Lipase-catalysed polyester synthesis in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid was employed as a reaction medium for lipase-catalysed aliphatic polyester synthesis. Lipase PS-C exhibited excellent catalysis in polycondensation of diethyl octane-1,8-dicarboxylate and 1,4-butanediol at room temperature and at 60°C. A relatively high molecular weight polymer was obtained at 60°C.     

Effect of pressure on transport properties of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

The self-diffusion coefficients (D) of the cation and anion in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF6) have been determined together with the electrical conductivity (kappa) under high pressure. All three quantities strongly decrease with increasing pressure to approximately 20% of their atmospheric pressure values at 200 MPa. D(PF6-) is always less than D([BMIM]+), despite the larger van der Waals volume of the cation. The pressure effect on the transport coefficients is discussed in terms of velocity correlation coefficients (VCCs or fij), the Nernst-Einstein equation (ionic diffusivity-conductivity), and the fractional form of the Stokes-Einstein relation (viscosity-conductivity and viscosity-diffusivity). It was found that the VCCs for the cation-cation, anion-anion, and cation-anion pairs are all negative and strongly pressure-dependent, increasing (becoming less negative) with increasing pressure. However, when the values of the VCCs for a given isotherm are normalized relative to the corresponding atmospheric pressure values, they collapse onto a single curve, as might be expected because the pressure should affect the interionic velocity correlations in the same way for each type of interaction. These isothermal curves can be represented by the form exp(alphap + betap2). The Nernst-Einstein deviation parameter, Delta, which depends on the differences between the like-like ion and unlike ion VCCs (f++ + f-- - 2f+-), is very nearly constant under the conditions examined. The diffusion and molar conductivity (Lambda) data are found to fit fractional forms of the Stokes-Einstein relationship with the viscosity, (LambdaT) proportional, variant (T/eta)t and Di proportional, variant (T/eta)t , with t = (0.92 +/- 0.05), independent of both temperature and pressure within the ranges studied and common to the three independently determined properties.     

Use of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate in countercurrent chromatography

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) are molten salts that are liquids at room temperature. Their liquid state makes them possible candidates as solvents in countercurrent chromatography (CCC), which uses solvents as both the mobile and stationary phases. The study focuses on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM PF₆), an easy to synthesize and purify RTIL whose melting point is –8°C. It is shown that BMIM PF₆ behaves like a solvent of significant polarity (comparable with that of ethanol). The ternary phase diagram water–acetonitrile–BMIM PF₆ is given, because it was necessary to add acetonitrile to reduce the ionic liquid viscosity. The 40:20:40% w/w water–acetonitrile–BMIM PF₆ biphasic liquid system was found to be appropriate as a biphasic liquid system for CCC. Different aromatic solutes, including bases, acids, and neutral compounds, were injected into the CCC column to estimate their distribution constants between the ionic liquid-rich phase and the aqueous phase. The resulting K_il/w constants were compared with the corresponding literature octanol–water partition coefficients, K_o/w. The important drawbacks in the use of RTIL in CCC are clearly pointed out: high viscosity producing pressure build-up, UV absorbance limiting the use of the convenient UV detector, and non-volatility precluding the use of the evaporative light-scattering detector for continuous detection.     

Photoinduced electron-transfer reactions in two room-temperature ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Photoinduced electron transfer in two room-temperature ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM-PF(6)) and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (OMIM-PF(6)), has been investigated using steady-state fluorescence quenching of 9,10-dicyanoanthracene with a series of single electron donors. From these fluorescence quenching rates, reorganization energy (lambda) values and k(diff) values can be derived from a Rehm-Weller analysis. In many cases, these fluorescence quenching reactions occur at rates larger than what would be expected based on the Smoluchowski equation. In addition, lambda values of 10.1 kcal/mol and 16.3 kcal/mol for BMIM-PF(6) and OMIM-PF(6), respectively, have been determined.     

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopic studies of diffusion within the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements have been performed in order to determine the translational diffusion coefficients of three differently charged fluorescent probes (cationic: rhodamine 6G, neutral: 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-p-dimethylaminostyryl-4-H-pyran, DCM, and anionic: fluorescein) dissolved within the common room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim][PF6]. These experiments demonstrate that FCS is a rapid, sensitive, precise (typical RSD from 4-8%), and low-consumption screening tool for the determination of analyte mobility within microliter ionic liquid samples.     

Rotational dynamics of a diatomic solute in the room-temperature ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Reorientational time correlation functions C(l)(t)( identical withP(l)[cos theta(t)]) for a diatomic solute in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (EMI(+)PF(6) (-)) are analyzed via molecular dynamics computer simulations, where <...> denotes an equilibrium ensemble average, P(l) the lth order Legendre polynomial and theta(t) the angle between the solute orientation at time t and its initial direction. Overall results are indicative of heterogeneous dynamics in EMI(+)PF(6) (-). For a small nondipolar solute, C(l)(t) are well-described as stretched exponential functions in wide time ranges. One striking feature is that after rapid initial relaxation, C(2)(t) decays more slowly than C(1)(t). As a result, the correlation time associated with the former is considerably longer than that with the latter. This is ascribed to solvent structural fluctuations, which allow large-amplitude solute rotations. As the solute size grows, relaxation of C(l)(t) approaches exponential decay.     

Parametrization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate/nitrate ionic liquid for the GROMOS force field

A united-atom model of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF(6)]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate ([BMIM][NO(3)]) is developed in the framework of the GROMOS96 43A1(1) force field. These two ionic liquids are parametrized, and their equilibrium properties in the 298-363 K temperature range are subjected to validation against known experimental properties, namely, density, self-diffusion, shear viscosity, and isothermal compressibility. The ionic radial/spatial distributions, pi interaction, gauche/trans populations of the butyl tail, and enthalpies of vaporization are also reported. The properties obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations agree with experimental data and have the same temperature dependence. The strengths and weakness of our model are discussed.     

