Solvation of uranyl(II) and europium(III) cations and their chloro complexes in a room-temperature ionic liquid. A theoretical study of the effect of solvent "humidity"

We report a molecular dynamics study of the solvation of the UO2(2+) and Eu3+ cations and their chloro complexes in the [BMI][PF6][H2O] "humid" room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) composed of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium+ and PF6- ions and H2O in a 1:1:1 ratio. When compared to the results obtained in dry [BMI][PF6], the present results reveal the importance of water. The "naked" cations form UO2(H2O)5(2+) and Eu(H2O)9(3+) complexes, embedded in a shell of 7 and 8 PF6- anions, respectively. All studied UO2Cln(2-n) and EuCln(3-n) chloro complexes remain stable during the dynamics and coordinate additional H2O molecules in their first shell. UO2Cl4(2-) and EuCl6(3-) are surrounded by an "unsaturated" water shell, followed by a shell of BMI+ cations. According to an energy component analysis, the UO2Cl4(2-) and EuCl6(3-) species, intrinsically unstable toward dissociation, are more stable than their less halogenated analogues in the IL solution, due to the solvation forces. The different chloro species also interact better with the humid than with the dry IL, which hints at the importance of solvent humidity to improve their solubility. Humidity markedly modifies the local ion environment, with major consequences as far as their spectroscopic properties are concerned. We finally compare the aqueous interface of [BMI][PF6] and [OMI][PF6] ionic liquids, demonstrating the importance of imidazolium substituents (N-butyl versus N-octyl) to the nature of the interface and miscibility with water.     

A new QM/MM method oriented to the study of ionic liquids

The interest on room temperature ionic liquids has grown in the last decades because of their use as all‐purpose solvent and their low environmental impact. In the present work, a new theoretical procedure is developed to study pure ionic liquids within the framework of the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics method. Each type of ion (cation or anion) is considered as an independent entity quantum mechanically described that follows a differentiated path in the liquid. The method permits, through an iterative procedure, the full coupling between the polarized charge distribution of the ions and the liquid structure around them. The procedure has been tested with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. It was found that, similar to non‐polar liquids and as a consequence of the low value of the reaction field, the cation and anion charge distributions are hardly polarized by the rest of molecules in the liquid. Their structure is characterized by an alternance between anion and cation shells as evidenced by the coincidence of the first maximum of the anion–anion and cation–cation radial distribution functions with the first minimum of the anion‐cation. Some degree of stacking between the cations is also found. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Task-specific ionic liquids bearing 2-hydroxybenzylamine units: synthesis and americium-extraction studies

The synthesis of two task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) bearing 2-hydroxybenzylamine entities is described. These compounds are based on an imidazolium substructure onto which one hydrobenzylamine-complexing moiety is grafted. We have demonstrated that, whether pure or diluted, TSIL is able to extract americium ions. Furthermore, recovery of americium from the IL phase into a receiving phase can be achieved under acidic conditions. A possible mechanism for the metal-ion partitioning is presented, in which the extraction system is driven by an ion-exchange mechanism.     

室温离子液体在分离科学研究中的新进展

室温离子液体作为一种重要的绿色溶剂,由于在金属离子、小分子有机物的萃取分离,气体吸附分离以及作为液相和气相色谱固定相等许多分离过程中体现出高分离效率和高选择性的特点,正在成为分离科学研究的前沿领域.着重总结了从2003—2006年的室温离子液体在分离科学领域中的新进展,并对其应用领域和发展前景做了展望.提出进一步加强离子液体的功能化和固定化技术及其在分离科学中的应用基础研究,探索离子液体有效的回收和再循环利用的新方法,是离子液体今后在分离科学研究中的一系列重要内容.     

Synthesis of room-temperature ionic liquids with the weakly coordinating [Al(ORF)4]- anion (RF=C(H)(CF3)2) and the determination of their principal physical properties

