Imidazolate (C3H3N− 2) is the conjugate base of imidazole. It is a nucleophile and a strong base. The free anion has C2vsymmetry. Imidazole has a pKa of 14.05,[1] so the deprotonation of imidazole (C3H3N2H) requires a strong base.
^ abWALBA, HAROLD; ISENSEE, ROBERT W. (August 1961). "Acidity Constants of Some Arylimidazoles and Their Cations". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 26 (8): 2789–2791. doi:10.1021/jo01066a039.
^Gutowski, Keith E.; Rogers, Robin D.; Dixon, David A. (May 2007). "Accurate Thermochemical Properties for Energetic Materials Applications. II. Heats of Formation of Imidazolium-, 1,2,4-Triazolium-, and Tetrazolium-Based Energetic Salts from Isodesmic and Lattice Energy Calculations". The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 111 (18): 4788–4800. doi:10.1021/jp066420d. PMID17388432.
^Phan, A.; Doonan, C. J.; Uribe-Romo, F. J.; Knobler, C. B.; O'Keeffe, M.; Yaghi, O. M. "Synthesis, Structure, and Carbon Dioxide Capture Properties of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks" Acc. Chem. Res. 2010, 43, 58-67. doi:10.1021/ar900116g
^Zhang, J.-P.; Zhang, Y.-B.; Lin, J.-B.; Chen, X.-M., "Metal Azolate Frameworks: From Crystal Engineering to Functional Materials", Chem. Rev. 2012, vol. 112, pp. 1001-1033. doi:10.1021/cr200139g