Electrical conductivity and interactions in poly(methyl methacrylate)-1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate microheterogeneous system

Microheterogeneous composite films of varied composition based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoluim hexafluorophosphate have been prepared. The introduction of N-vinylpyrrolidone into the polymer matrix has been shown to deteriorate the electrical conductivity of the composite. Specific ionic conductivity of the composites has been measured as a function of the alternate current frequency and the material composition. Hydrogen bonding between the polymer electrolyte components as well as additional interaction between cation and anion of the ionic liquid encapsulated in the polymer matrix have been confirmed by IR spectroscopy studies.

     

Highly active horseradish peroxidase immobilized in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate room-temperature ionic liquid based sol-gel host materials

Dramatically enhanced activity and excellent thermal stability of horseradish peroxidase were obtained by immobilizing it in a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate room-temperature ionic liquid based sol-gel matrix.     

Selective fluorescence quenching of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by nitromethane within room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Recently discovered room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) show tremendous promise to replace volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Investigation of these RTILs as solvents is in the very early stages. Before the full potential of these RTILs is realized, much more information about them as solvent systems must be obtained. The applicability of one such RTIL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM PF₆), as a solvent toward analysis for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is explored. The steady-state emission behavior of six PAHs along with the fluorescence quenching by nitromethane within BMIM PF₆ is investigated. The steady-state emission of six PAHs showed a bathochromic shift in BMIM PF₆ compared to acetonitrile, indicating possibly a more dipolar environment. Further, the nitromethane quenching of PAH emission strongly suggests a selective nature as the emission from alternant PAHs are quenched while that from nonalternant PAHs is not. The PAH-nitromethane quenching behavior within BMIM PF₆ is compared with that observed in the polar aprotic solvent acetonitrile, and a polar and similar viscosity (to BMIM PF₆) solvent system, 90 wt.% glycerol in water. It is observed that the PAH-nitromethane quenching within BMIM PF₆ and 90 wt.% glycerol in water is less efficient than in acetonitrile. This observation is suggested to arise from solvent viscosity.     

Anodic oxidation of silver in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid

Electrochemical oxidation of silver in the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIm]Br) ionic liquid is studied by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, chronoammetry, and gravimetry. Two electrode processes irreversibly proceed on the silver electrode in the potential range studied: the formation of compound [BMIm]⁺[AgBr₂]^?, which is soluble in [BMIm]Br, and difficultly soluble AgBr.     

Structural organization and phase behaviour of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate: an high pressure Raman spectroscopy study

The complexity of the phase diagram of a representative room temperature ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim][PF(6)]) is explored by means of Raman spectroscopy at high pressure (up to 1000 MPa) and high temperature (from room temperature to 100 °C) conditions. The first experimental evidence of the existence of a second crystalline phase for this salt at high pressure conditions is provided. By comparing the low frequency vibrational bands for the liquid state and the two observed crystalline phases, we confirm the scenario that considers the crystal polymorphism in this class of materials as a consequence of the rotational isomerism of the butyl chain. Furthermore the pressure dependence of other vibrational bands indicates the existence of a structural rearrangement across p≈ 50 MPa at ambient temperature.     

Using acidic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate in selective nitration of phenols under mild conditions

Selective nitration of phenols with sodium nitrate was carried out in the presence of acidic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate at room temperature in good to high yields and short reaction times. The use of inexpensive and relatively non toxic acidic reagent is an advantage of this method.     

Surface orientation of 1-methyl-, 1-ethyl-, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate as probed by sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

The orientation of the ions at the surface of ionic liquids has been determined by the surface-sensitive technique sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy. The results indicate that both ions are present at the first layer of the gas-liquid interface. Furthermore, the alkyl chains are found to be extended toward the gas phase and away from the liquid phase. The proposed models for the preferred orientation of the ions are in good agreement in comparison with the results obtained from the recent MD simulation studies. The salts considered here are 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methylsulfate, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate.     

Monte Carlo simulations of gas solubility in the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

The Henry's constants of water, carbon dioxide, ethane, ethene, methane, oxygen, and nitrogen are computed in the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]) using test particle insertion and expanded ensemble Monte Carlo methods. The partial molar enthalpy and partial molar entropy of solvation are also computed for water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. The results from the simulations are compared against experimental data from the literature. In addition, the accuracy and precision of the two methods in determining the Henry's constant are examined. Local organization of the ionic liquid around a solute molecule is analyzed, and the interactions responsible for the experimentally observed solubility trends are identified.     

Solution structures of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid saturated with CO2: Experimental evidence of specific anion-CO2 interaction

X-ray diffraction measurements for 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid ([BMIM][PF6])-CO2 systems were carried out at high pressures with a newly developed polymer cell. The intermolecular distribution functions (g(inter)(r)) were obtained at 25 degrees C for neat [BMIM][PF6] and its solutions saturated with CO2 at 4 and 15 MPa, where the mole fractions (x) of CO2 correspond to 0.5 and 0.7, respectively. In g(inter)(r) for x = 0.5, two peaks appeared at around 2.8 and 3.2 A. These two peaks in g(inter)(r) appreciably increased for x = 0.7; moreover, there was another peak observed at approximately 3.8 A. Only assuming the correlations between CO2 and [PF6]-, it is reasonably determined that the nearest-neighbor P([PF6]-). . .C(CO2) distances are 3.57 and 3.59 A with the coordination numbers being 1.8 and 4.0 for x = 0.5 and 0.7, respectively. It is concluded that CO2 molecules are preferentially solvated to the [PF6]- anion.