室温离子液体对氨基苯磺酸的萃取性能

系统研究了[C₄mim][PF₆], [C₆mim][PF₆], [C₆mim][BF₄]和[C₈mim][BF₄]室温离子液体对间氨基苯磺酸、对氨基苯磺酸稀水溶液的萃取平衡. 实验结果表明: 萃取温度和相体积比的变化对分配比影响不大; 水相pH值对萃取平衡有较大的影响, 氨基苯磺酸在离子液体/水体系中的分配比在pH＝4.2时达到最大值; 水相中CaCl₂或Na₂SO₄的存在能较大幅度地提高氨基苯磺酸的分配比; 离子液体的阴离子的性质对分配比有显著的影响, 阴离子为[BF₄]^－的离子液体对氨基苯磺酸的萃取能力大于阴离子为[PF₆]^－的离子液体; 咪唑环上烷基链的长度也对萃取效果有一定的影响. 在所研究的离子液体中, [C₆mim][BF₄]和[C₈mim][BF₄]对氨基苯磺酸有较好的萃取性能, 且萃取相中的氨基苯磺酸可回收利用, 离子液体也可循环使用.     

离子液体型表面活性剂研究

以1-甲基咪唑为原料, 制备了6个常规离子液体: 1-正丁基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[bmim][BF₄]及[bmim][PF₆])、1-正己基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[hmim][BF₄]及[hmim][PF₆])、1-正十六烷基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[C₁₆mim][BF₄]及[C₁₆mim][PF₆])和4个功能化离子液体: 1-(2-羟乙基)-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[2-hemim][BF₄]及[2-hemim][PF₆])、1-乙氧羰基甲基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[eocmmim][BF₄]及[eocmmim][PF₆]). 研究了这两类离子液体的一些物理性能, 旨在挖掘离子液体在香料香精化妆品工业中的应用价值. 分别检测了它们与一般溶剂的互溶性, 并测定了它们的表面张力和发泡性能, 实验结果表明, 仅[C₁₆mim][BF₄]和[C₁₆mim][PF₆]具有发泡性能, 发泡力分别为68和120 mm.     

反气相色谱法表征离子液体1-己基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐的热力学参数

采用反气相色谱法(IGC)表征了离子液体(IL)1-己基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐([HMIM]BF₄)在343.15~373.15 K温度范围内的热力学参数.使用了一系列不同化学结构的探针分子测定[HMIM]BF₄与溶剂之间的相互作用力.根据探针分子的保留时间计算得到探针分子与[HMIM]BF₄之间的Flory-Huggins相互作用参数、摩尔吸附焓、无限稀释摩尔混合焓、摩尔蒸发焓、无限稀释活度系数以及[HMIM]BF₄的溶解度参数.结果表明,n-C₆、n-C₇、n-C₈、n-C₉、乙醚、四氢呋喃、苯、环己烷为[HMIM]BF₄的不良溶剂;甲苯、间二甲苯、甲醇、乙醇、二氯甲烷、四氯化碳、氯仿、丙酮、乙酸乙酯、乙酸甲酯为[HMIM]BF₄的良溶剂.运用外推法得到了[HMIM]BF₄在室温(298.15K)时的溶解度参数为23.70 (J·^-3)^0.5.实验结果证明反气相色谱法是一种简便准确的获得离子液体热力学参数的方法.获得的热力学参数体现了这种离子液体与探针分子之间的相互作用力.本研究为离子液体的进一步应用提供了参考.     

1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑丙氨酸离子液体热力学性质的研究

用中和法合成了氨基酸离子液体1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑丙氨酸([C₂mim][Ala]),并利用恒温环境的溶解反应热量计,在(288.15±0.01) K-(308.15±0.01) K温度范围内每隔5 K,测定不同质量摩尔浓度离子液体在水中的溶解焓(Δ_solH_m^θ).根据Archer的方法,通过线性拟合得到了该离子液体的标准摩尔溶解焓(Δ_sol),并计算了其相对表观摩尔溶解焓(^ΦL).在298.15 K下,根据Glasser经验方法得到了格子能U_POT = 566 kJ·mol^-1,并计算了其阴阳离子水化焓值(ΔH⁺ + ΔH^-) = -620 kJ·mol^-1及阴离子水化焓ΔH^-([Ala]^-) = -387 kJ·mol^-1.此外,估算了[C₂mim][Ala]水溶液的热容(C_p(sol))和表观摩尔热容(^ΦC_p).     

