Interfaces of ionic liquids and transition metal surfaces-adsorption, growth, and thermal reactions of ultrathin [C1C1Im][Tf2N] films on metallic and oxidised Ni(111) surfaces

Ultrathin films of the ionic liquid 1,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C(1)C(1)Im][Tf(2)N]) were deposited on differently terminated Ni(111) single crystal surfaces. The initial wetting behaviour, the growth characteristics, the molecular arrangement at the interface, and thermal reactivity were investigated using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS). On clean Ni(111), the initial growth occurs in a layer-by-layer mode. At submonolayer coverages up to at least 0.40 ML, a preferential arrangement of the IL ions in a bilayer structure, with the imidazolium cations in contact with the Ni surface atoms and the anions on top of the cation, is deduced. For higher coverages, a transition to a checkerboard-type arrangement occurs, which is most likely due to repulsive dipole-dipole interactions in the first layer. An overall preference for a checkerboard-type adsorption behaviour, i.e., anions and cations adsorbing next to each other, is found on the oxygen-precovered O(√3×√3)R30° Ni(111) surface. The thermal stability of adsorbed IL layers on Ni(111) and on a fully oxidised Ni(111) surface was studied by heating the layers to elevated temperatures. For clean Ni(111) reversible adsorption takes place. For the oxidised surface, however, only cation-related moieties desorb, starting at ~450 K, while anion-related signals remain on the surface up to much higher temperatures.     

Solubility of CO2 in the ionic liquid [hmim][Tf2N]

New experimental results are presented for the total pressure above liquid mixtures of carbon dioxide and the ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([hmim][Tf₂N]). The series of experiments were performed at preset temperature and liquid phase composition by means of a very precise high-pressure view-cell technique based on the synthetic method. A temperature range from (293.15 to 413.2) K was investigated where the maximum pressure reached approximately 10 MPa. Gas molalities in [hmim][Tf₂N] ranged up to about 4.7 mol · kg⁻¹. The (extended) Henry’s law is successfully applied to correlate the solubility pressures.     

Characterization of the interfaces between Au(hkl) single crystal basal plane electrodes and [Emmim][Tf2N] ionic liquid

The interface between Au(hkl) basal planes and the ionic liquid 1-Ethyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonil imide was investigated by using both cyclic voltammetry and laser-induced temperature jump. Cyclic voltammetry showed characteristic features, revealing surface sensitive processes at the interfaces Au(hkl)/[Emmim][Tf₂N]. From laser-induced heating the potential of maximum entropy (pme) is determined. Pme is close to the potential of zero charge (pzc) and, therefore, the technique provides relevant interfacial information. The following order for the pme values has been found: Au(111) > Au(100) > Au(110). This order correlates well with work function data and values of pzc in aqueous solutions.     

Solubility of tetrafluoromethane in the ionic liquid [hmim][Tf2N

Experimental results for the solubility of tetrafluoromethane (CF4, R14) in the ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf2N]) are presented for temperatures between 293.3 and 413.3 K, at pressures (gas molalities) up to 9.6 MPa (0.22 mol kg-1). The experimental results were determined with a high-pressure view-cell technique operating on the synthetic method. The experimental data were used to determine Henry's constant of tetrafluoromethane in [hmim][Tf2N]. The results for the Henry's constant (at zero pressure) are correlated (on the molality scale) within the experimental uncertainty (i.e., about 1.1%) by ln(k(0)(H,CF4)/MPa) = 7.537 - 893.8/(T/K) - 0.003977(T/K). Henry's law was also extended to describe the gas solubility at higher pressures. Furthermore, a cubic equation of state was used to correlate the gas solubility over the entire range of experimentally investigated temperature and pressure. Both methods proved suited for a reliable correlation of the new experimental data.     

Investigations with infrared spectroscopy on films of the ionic liquid [EMIM]Tf2N

The reflection-absorption infrared (RAIRS) spectra of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM]Tf 2N) are presented as a function of temperature between 114 and 292 K. A comparison is made with the corresponding infrared spectra (obtained with transmission spectroscopy) from bulk [EMIM]Tf 2N. The liquid and amorphous films show rather similar spectra, indicating that the film structure is similar in both cases. On the other hand, these spectra differ considerably from those of crystalline films. Characteristic differences seen between the film and bulk spectra are attributed to the different structures of the respective networks. There are, however, indications that under all studied conditions the cation-anion interaction is between the C-H groups of the [EMIM] ring and the SO 2 groups of the anion.     

Spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of U(IV)-hexachloro complexes in hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquids [BuMeIm][Tf2N] and [MeBu3N][Tf2N

The behavior of U(IV) octahedral complexes [cation]2[UCl6], where the [cation]+ is [BuMeIm]+ and [MeBu3N]+, is studied using UV/visible spectroscopy, cyclic staircase voltammetry, and rotating disk electrode voltammetry in hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) [BuMeIm][Tf2N] and [MeBu3N][Tf2N], where BuMeIm+ and MeBu3N+ are 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium and tri-n-butylmethylammonium cations, respectively, and Tf2N- is the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion. The absorption spectra of [cation]2[UCl6] complexes in the RTIL solutions are similar to the diffuse solid-state reflectance spectra of the corresponding solid species, indicating that the octahedral complex UCl6(2-) is the predominant chemical form of U(IV) in Tf2N--based hydrophobic ionic liquids. Hexachloro complexes of U(IV) are stable to hydrolysis in the studied RTILs. Voltammograms of UCl(6)2- at the glassy carbon electrode in both RTILs and at the potential range of -2.5 to +1.0 V versus Ag/Ag(I) reveal the following electrochemical couples: UCl6-/UCl6(2-) (quasi-reversible system), UCl(6)2-/UCl6(3-) (quasi-reversible system), and UCl(6)2-/UCl6(Tf2N)x-3+x (irreversible reduction). The voltammetric half-wave potential, Ep/2, of the U(V)/U(IV) couple in [BuMeIm][Tf2N] is positively shifted by 80 mV compared with that in [MeBu3N][Tf2N]. The positive shift in the Ep/2 value for the quasi-reversible U(IV)/U(III) couple is much greater (250 mV) in [BuMeIm][Tf2N]. Presumably, the potential shift is due to the specific interaction of BuMeIm+ with the uranium-hexachloro complex in ionic liquid. Scanning the negative potential to -3.5 V in [MeBu3N][Tf2N] solutions of UCl6(2-) reveals the presence of an irreversible cathodic process at the peak potential equal to -3.12 V (at 100 mV/s and 60 degrees C), which could be attributed to the reduction of U(III) to U(0).     

Solubility of CO2 in room temperature ionic liquid [hmim][Tf2N

Solubility measurements of carbon dioxide in 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide have been performed with a gravimetric microbalance at temperatures of about 282, 297, 323, and 348 K and pressures up to about 2 MPa. Two different sources for the ionic liquid are examined in this work: an ultrapure sample from NIST (the IUPAC task force sample) and a commercially available sample. Both samples show nearly identical solubility behaviors, being undistinguishable within experimental uncertainties. Solubility (pressure-temperature-composition) data have been well correlated with an equation-of-state (EOS) model used in our previous works. The EOS model calculations are compared with experimental solubility data for the same system in the literature. The present EOS has predicted partial immiscibility at the CO2-rich side solutions. To prove this prediction, vapor-liquid-liquid equilibrium experiments have been made, and our predictions have been confirmed.     

Preparation and characterization of ultrathin [Ru(CO)3Cl2]2 and [BMIM][Tf2N] films on Al2O3/NiAl(110) under UHV conditions

Towards a better understanding of the interface chemistry of ionic liquid (IL) thin film catalytic systems we have applied a rigorous surface science model approach. For the first time, a model homogeneous catalyst has been prepared under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The catalyst, di-μ-chlorobis(chlorotricarbonylruthenium) [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2), and the solvent, the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMIM][Tf(2)N], have been deposited by physical vapor deposition onto an alumina model support [Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110)]. First, the interaction between thin films of [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) and the support is investigated. Then, the ruthenium complex is co-deposited with the IL and the influence of the solvent on the catalyst is discussed. D(2)O, which is a model reactant, is further added. Growth, surface interactions, and mutual interactions in the thin films are studied with IRAS in combination with density functional (DFT) calculations. At 105 K, molecular adsorption of [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) is observed on Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110). The IRAS spectra of the binary [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) + [BMIM][Tf(2)N] and ternary [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) + [BMIM][Tf(2)N] + D(2)O show every characteristic band of the individual components. Above 223 K, partial decomposition of the ruthenium complex leads to species of molecular nature attributed to Ru(CO) and Ru(CO)(2) surface species. Formation of metallic ruthenium clusters occurs above 300 K and the model catalyst decomposes further at higher temperatures. Neither the presence of the IL nor of D(2)O prevents this partial decomposition of [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) on alumina.     

