Development in the green synthesis of cyclic carbonate from carbon dioxide using ionic liquids

This brief review presents the recent development in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate from carbon dioxide (CO₂) using ionic liquids as catalyst and/or reaction medium. The synthesis of cyclic carbonate includes three aspects: catalytic reaction of CO₂ and epoxide, electrochemical reaction of CO₂ and epoxide, and oxidative carboxylation of olefin. Some ionic liquids are suitable catalysts and/or solvents to the CO₂ fixation to produce cyclic carbonate. The activity of ionic liquid is greatly enhanced by the addition of Lewis acidic compounds of metal halides or metal complexes that have no or low activity by themselves. Using ionic liquids for the electrochemical synthesis of the cyclic carbonate can avoid harmful organic solvents, supporting electrolytes and catalysts, which are necessary for conventional electrochemical reaction systems. Although the ionic liquid is better for the oxidative carboxylation of olefin than the ordinary catalysts reported previously, this reaction system is at a preliminary stage. Using the ionic liquids, the synthesis process will become greener and simpler because of easy product separation and catalyst recycling and unnecessary use of volatile and harmful organic solvents.     

D,L‐α‐Tocopherol Synthesis Catalyzed by the Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquids

Abstract

The synthesis of D,L‐α‐tocopherol from trimethylhydroquinone and isophytol using the Brønsted acidic SO₃H‐functionalized ionic liquids as catalysts was explored. The catalytic activities of the SO₃H‐functionalized ionic liquids were dependent on their anions. The yield of D,L‐α‐tocopherol also depended on the solvent, which was the reaction medium. A yield of 94.3% was obtained using the SO₃H‐functionalized ionic liquid with [BF₄ ^?] anion as catalyst in propylene carbonate/heptane. The reaction mixture exhibited good biphasic behaviors, so that the produced D,L‐α‐tocopherol could be separated by decantation. The SO₃H‐functionalized ionic liquids could be reused after the removal of water.     

The catalytic performance study of polymerized ionic liquid synthesized in different conditions on alkylation of o‐Xylene with styrene

In this work, a series of novel acidic polymerized ionic liquids were used as heterogeneous catalyst for alkylation of o‐Xylene with styrene. And the effect of the amount of initiator and the type of acid used for ion exchange on catalyst structure and the catalytic performance of catalysts for alkylation were studied thoroughly. The experiment results show: when the percentage of the amount of initiator in the total material is 3%, the polymerized ionic liquid catalyst MPM‐SO₃H‐[C₃V][SO₃CF₃] has the most uniform with a specific surface area of 97.30 m²/g and a pore volume of 0.35 cm³/g. Benefiting from the unique structure features, MPM‐SO₃H‐[C₃V][SO₃CF₃] manifested an excellent catalytic performance for alkylation of o‐Xylene with styrene, along with the conversion of styrene was 96.8% and the yield of 1‐Phenyl‐1‐ortho‐xylene ethane was 94.7%. Therefore, this work provides a novel reference to the synthesis of polymerized ionic liquids and clearly explains the advantage of novel acidic polymerized ionic liquids on alkylation.     

Highly selective electrochemical fluorination of organic compounds in ionic liquids

Recent studies on electrochemical partial fluorination in ionic liquid fluoride salts are reviewed. At first, historical background and some problems of electrochemical fluorination in organic solvents are briefly mentioned. Solvent-free electrochemical fluorinations in ionic liquids are explained as follows. Ultrasonication was found to improve both the yield and current efficiency for electrochemical fluorination of α-phenylthioacetate, which is mainly attributable to marked mass transport promotion of the substrate and the suppression of anode passivation. Highly regioselective and efficient fluorination of cyclic ethers, lactones, and cyclic carbonate was achieved in Et₄NF·4HF and Et₃N·5HF. Selective fluorination of hardly oxidizable phthalide was realized using a combination of imidazolium and fluoride ionic liquids. The unique effect of imidazolium ionic liquids on electrochemical fluorodesulfurization of 3-phenylthiophthalide was explained. Reuse of ionic liquids for electrochemical fluorination is also possible.     