γ辐射下CMPO/[C2mim][NTf2]的辐解及其对Eu3+萃取的影响

主要考察了辛基(苯基)-N, N-二异丁基胺甲酰基甲基氧化膦(CMPO)在1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑双三氟甲基磺酰胺酸盐([C₂mim][NTf₂])中的γ辐解行为,同时考察辐射对CMPO/[C₂mim][NTf₂]萃取能力的影响。通过超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱联用仪(UPLC/Q-TOF-MS)进行定量分析、辐解产物认定以及产物半定量分析。CMPO/正十二烷作为对比条件进行了相同研究。结果表明：CMPO在[C₂mim][NTf₂]中的辐解率低于其在正十二烷中,并且辐解路径不同。在正十二烷体系中,CMPO主要发生C―P、C―N键的断链,而在离子液体体系中CMPO主要发生异丁基脱除反应,并与[C₂mim]^+·、·CF₃等离子液体产生的自由基发生取代反应。综合辐解研究结果,我们提出CMPO/[C₂mim][NTf₂]的辐解路径,这加深了CMPO在离子液体中辐解机理的认识。最后,通过萃取实验发现,当硝酸浓度为0.01 mol·L^-1,辐照剂量为800 kGy时,CMPO/[C₂mim][NTf₂]对Eu³⁺的萃取率依旧达到99%以上。     

用恒温热重法测定1-己基-3-甲基咪唑苏氨酸离子液体[C6mim][Thr]蒸汽压和蒸发焓

用中和法合成了氨基酸离子液体(AAIL)1-己基-3-甲基苏氨酸盐[C₆mim][Thr],并用核磁共振氢谱(¹H NMR)和核磁共振碳谱(¹³C NMR)进行了表征。以苯甲酸为参考物质,用恒温热重法确定了AAIL[C₆mim][Thr]的蒸汽压和在平均温度下(T_av= 438.15 K)的蒸发焓(Δ^g_lH_m^? (T_av) =128.5 ± 6.0 kJ·mol^-1)。利用Verevkin等人提出的方法计算得到AAIL[C₆mim][Thr]气态和液态的恒压热容差(Δ^g_lC_pm^? = -70.8 J·K^-1·mol^-1),进而计算了不同温度的蒸发焓,其中参考温度(298.15 K)下的蒸发焓Δ^g_lH_m^? (298.15 K) = 138.4 kJ·mol^-1,只比应用我们提出的蒸发焓理论模型估算值大1.6 kJ·mol^-1,小于恒温热重法的实验误差3.0 kJ·mol^-1,说明这个蒸发焓的理论模型有一定的合理性。借助Clausius-Clapeyron方程估算了AAIL[C₆mim][Thr]的假想的正常沸点T_b= 522.07 K,以及沸点的蒸发熵Δ^g_lS_m^? (T_b) = 228.5 J·K^-1·mol^-1,进一步得到了不同温度的蒸发熵和蒸发自由能Δ^g_lG_m^? (T),其结果表明蒸发自由能随着温度的上升而减小,达到沸点温度T_b时变为零,而蒸发熵则随着温度上升而增大,是AAIL[C₆mim][Thr]蒸发过程的驱动力。     

1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑离子液体作为可循环溶剂萃取/去除水中二价汞研究

本研究采用1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑离子液体([C₈MIM]PF₆)建立了水中Hg²⁺的循环去除方法. 首先使用[C₈MIM]PF₆萃取水中Hg²⁺, 随后通过甲酸的还原反应, 去除萃取到[C₈MIM]PF₆中的Hg²⁺, 进而实现[C₈MIM]PF₆的回收与循环使用. 本研究优化了萃取与还原去除条件, 考察了最佳条件下[C₈MIM]PF₆的循环使用能力. 结果表明, 50 mL水中加入1 mL[C₈MIM]PF₆同时加入0.2 mL 1-甲基咪唑, 50 ℃、220 r/min震荡2 h, 对Hg²⁺的萃取效率接近100%. 随后在离子液体中加入4 mL, 40%甲酸溶液, 50 ℃下220 r/min震荡30 min, 可以将[C₈MIM]PF₆中60%～70%的Hg²⁺还原去除. 采用这一方式对水中Hg²⁺进行循环萃取, 在9次萃取中,[C₈MIM]PF₆对Hg²⁺的去除效率保持在83%～98%. 因此, 本方法不仅实现[C₈MIM]PF₆对水中Hg²⁺的去除, 同时实现了[C₈MIM]PF₆的回收与循环使用, 避免了[C₈MIM]PF₆过度使用所带来的环境问题.     

