Structure of ionic liquids with amino acid anions via neutron diffraction

The liquid structures of the ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium alaninate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium serinate are fully elucidated through the application of neutron diffraction techniques. We observe significant direct interaction between anions, particularly in the case of the serinate ionic liquid which is strongly hydrogen bonding between its hydroxyl and carboxylate groups, and is attributed the significant increase in viscosity of the neat liquid to this structural feature. Minor differences in the elucidated interactions are present between the R and S forms of the anions.