The [BMI][Tf2N] ionic liquid/water binary system: a molecular dynamics study of phase separation and of the liquid-liquid interface

We report molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the aqueous interface of the hydrophobic [BMI][Tf2N] ionic liquid (IL), composed of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cations (BMI+) and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anions (Tf2N-). The questions of water/IL phase separation and properties of the neat interface are addressed, comparing different liquid models (TIP3P vs TIP5P water and +1.0/-1.0 vs +0.9/-0.9 charged IL ions), the Ewald vs the reaction field treatments of the long range electrostatics, and different starting conditions. With the different models, the "randomly" mixed liquids separate much more slowly (in 20 to 40 ns) than classical water-oil mixtures do (typically, in less than 1 ns), finally leading to distinct nanoscopic phases separated by an interface, as in simulations which started with a preformed interface, but the IL phase is more humid. The final state of water in the IL thus depends on the protocol and relates to IL heterogeneities and viscosity. Water mainly fluctuates in hydrophilic basins (rich in O(Tf2N) and aromatic CH(BMI) groups), separated by more hydrophobic domains (rich in CF3(Tf2N) and alkyl(BMI) groups), in the form of monomers and dimers in the weakly humid IL phase, and as higher aggregates when the IL phase is more humid. There is more water in the IL than IL in water, to different extents, depending on the model. The interface is sharper and narrower (approximately 10 A) than with the less hydrophobic [BMI][PF6] IL and is overall neutral, with isotropically oriented molecules, as in the bulk phases. The results allow us to better understand the analogies and differences of aqueous interfaces with hydrophobic (but hygroscopic) ILs, compared to classical organic liquids.     

Palladium-catalyzed regiospecific aminocarbonylation of alkynes in the ionic liquid [bmim][Tf2N

[Structure: see text] Regiospecific construction of 2-substituted acrylamides was achieved by palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of alkynes in the ionic liquid [bmim][Tf2N] without any acid additive under relatively mild conditions. The ionic liquid was used as the reaction medium and also acted as a promoter. Acrylamides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields, and an important feature is that the catalyst system can be recycled five times without loss of catalytic activity.     

Uranyl complexation by chloride ions. Formation of a tetrachlorouranium(VI) complex in room temperature ionic liquids [Bmim][Tf2N] and [MeBu3N][Tf2N

The tetrachlorouranium(VI) complex is formed in [Bmim][Tf2N] and [MeBu3N][Tf2N] from a uranium(VI) solution in the presence of a stoichiometric quantity of chloride ions. The [UVIO2Cl4]2- absorption and emission spectra show bands splitting in comparison with the [UVIO2]2+ spectra, as observed in the solid state, organic solvents, and chloroaluminate-based ionic liquids. The fluorescence lifetime of [UO2Cl4]2- in [MeBu3N][Tf2N] is 0.7 +/- 0.1 mus. The reduction potential of this complex is -1.44 and -1.8 V vs Ag/Ag+ respectively in [Bmim][Tf2N] and [MeBu3N][Tf2N] and does not depend on the chloride concentration. The mechanism proposed for the redox process is a monoelectronic reduction to form [UVO2Cl4]3-, followed by a chemical reaction. The tetrachlorouranium(V) complex seems more stable in [Bmim][Tf2N] than in [MeBu3N][Tf2N]. The electrochemical analysis put in evidence specific interactions of the ionic liquid cation with the uranium anionic species.     

Acetyl nitrate nitrations in [bmpy][N(Tf)2] and [bmpy][OTf], and the recycling of ionic liquids

In this work we have examined the nitration by acetyl nitrate of a range of activated and deactivated aromatic substrates in two ionic liquids and compared the results to the same reaction in dichloromethane. Both ionic liquids are stable to the reaction conditions, and in both ionic liquids the yields of reaction are higher after unit time than the same reactions in dichloromethane, although the regioselectivity is little affected by solvent choice. This result gives further support to the suggestion that in the ionic liquid, acetyl nitrate dissociates to give the nitronium ion, and that this is the effective nitrating agent here. However, it is shown that [bmpy][N(Tf)(2)] is a better solvent for aromatic nitration than [bmpy][OTf]. This is due to the ease of formation of nitronium ion in the former ionic liquid, and is consistent with the fact that [bmpy][N(Tf)(2)] is a weaker hydrogen bond acceptor solvent than [bmpy][OTf]. Finally, a method by which [bmpy][N(Tf)(2)] may be recovered and reused for aromatic nitration has been demonstrated.     