1-甲基-3-乙基咪唑缬氨酸盐离子液体[C2mim][Val]的热化学

用中和法合成了氨基酸离子液体1-甲基-3-乙基咪唑缬氨酸盐([CB_2Bmim][Val]). 在298.15±0.01 K下, 利用恒温溶解反应热量计测定了不同含水量的[CB_2Bmim][Val]溶解成不同质量摩尔浓度溶液的溶解焓, ΔB_solBHB_mB (w), 借助标准加入法(SAM)和Archer方法得到了无水离子液体[CB_2Bmim][Val]的标准摩尔溶解焓, . 利用RB-II型精密转动弹热量计测定了该离子液体的燃烧热, 计算了其标准摩尔燃烧焓 和标准摩尔生成焓 |并结合该离子液体的标准摩尔溶解焓和乙基咪唑阳离子[CB_2Bmim]^＋在水溶液中的标准摩尔生成焓, 计算了[Val]P^－离子在水溶液中的标准摩尔生成焓. 利用RD496-III型热导式微量热量计测定了不同质量摩尔浓度[CB_2Bmim][Val]水溶液的稀释焓, 根据扩展的Debye-Hückel方程计算得到的相对表观摩尔焓P^φPL和根据Pitzer离子相互作用模型的计算值在实验误差范围内很好一致.     

离子液体对木瓜蛋白酶催化特性的影响

研究了以1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑、四乙基铵及N-乙基吡啶为阳离子, 配以多种阴离子(H₂PO₄^-, ClO₄^-, HSO₄^-, CH₃COO^-, Cl^-, Br^-, NO₃^-, SCN^-, BF₄^-, PF₆^-)的离子液体对木瓜蛋白酶催化N-苯甲酰-L-精氨酸乙酯(BAEE)水解的活性及热稳定性的影响. 通过分析含离子液体体系中木瓜蛋白酶的水解活性和热力学失活参数, 发现该酶活性及稳定性与离子液体的Kosmotropicity性质无关. 因此, 离子的Hofmeister效应并不适合解释离子液体对木瓜蛋白酶催化特性的影响规律. 当以BF₄^-为阴离子, 改变阳离子结构时, 仅[BMIm][BF₄]可提高酶活性, 其它含官能团的咪唑类离子液体则降低酶活性, 但大部分离子液体明显提高木瓜蛋白酶的热稳定性. 在所研究的离子液体中, 基于PF₆^-或BF₄^-阴离子的离子液体可提高木瓜蛋白酶的活性及其热稳定性. 在含[BMIm][PF₆]介质中, 木瓜蛋白酶的水解活性最高; 在含[HOEtMIm][BF₄]介质中其热稳定性最好.     

吡啶离子液体[BPy][BF4]与乙腈混合体系中杜醌的光化学反应动力学

用激光闪光光解方法研究了杜醌(DQ)在吡啶型离子液体N-丁基吡啶四氟硼酸盐([BPy][BF₄])与乙腈(MeCN)组成的共混溶剂中的光化学反应机理与动力学. 实验结果表明, 离子液体[BPy][BF₄]对混合体系中杜醌激发三线态(³DQ^*)的瞬态吸收峰位置和吸光度大小都没有产生明显影响. 在N₂饱和条件下, 无论是在乙腈溶液中还是在[BPy][BF₄]/MeCN混合溶液中³DQ^*的衰减都遵循一级反应动力学规律. 而[BPy][BF₄]的存在对³DQ^*与三乙胺(TEA)之间的电子转移影响显著. 随着[BPy][BF₄]/MeCN 体系中离子液体比例的增加, 杜醌三线态³DQ^*与TEA间的瞬态反应机理没有改变, 但它们之间的光诱导电子转移反应速率和生成自由基的量子产额逐渐降低, 通过改变离子液体的比例可以调节该体系中光诱导电子转移反应的速率和效率.     