Simultaneous determination of three alkaloids in Huangbo using an ionic liquid as a mobile phase additive in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography

A reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of jatrorrhizine, palmatine, and berberine in Huangbo, the dried bark of Chinese Corktree, was established by using 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tertafluoroborate as a mobile phase additive. The chromatographic behavior of the three compounds on the C₁₈ column was studied with four different types of 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium‐based ionic liquids as the mobile phase additives. The effect of 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tertafluoroborate was the best in the four investigated ionic liquids. The concentration of 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tertafluoroborate and the pH of the mobile phase, which influenced the chromatographic behaviors of the three bioactive compounds, were investigated. The linearity, precision, accuracy, repeatability, limit of detection, and quantification of the proposed method were found to be satisfactory. To explain the role of ionic liquids as the mobile phase additives, the possible mechanism was also explored and discussed.     

Catalytic polymerization of phenylacetylene with dimeric [Rh(OMe)(cod)]2 complex in ionic liquids

Dimeric rhodium(I) complex [Rh(OMe)(cod)]₂ was found to be an active catalyst of phenylacetylene polymerization to poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA) in ionic liquids containing imidazolium or pyridinium cations. The highest yield of PPA (92%) was obtained in 1‐butyl‐4‐methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate as reaction medium. The yield of PPA in imidazolium ionic liquids containing BF₄^? or PF₆^? anions increased to 83–99% when Et₃N or cycloocta‐1,5‐diene were added as co‐catalysts. In 1‐methyl‐3‐octylimidazolium chloride (MOI · Cl) polymerization rate was much lower than in other ionic liquids, although the highest M_w (72 400) was obtained. Spectroscopic studies confirmed that [Rh(OMe)(cod)]₂ reacted with MOI · Cl forming new carbene Rh(I) complex, which can participate in the polymerization process. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of solvated ionic liquids on the ion conducting property of composite membranes for lithium ion batteries

We prepared the polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based composite membrane electrolytes which contained the specialized ionic liquids and the inorganic filler of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO). Mixtures of ionic liquids and tetragonal inorganic fillers were used as additives to prepare composite electrolytes for an application of all solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASLBs). In order to improve the ionic conductivity of composite membranes, we studied the structural change and the electrochemical behaviors as a function of the amounts of solvated ionic liquids (ILs). The addition effect of solvated ILs showed the higher ionic conductivity such as 10^?4 S/cm at 55 °C by reducing the crystalline character of polymer based composite, resulting in the enhanced ion conducting property. The hybrid composite membranes were successfully made in flexible form, and have an excellent thermal and electrochemical stability. Finally, the electrochemical performance of the half-cell was evaluated, and it was confirmed that the ion-conducting characteristics were influenced and controlled by the effect of ILs.     

Synthesis and Properties of Alkoxy‐ and Alkenyl‐Substituted Peralkylated Imidazolium Ionic Liquids

Novel peralkylated imidazolium ionic liquids bearing alkoxy and/or alkenyl side chains have been synthesized and studied. Different synthetic routes towards the imidazoles and the ionic liquids comprising bromide, iodide, methanesulfonate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTf₂]^?), and dicyanamide {[N(CN)₂]^?} as the anion were evaluated, and this led to a library of analogues, for which the melting points, viscosities, and electrochemical windows were determined. Incorporation of alkenyl moieties hindered solidification, except for cations with high symmetry. The alkoxy‐derivatized ionic liquids are often crystalline; however, room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) were obtained with the weakly coordinating anions [NTf₂]^? and [N(CN)₂]^?. For the viscosities of the peralkylated RTILs, an opposite trend was found, that is, the alkoxy derivatives are less viscous than their alkenyl‐substituted analogues. Of the crystalline compounds, X‐ray diffraction data were recorded and related to their molecular properties. Upon alkoxy substitution, the electrochemical cathodic limit potential was found to be more positive, whereas the complete electrochemical window of the alkenyl‐substituted imidazolium salts was shifted to somewhat more positive potentials.     

