly(vinylimidazolium salts) via N,N-Dimethylformamide Decomposition

The modification of poly (1-propyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide) (3a), poly(1-hexyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide) (3b), poly (1-isopropyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide) (3c), poly(1-benzyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide) (3d), poly(1-(1-phenylethyl)-3-vinylimidazolium bromide) (3e) has been conducted under microwave irradiation using N,N-dimethylformamide as solvent and reagent. The products were formed by the decomposition of N,N-dimethylformamide into dimethylamine and carbon monoxide. The proposed structure of the obtained copolymer contains mainly units of 1-vinylimidazole and some units of amines, formamides, and alkenes. The reaction mechanism was established by use of model compounds 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (5a), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (5b), 1-isopropyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (5c), 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (5d), 1-(1-phenylethyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide (5e), 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (5f).