The reaction of 1-methylimidazole and α,α-dibromo-p-xylene was followed by a metathesis reaction with fluorinated anion sources, which yielded new fluorinated imidazolium salts [C 6 H 4 (CH 2 (C 4 H 6 N 2 ) 2 ] 2+ 2[A]where A = BF 4 (2), PF 6 (3), CF 3 SO 3 (4), and CF 3 COO (5). The compounds were characterized by 1 H-, 13 C-, 19 F-, 31 P NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data of compounds 2, 3, and 4 were also reported, whereas compound 5 was found to be a liquid. The solid compounds crystallized in the

The crystal structure of the title salt, C44H38P2 2+2BF4 −, consists of discrete dications inter­laced with the BF4 − counter-ions. In each cation, both phospho­nium groups lie on the same side of the plane of the central benzene ring. The tetra­fluoro­borate anions are involved in intensive thermal motion, thus some B—F bond lengths [range 1.329 (6) to 1.391 (6) Å] deviate significantly from their standard values.

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