Ionic liquids as mobile phase additives for determination of thiocyanate and iodide by liquid chromatography

An analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of thiocyanate and iodide by reversed‐phase liquid chromatography with UV detection using imidazolium ionic liquids as mobile phase additives. The chromatographic behaviors of the two anions on a C₁₈ column were studied and compared with four types of reagents including imidazolium ionic liquids, pyridinium ionic liquids, 4‐aminophenol hydrochloride and tetrabutylammonium as mobile phase additives. The effects of the concentrations of imidazolium ionic liquids, organic solvents and detection wavelength on separation and detection of the anions were investigated. The role of ionic liquids, retention rules and mechanisms were discussed. The separation of the anions was performed on the C₁₈ reserved‐phase column using acetonitrile‐0.3 mmol/L 1‐amyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (10:90, v/v) as mobile phase, with column temperature of 35°C, flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection wavelength of 210 nm. Under these conditions, the two anions can be completely separated within 6 min. The limits of detection were 0.05 mg/L. The method was applied for the determination of thiocyanate and iodide in ionic liquid samples and iodide drugs, and the spiked recoveries ranged from 97 to 101%. The method is simple, accurate and meets the requirements of quantitative analysis for thiocyanate and iodide.     

离子液体溶剂中5-氧代-5,6,7,8-四氢苯并吡喃衍生物的一种温和有效的合成

A one-pot synthesis of a series of 5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-benzo-[b]-pyran derivatives via three-component coupling reactions of aldehydes, dimedone and malononitrilein room temperature ionic liquids （RTILs） without any catalyst has been reported. In the meantime, the reuse of ionic liquids and the effect of different ionic liquids as solvent on the reaction have also been investigated.     

Stabilization of Formate Dehydrogenase in a Metal–Organic Framework for Bioelectrocatalytic Reduction of CO2

The efficient fixation of excess CO₂ from the atmosphere to yield value‐added chemicals remains crucial in response to the increasing levels of carbon emission. Coupling enzymatic reactions with electrochemical regeneration of cofactors is a promising technique for fixing CO₂, while producing biomass which can be further transformed into biofuels. Herein, a bioelectrocatalytic system was established by depositing crystallites of a mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF), termed NU‐1006, containing formate dehydrogenase, on a fluorine‐doped tin oxide glass electrode modified with Cp*Rh(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐5,5′‐dicarboxylic acid)Cl₂ complex. This system converts CO₂ into formic acid at a rate of 79±3.4 mm h^?1 with electrochemical regeneration of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor. The MOF–enzyme composite exhibited significantly higher catalyst stability when subjected to non‐native conditions compared to the free enzyme, doubling the formic acid yield.     

Mild and Convenient Synthesis of 1,2‐Dihydroquinolines from Anilines and Acetone Catalyzed by Ytterbium(III) Triflate in Ionic Liquids

A mild, convenient, and efficient process has been developed for the synthesis of 2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines by the reaction of anilines with acetone catalyzed by ytterbium(III) triflate [Yb(OTf)₃] in ionic liquids. The catalyst and ionic liquids can be easily recovered and reused, making this method friendly and environmentally acceptable.     

Highly efficient synthesis of dicoumarols and xanthene derivatives in presence of Brønsted–Lewis acidic ionic liquids catalyst

A series of metal chloride-based acidic ionic liquids have been prepared and used as an efficient catalyst in one-pot multicomponent synthesis of biscoumarins and substituted xanthenes derivatives under solvent-free conditions. Among the acidic ionic liquids, N-methylpyrrolidonium zinc chloride (Hnmp/ZnCl₃)-based Brønsted–Lewis acidic ionic liquids were found to be an effective and recyclable catalyst for a one-pot synthesis of biscoumarins through the domino Knoevenagel–Michael reaction of a variety of aldehydes with 4-hydroxycoumarin in short reaction times. The reactions which occur under relatively mild conditions afforded the biscoumarin derivatives employing a very low loading of catalyst in satisfactory isolated yields and high purity after simple work-up. The Brønsted–Lewis acidic ionic liquid catalyst was reused four times without any variation in yield.     

Aerobic and Electrochemical Oxidative Cross‐Dehydrogenative‐Coupling (CDC) Reaction in an Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquid

The ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIm][BF₄] has demonstrated high efficiency when applied as a solvent in the oxidative nitro‐Mannich carbon? carbon bond formation. The copper‐catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) between N‐phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline and nitromethane in [BMIm][BF₄] occurred with high yield under the described reaction conditions. Both the ionic liquid and copper catalyst were recycled nine times with almost no lost of activity. The electrochemical behavior of the tertiary amine substrate and β‐nitroamine product was investigated employing [BMIm][BF₄] as electrolyte solvent. The potentiostatic electrolysis in ionic liquid afforded the desired product with a high yield. This result and the cyclic voltammetric investigation provide a better understanding of the reaction mechanism, which involves radical and iminium cation intermediates.     