Autocatalytic sonolysis of iron pentacarbonyl in room temperature ionic liquid [BuMeIm][Tf2N

The autocatalytic sonochemical reaction of Fe(CO)(5) decomposition in [BuMeIm][Tf(2)N] provides iron nanoparticles in higher yields than in tetralin. Such a difference is explained by the higher decomposition of the intermediate Fe(3)(CO)(12) according to the two-sites model of the sonochemical reactions and the specific properties of the ionic liquid.     

An electrochemical study of PCl3 and POCl3 in the room temperature ionic liquid [C4mpyrr][N(Tf)2

Voltammetric studies of PCl3 and POCl3 have not been reported in the literature to date, probably due to the instability of these molecules in conventional aprotic solvents giving unstable and irreproducible results. From a previous study [Amigues et al. Chem. Commun. 2005, 1-4], it was found that ionic liquids have the ability to offer a uniquely stable solution phase environment for the study of these phosphorus compounds. Consequently, the electrochemistry of PCl3 and POCl3 has been studied by cyclic voltammetry on a gold microelectrode in the ionic liquid [C4mpyrr][N(Tf)2] (1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide). For both compounds, reduction and oxidation waves were observed and a tentative assignment of the waves is given. For PCl3, the reduction was thought to proceed via the following mechanism: PCl3 + e- <=> PCl3-, PCl3- <=> Cl- + P*Cl2, and Cl- + PCl3 <=> PCl4-. For POCl3, the suggested reduction mechanism was analogous to that of PCl3: POCl3 + e- <=> POCl3-, POCl3- <=> Cl- + P*OCl2, and Cl- + POCl3 <=> POCl4-. In both cases P*Cl2 and P*OCl2 are likely to engage in further reactions. Potential step microdisk chronoamperometry was carried out on the reductive waves of PCl3 and POCl3 to measure diffusion coefficients and number of electrons transferred. It was found that the diffusion of PCl3 was unusually slow (3.1 x 10(-12) m2 s(-1)): approximately 1 order of magnitude less than that for POCl3 (2.2 x 10(-11) m2 s(-1)). For both PCl3 and POCl3, a "split wave" was observed, with an overall electron count of 1. This observation is shown to be consistent with and to "fingerprint" the mechanisms proposed above.     

Mixing and decomposition behavior of {[4bmpy][Tf2N] + [emim][EtSO4]} and {[4bmpy][Tf2N] + [emim][TFES]} ionic liquid mixtures

Mixing ionic liquids (ILs) has been revealed as a useful way to finely tune the properties of IL-based solvents. The scarce available studies on IL mixtures have shown a quasi-ideal behavior of their physical properties. In this work, we have performed a thermophysical characterization of two binary IL mixtures, namely {4-methyl-N-butylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([4bmpy][Tf₂N]) + 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ([emim][EtSO₄])} and {[4bmpy][Tf₂N] + 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethanesulfonate [emim][TFES]}. Both binary IL mixtures have been recently proposed as promising solvents in the (liquid + liquid) extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures with alkanes. Densities, viscosities, refractive indices, thermal stability, and specific heats of the {[4bmpy][Tf₂N] + [emim][EtSO₄]} and {[4bmpy][Tf₂N] + [emim][TFES]} IL mixtures have been measured as a function of both temperature and composition. Dynamic viscosities, refractive indices, and thermal stability of the {[4bmpy][Tf₂N] + [emim][EtSO₄]} mixture have exhibited strong deviations from the ideality, in contrast with the quasi-ideal properties of the {[4bmpy][Tf₂N] + [emim][TFES]} mixture and the behavior of the imidazolium and pyridinium-based IL mixtures studied hitherto. The reliability of predictive methods of the thermophysical properties of the mixtures has also been evaluated.     

Modeling the solubility behavior of CO(2), H(2), and Xe in [C(n)-mim][Tf(2)N] ionic liquids

