A class of azetidinium-based hypergolic ionic liquids was synthesized and characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR, IR spectroscopies, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The properties of six synthesized ionic liquids were characterized with respect to liquid range (À80-200 8C), density (0.99-1.05 g cm À3 ), heat of formation (0.70-2.17 kJ g À1 ), specific impulse (164.0-184.5 s), and ignition delay time (23-130 ms). In order to better understand the relation between ring stains and energy of obtained compounds, the isomers of 9 were also synthesized for comparison. It is interesting to find that, compared with the isomers (9 a: 0.41 kJ g À1 , 156.5 s; 9 b: 0.36 kJ g À1 , 155.3 s), 9 exhibited a much higher heat of formation (0.78 kJ g À1 ) and specific impulse (164.8 s), which indicates that ring strains play an important role in the performance of energetic compounds. With the highest energetic properties (2.17 kJ g À1 , 184.5 s), 12 has a greater potential to be employed as green propellants.