Alkylation of benzene with 1-hexene in acidic ionic liquid systems: Et3NHCl-FeCl3and Et3NHCl-AlCl3ionic liquids

Summary The alkylation of benzene with 1-hexene has been investigated in different triethylamine hydrochloride-ferric chloride (Et₃NHCl-FeCl₃) and triethylamine hydrochloride-aluminium chloride (Et₃NHCl-AlCl₃) ionic liquids. Both high catalyst activity and monoalkylation selectivity were observed for these two type of ionic liquids. Systems prepared by modification with HCl in Et₃NHCl-FeCl₃ionic liquids prove to be very suitable solvents and catalysts for the reaction. When employing Et₃NHCl-AlCl₃ionic liquids as catalysts, the reaction takes place in biphasic mode with facile catalyst separation and catalyst recycling.     

Michael addition of thiols to alpha-enones in ionic liquids with and without organocatalysts

Seventeen organocatalyts were tested for their ability to catalyst the addition of thiophenols to chalcones in [bmim]PF6. The products were isolated in high yield after a short reaction time, but no stereoselectivity was observed. The reactions also proceeded (without any stereoselectivity) in four other ionic liquids. In contrast, 16% and 26% ee were observed when L-proline and cinchonine, respectively, were used as the catalysts in CH2Cl2. Addition of thiophenols is also catalysed by HCl, as well as D-mandelic and L-tartaric acids. Addition of thiophenols to chalcones also occurred in neat ionic liquids, without any additional catalyst, but the rate of the reaction depended considerably on the structure of ionic liquid. The scope of the non-catalysed reaction in ionic liquids was tested by the reactions of 5 different thiols and 3 different alpha-enones.     

Acceleration of the Baylis–Hillman Reaction in the Presence of Ionic Liquids

The Baylis–Hillman reaction is accelerated in the presence of ionic liquids. Of various 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (bmim)‐based ionic liquids tested, [bmim][PF₆] has been found to result in the highest rate increase. In the company of Lewis acid and H‐bond‐donor additives, the reaction rates further improve, albeit only modestly. A preparatively useful Baylis–Hillman procedure prescribes the use of [bmim][PF₆] with La(OTf)₃ and 2,2′2″‐nitrilotris[ethanol], in which the net effect of the ionic liquid is to bring about a more than twofold rate increase over the otherwise same reaction in MeCN.     

Thermoregulated ionic liquids and their application for the hydroformylation of 1‐dodecene catalyzed by Rh/TPPTS complex

Based on the synthesis of a new kind of room temperature ionic liquids, quaternary ammonium alkanesulfonate salts tailed with polyether chain to their alkyl group, a thermoregulated ionic liquid biphase system composed of IL_PEG750, n‐heptane and toluene was developed. The system was applied in the hydroformylation of 1‐dodecene catalyzed by Rh/TPPTS complex. Under the optimum conditions, the conversion of 1‐dodecene and yield of aldehyde are 99% and 97%, respectively. In addition, the catalyst could be easily separated from products by phase separation and efficiently recovered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radiolytic syntheses of nanoparticles in supramolecular assemblies

Ionizing radiation is a powerful method in the syntheses of nanoparticles (NPs). The application of ionizing radiation in supramolecular assemblies can afford us more unique conditions to control the composition and morphology of the NPs. So far, most work focused on water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions or reversed micelles. In this supramolecular organization, it has been proved that the effects of many conditions on the yield of e_aq⁻ play a key role, remarkably different from the mechanism in routine chemical method. Besides, some supramolecular assemblies of cyclodextrins and ionic liquids have been used in the syntheses of NPs by ionizing radiation, and many novel and interesting phenomena appeared. This review is intended to underline the three significant aspects of the radiolytic syntheses of NPs in supramolecular assemblies.     

离子液体中苄基氯在银电极上的电催化羧化

在饱和了CO2的室温离子液体中,首次在银电极上研究了苄基氯电羧化的可行性。通过循环伏安法研究了苄基氯在不同电极上的电化学行为,结果表明了银电极对苄基氯的还原具有很强的电催化效果。在最优化的条件下,得到了苯乙酸的最高产率为45%。在连续的4次离子液体回收利用过程中,随着离子液体使用次数的增加苯乙酸的产率逐渐降低。