We present here a new model for the imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion [Tf(2)N](-) in the context of the soft-SAFT EoS. The model is used to predict the solubility of several compounds in these ILs, and results are compared to available experimental data. Since in the soft-SAFT EoS an associating site is used to represent a short-range and highly directional attractive force among molecules, we have used this feature to mimic the main interactions between the anion and the cation for the alkylimidazolium-[Tf(2)N] ILs. The members of the alkylimidazolium-[Tf(2)N] family are modeled as Lennard-Jones chains with three associating sites in each molecule (one "A" site and two "B" sites). An "A" site represents the nitrogen atom interactions with the cation, and a "B" site represents the delocalized charge due the oxygen molecules on the anion. Each type of associating site is identically defined, but only AB interactions between different IL molecules are allowed. Model parameters for the ionic liquids were estimated with experimental density data from different authors, following a similar approach taken in our previous work [Andreu and Vega, J. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111, 16028]. The new set of parameters was used to study the solubility behavior of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and xenon in these ILs over a wide range of temperature and pressure. It has been observed that no binary parameters are needed to correlate the solubility of hydrogen in [C(6)-mim][Tf(2)N] at different temperatures, and predictions up to 100 MPa are presented here. The model is able to correlate with very good agreement the experimental data for the systems [C(n)-mim][Tf(2)N] + CO(2) with only one temperature-independent mixture parameter, while two temperature-independent mixture parameters are needed to correlate the experimental solubility data for the systems IL + Xe, attaining an excellent agreement in a wide range of temperatures. The work presented here reinforces previous results, proving that a reasonable simple model for the IL within the framework of soft-SAFT is able to describe the physical absorption of different gases in ILs with good accuracy, in spite of the most complex nature of the anion, without the need of further parameters or terms. In addition, since these parameters do not depend on the particular conditions at which they were fitted, soft-SAFT is used then to analyze the solubility dependence of these gases in ILs, according to the anion nature and the alkyl chain length of the imidazolium cation by the use of the models developed within this approach.     

N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)aryloxytrifluoromethylsulfoximines [ArO-SO(CF3)=NTf] and N-aryltriflimides Ar-N(Tf)2 by thermal and photolytic dediazoniation of [ArN2][BF4] in [BMIM][Tf2N] ionic liquid: exploiting the ambident nucleophilic character of a "nonnucleophilic" anion

Arenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salts undergo metathesis on immobilization in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato)amide [BMIM][Tf(2)N]. The "noncoordinating", "nonnucleophilic" [Tf(2)N] anion acts as an ambident nucleophile toward the aryl cations, formed via thermal dediazoniation, to give predominantly the oxy anion quenching products [ArO-SO(CF(3))=NTf], with minimal formation of ArN(Tf)(2), irrespective of the nature of the substituent(s) on the ArN(2)+. Strong preference for the formation of oxygen trapping products did not change under photolytic conditions, where dediazoniation occurs at room temperature. A minimal amount of the Schiemann product ArF is also formed in both thermal and photolytic dediazoniation, depending on the substituent(s). Progress of dediazoniation in the IL (both thermal and photolytic) and the evolution of the products were directly monitored by (1)H and (19)F NMR. According to DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculations, PhN(Tf)(2) is more stable than PhO-SO(CF(3))=NTf by 15-17 kcal/mol, depending on the basis set. Inclusion of solvation effects (PCM, with acetone and with CH(2)ClCH(2)Cl as solvent) did not change this preference. The [ArN(2)][BF(4)] dediazoniation in [BMIM][Tf(2)N] resulted in synthesis and characterization of a series of hitherto unknown [ArO-SO(CF(3))=NTf] compounds. The X-ray structure of MesO-SO(CF(3))=NTf (Mes = mesityl) is reported. On the basis of extraction studies, suitable solvent systems have been identified that remove the products without dissolving [BMIM][NTf(2)], thus overcoming product recovery difficulties typically associated with the use of this IL.     

Solubility of H2S in ionic liquids [hmim][PF6], [hmim][BF4], and [hmim][Tf2N]

The solubility of hydrogen sulphide in three ionic liquids, viz. 1-hexyl-3-methylilmidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([hmim][PF₆]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim][BF₄]), and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([hmim][Tf₂N]), at temperatures ranging from 303.15 K to 343.15 K and pressures up to 1.1 MPa were determined. The solubility values were correlated using the Krichevsky–Kasarnovsky equation and Henry’s constants were obtained at different temperatures. Partial molar thermodynamic functions of solvation such as standard Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated from the solubility results. Comparison of the values obtained show that the solubility of H₂S in these three ionic liquids was in the sequence: [hmim][BF₄] > [hmim][PF₆] ≈ [hmim][Tf₂N].     

(Liquid + liquid) equilibria of [C8mim][NTf2] ionic liquid with a sulfur-component and hydrocarbons

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data for {1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bis[trifluoromethylsulfonyl]imide + thiophene + n-dodecane} and {1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bis[trifluoromethylsulfonyl]imide + thiophene + cyclohexane} ternary systems have been determined experimentally at 298.15 K. The compositions of the tie-lines ends have been obtained by gas chromatographic analysis of phases at equilibrium, being distribution coefficients and separation factors calculated from them. The experimental results have been correlated by means of the NRTL model but considerable deviations from experimental data were found.