Theoretical study of interactions between 1-alkyl-3-methyimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and dibenzothiophene: DFT,NBO, and AIM analysis

Density functional theory is employed to study the interaction energies between dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C _n mim]⁺[BF₄]^?). The structures of DBT, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₂mim]⁺[BF₄]^?), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C4mim]+[BF₄]?), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₆mim]⁺[BF₄]^?), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₈mim]⁺[BF₄]^?), [C₂mim]⁺[BF₄]^?–DBT, [C₄mim]⁺[BF₄]^?–DBT, [C₆mim]⁺[BF₄]^?–DBT and [C₈mim]⁺[BF₄]^?–DBT systems are optimized systematically at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level, and the most stable geometries are obtained by NBO and AIM analyses. The results indicate that DBT and imidazolium rings of ionic liquids are parallel to each other. It is found that the [BF₄]^? anion prefers to be located close to a C1–H9 proton ring in the vicinity of the imidazolium ring and the most stable gas-phase structure of [C _n mim]⁺[BF₄]^? has four hydrogen bonds between [C _n mim]+ and [BF₄]?. There are hydrogen bonding interactions, π–π and C–H–π interactions between [C₈mim]⁺[BF₄]^? and DBT, which is confirmed by NBO and AIM analyses. The calculated interaction energies for the studied ionic liquids can be used to interpret a better extracting ability of [C₈mim]⁺[BF₄]^? to remove DBT, due to stronger interactions between [C₈mim]⁺[BF₄]^? and DBT, in agreement with the experimental results of dibenzothiophene extraction by [C _n mim]⁺[BF₄]^?.     

Gas‐phase dissociation of ionic liquid aggregates studied by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and energy‐variable collision induced dissociation

Positive singly charged ionic liquid aggregates [(C_nmim)_m+1(BF₄)_m]⁺ (mim = 3‐methylimidazolium; n = 2, 4, 8 and 10) and [(C₄mim)_m+1(A)_m]⁺ (A = Cl⁻, BF₄⁻, PF₆⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻ and (CF₃SO₂)₂N⁻) were investigated by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and energy‐variable collision induced dissociation. The electrospray ionisation mass spectra (ESI‐MS) showed the formation of an aggregate with extra stability for m = 4 for all the ionic liquids with the exception of [C₄mim][CF₃SO₃]. ESI‐MS‐MS and breakdown curves of aggregate ions showed that their dissociation occurred by loss of neutral species ([C_nmim][A])_a with a ≥ 1. Variable‐energy collision induced dissociation of each aggregate from m = 1 to m = 8 for all the ionic liquids studied enabled the determination of E_{cm, 1/2} values, whose variation with m showed that the monomers were always kinetically much more stable than the larger aggregates, independently of the nature of cation and anion. The centre‐of‐mass energy values correlate well with literature data on ionic volumes and interaction and hydrogen bond energies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of the thermodynamic properties of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate ionic liquids [C n mim][Lact] (n = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) by parachor

An ionic liquid (IL) based on lactate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate ([C₄mim][Lact]), has been prepared and characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Since the IL can form strong hydrogen bonds with water, trace water is a problematic impurity in the IL. Using the standard addition method (SAM), the density, refractive index and surface tension of [C₄mim][Lact] were measured in the temperature range (308.15 to 343.15 ± 0.05) K. On the basis of the experimental data, the parachor and molar volume for [C₄mim][Lact], and the molecular volume V _m, surface tension γ, molar enthalpy of vaporization Δ_l ^g H _m ⁰, refractive index n _D, and the thermal expansion coefficients α, for the homologues [C _n mim][Lact] (n = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were estimated using semi-empirical methods. The estimated values are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Viscosities for Ionic Liquid Binary Mixtures with a Common Ion

At present, there is a considerable amount of work devoted to the study of the thermophysical properties of pure ionic liquids, which contrasts with the few data available for their mixtures. One of the most appealing characteristics of ionic liquids is the capability of subtly changing the chemical structure of the cation and anion in order to design appropriate solvents for specific applications. Mixtures of ionic liquids increase enormously this specificity, due to the unlimited combinations that arise from mixing two or more ionic liquids. In this context, the study of the thermophysical properties of these mixtures is revealed as a fundamental task. In this work the viscosities of the ionic liquid binary mixtures with a common ion ([C₆mim] + [C₂mim])[BF₄], ([C₆mim] + [C₄mim])[BF₄], [C₄mim]([BF₄] + [MeSO₄]) and [C₄mim]([PF₆] + [BF₄]) were determined within the temperature range (298.15–308.15) K. The temperature dependence of the viscosity for pure liquids is analyzed by means of the Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher equation and several mixing rules are applied for the mixtures.     

Electrochemical Ammonia Gas Sensing in Nonaqueous Systems: A Comparison of Propylene Carbonate with Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

First, the direct and indirect electrochemical oxidation of ammonia has been studied by cyclic voltammetry at glassy carbon electrodes in propylene carbonate. In the case of the indirect oxidation of ammonia, its analytical utility of indirect for ammonia sensing was examined in the range from 10 and 100 ppm by measuring the peak current of new wave resulting from reaction between ammonia and hydroquinone, as function of ammonia concentration, giving a sensitivity 1.29×10^?7 A ppm^?1 (r²=0.999) and limit‐of‐detection 5 ppm ammonia. Further, the direct oxidation of ammonia has been investigated in several room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), namely 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄mim] [BF₄]), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([C₄mim] [OTf]), 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C₂mim] [NTf₂]), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C₄mim] [NTf₂]) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄mim] [PF₆]) on a 10 μm diameter Pt microdisk electrode. In four of the RTILs studied, the cyclic voltammetric analysis suggests that ammonia is initially oxidized to nitrogen, N₂, and protons, which are transferred to an ammonia molecule, forming NH via the protonation of the anion(s) (A^?). However, in [C₄mim] [PF₆], the protonated anion was formed first, followed by NH . In all five RTILs, both HA and NH are reduced at the electrode surface, forming hydrogen gas, which is then oxidized. The analytical ability of this work has also been explored further, giving a limit‐of‐detection close to 50 ppm in [C₂mim] [NTf₂], [C₄mim] [OTf], [C₄mim] [BF₄], with a sensitivity of ca. 6×10^?7 A ppm^?1 (r²=0.999) for all three ionic liquids, showing that the limit of detection was ca. ten times larger than that in propylene carbonate since ammonia in propylene carbonate might be more soluble in comparison with RTILs when considering the higher viscosity of RTILs.     

Ionic Association of the Ionic Liquids [C4mim][BF4], [C4mim][PF6], and [Cnmim]Br in Molecular Solvents

Considering the ionic nature of ionic liquids (ILs), ionic association is expected to be essential in solutions of ILs and to have an important influence on their applications. Although numerous studies have been reported for the ionic association behavior of ILs in solution, quantitative results are quite scarce. Herein, the conductivities of the ILs [C_nmim]Br (n=4, 6, 8, 10, 12), [C₄mim][BF₄], and [C₄mim][PF₆] in various molecular solvents (water, methanol, 1‐propanol, 1‐pentanol, acetonitrile, and acetone) are determined at 298.15 K as a function of IL concentration. The conductance data are analyzed by the Lee–Wheaton conductivity equation in terms of the ionic association constant (K_A) and the limiting molar conductance (Λ_m⁰). Combined with the values for the Br^? anion reported in the literature, the limiting molar conductivities and the transference numbers of the cations and [BF₄]^? and [PF₆]^? anions are calculated in the molecular solvents. It is shown that the alkyl chain length of the cations and type of anion affect the ionic association constants and limiting molar conductivities of the ILs. For a given anion (Br^?), the Λ_m⁰ values decrease with increasing alkyl chain length of the cations in all the molecular solvents, whereas the K_A values of the ILs decrease in organic solvents but increase in water as the alkyl chain length of the cations increases. For the [C₄mim]⁺ cation, the limiting molar conductivities of the ILs decrease in the order Br^?>[BF₄]^?>[PF₆]^?, and their ionic association constants follow the order [BF₄]^?>[PF₆]^?>Br^? in water, acetone, and acetonitrile. Furthermore, and similar to the classical electrolytes, a linear relationship is observed between ln K_A of the ILs and the reciprocal of the dielectric constants of the molecular solvents. The ILs are solvated to a different extent by the molecular solvents, and ionic association is affected significantly by ionic solvation. This information is expected to be useful for the modulation of the IL conductance by the alkyl chain length of the cations, type of anion, and physical properties of the molecular solvents.     

Ionic liquids as porogens in the microwave-assisted synthesis of methacrylate monoliths for chromatographic application

Several imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) with varying cation alkyl chain length (C₄–C₁₀) and anion type (tetrafluoroborate ([BF₄]⁻), hexafluorophosphate ([PF₆]⁻) and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Tf₂N]⁻)) were used as reaction media in the microwave polymerization of methacrylate-based stationary phases. Scanning electron micrographs and backpressures of poly(butyl methacrylate-ethylene dimethacrylate) (poly(BMA-EDMA)) monoliths synthesized in the presence of these ionic liquids demonstrated that porosity and permeability decreased when cation alkyl chain length and anion hydrophobicity were increased. Performance of these monoliths was assessed for their ability to separate parabens by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Intra-batch precision (n = 3 columns) for retention time and peak area ranged was 0.80–1.13% and 3.71–4.58%, respectively. In addition, a good repeatability of RSD_{Retention time} = <0.30% and ∼1.0%, RSD_{Peak area} = <1.30% and <4.3%, and RSD_Efficiency = <0.6% and <11.5% for intra-day and inter-day, respectively exemplify monolith performance reliability for poly(BMA-EDMA) fabricated using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₆mim][BF₄]) porogen. This monolith was also tested for its potential in nanoLC to separate protein digests in gradient mode. ILs as porogens also fabricated different alkyl methacrylate (AMA) (C4–C18) monoliths. Furthermore, employing binary IL porogen mixture such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄mim][BF₄]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C₄mim][Tf₂N]) successfully decreased the denseness of the monolith, than when using [C₄mim][Tf₂N] IL alone, enabling a chromatographic run to be performed with 1:1 ratio produced baseline separation for the analytes. The combination of ILs and microwave irradiation made polymer synthesis very fast (∼10 min), entirely green (organic solvent-free) and energy saving process.     

Reverse ATRP process of acrylonitrile in the presence of ionic liquids

An ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄mim] [BF₄]), was first used as the solvent in azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN)‐initiated reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) of acrylonitrile with FeCl₃/succinic acid (SA) as the catalyst system. The polymerization in [C₄mim][BF₄] proceeded in a well‐controlled manner as evidenced by kinetic studies. Compared with the polymerization in bulk, the polymerization in [C₄mim][BF₄] not only showed the best control of molecular weight and its distribution but also provided rather rapid reaction rate with the ratio of [C₄mim][BF₄] at 200:1:2:4. The polymerization apparent activation energies in [C₄mim][BF₄] and bulk were calculated to be 48.2 and 55.7 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Polyacrylonitrile obtained was successfully used as a macroinitiator to proceed the chain extension polymerization in [C₄mim][BF₄] via a conventional ATRP process. [C₄mim][BF₄] and the catalyst system could be easily recycled and reused after simple purification and had no effect on the living nature of polymerization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2701–2707, 2008     

Relative hydrophobicity of equilibrium phases in biphasic systems (ionic liquid + water)

Partition coefficients for a series of dinitrophenylated (DNP) amino acids in biphasic systems composed of hydrophobic ionic liquids and water were experimentally determined. The ionic liquids used were three 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates, [C_nmim][BF₄], with alkyl chain substituents hexyl, octyl, and decyl. The liquid–liquid phase diagram for the system ([C₁₀mim][BF₄] + water) was experimentally determined. DNP amino acids distribute preferentially to the IL-rich phase and ([C₁₀mim][BF₄] + water) was found to be the system with the lowest partition coefficients for the solutes studied. The experimental partition coefficients decrease as the size of the alkyl side chain in the ionic liquids increases. The free energy of transfer of a methylene group between phases was calculated through the partition coefficients, which provides a measure of the relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases. It was found that the system ([C₁₀mim][BF₄] + water) presents a lower free energy (and thus a lower relative hydrophobicity) than the system ([C₈mim][BF₄] + water). In order to better understand this result, the micellar behavior of the three ionic liquids was studied. Electrical conductivities of several aqueous solutions of the ionic liquids were measured to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the degree of micelle ionization, α, of the three ionic liquids. From these two properties it was possible to obtain the free energy of micellization, ΔG_mic, for the ionic liquids.