A large series of ionic liquids (ILs) based on the weakly coordinating alkoxyaluminate [Al(hfip)(4)](-) (hfip: hexafluoroisopropoxy) with classical as well as functionalized cations were prepared, and their principal physical properties determined. Melting points are between 0 ([C(4)MMIM][Al(hfip)(4)]) and 69 °C ([C(3)MPip][Al(hfip)(4)]); three qualify as room-temperature ILs (RTILs). Crystal structures for six ILs were determined; their structural parameters and anion-cation contacts are compared here with known ILs, with a special focus on their influence on physical properties. Moreover, the biodegradability of the compounds was investigated by using the closed-bottle and the manometric respirometry test. Temperature-dependent viscosities and conductivities were measured between 0 and 80 °C, and described by either the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) or the Arrhenius equations. Moreover, conductivities and viscosities were investigated in the context of the molecular volume, V(m). Physical property-V(m) correlations were carried out for various temperatures, and the temperature dependence of the molecular volume was analyzed by using crystal structure data and DFT calculations. The IL ionicity was investigated by Walden plots; according to this analysis, [Al(hfip)(4)](-) ILs may be classified as "very good to good ILs"; while [C(2)MIM][Al(hfip)(4)] is a better IL than [C(2)MIM][NTf(2)]. The dielectric constants of ten [Al(hfip)(4)](-) ILs were determined, and are unexpectedly high (ε(r)=11.5 to 16.8). This could be rationalized by considering additional calculated dipole moments of the structures frozen in the solid state by DFT. The determination of hydrogen gas solubility in [Al(hfip)(4)](-) RTILs by high-pressure NMR spectroscopy revealed very high hydrogen solubilities at 25 °C and 1 atm. These results indicate the significant potential of this class of ILs in manifold applications.     

Comparison of physicochemical properties of new ionic liquids based on imidazolium, quaternary ammonium, and guanidinium cations

More than 50 ionic liquids were prepared by using imidazolium, quaternary ammonium, and guanidinium cations and various anions. In these series, different cationic structures such as 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium [Bzmim]+, 1,3-dibenzylimidazolium [BzmiBz]+, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium [C8mim]+, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium [C10mim]+, tricapryl-methylammonium [Aliquat]+, benzyltriethylammonium [BzTEA]+, phenyltrimethylammonium [PhTMA]+, and dimethyldihexylguanidinium [DMG]+ were combined with anions, p-toluenesulfonate [TSA](-), dicyanoamide [DCA]-, saccharine (2-sulfobenzoic acid imide sodium salt) [SAC]-, trifluoroacetate [TFA]-, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [Tf2N]-, trifluoromethanesulfonate [TfO]-, and thiocyanate [SCN]-. Important physical data for these ionic liquids are collated, namely solubility in common solvents, viscosity, density, melting point and water content. Apart from the viscosity, the Newtonian and non-Newtonian behavior of these ionic liquids is also disclosed. Stability of these ionic liquids under thermal, basic, acidic, nucleophilic, and oxidative conditions was also studied. The features of the solid-liquid phase transition were analyzed, namely the glass transition temperature and the heat capacity jump associated with the transition from the non-equilibrium glass to the metastable supercooled liquid. A degradation temperature of each ionic liquid was also determined. Comparisons of the properties of various ionic liquids were made.     

Synthesis and properties of trigeminal tricationic ionic liquids

Novel trigeminal tricationic ionic liquids (TTILs) have been successfully synthesized in high yields by means of Menschutkin quaternization via an S(N)1 mechanism. This reaction presents a new convenient method for transforming glycerol into multifunctional compounds. The physical properties of a series of TTILs were characterized by using a variety of techniques. The prepared salts were tested for antimicrobial activity. Electrochemical characterization of TTILs was also performed, which allowed the estimation of the conductivity of these new compounds, to establish their electrochemical stability window and capacitance properties over a wide range of temperatures. A good correlation of the physical properties of TTILs with capacitance values was observed.     

Understanding ionic liquids at the molecular level: facts, problems, and controversies

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with melting points near room temperature (or by convention below 100 degrees C). Recently, their unique materials and solvent properties and the growing interest in a sustainable, "green" chemistry has led to an amazing increase in interest in such salts. A huge number of potential cation and anion families and their many substitution patterns allows the desired properties for specific applications to be selected. Because it is impossible to experimentally investigate even a small fraction of the potential cation-anion combinations, a molecular-based understanding of their properties is crucial. However, the unusual complexity of their intermolecular interactions renders molecular-based interpretations difficult, and gives rise to many controversies, speculations, and even myths about the properties that ILs allegedly possess. Herein the current knowledge about the molecular foundations of IL behavior is discussed.     

Clickable Poly(ionic liquids): A Materials Platform for Transfection

The potential applications of cationic poly(ionic liquids) range from medicine to energy storage, and the development of efficient synthetic strategies to target innovative cationic building blocks is an important goal. A post‐polymerization click reaction is reported that provides facile access to trisaminocyclopropenium (TAC) ion‐functionalized macromolecules of various architectures, which are the first class of polyelectrolytes that bear a formal charge on carbon. Quantitative conversions of polymers comprising pendant or main‐chain secondary amines were observed for an array of TAC derivatives in three hours using near equimolar quantities of cyclopropenium chlorides. The resulting TAC polymers are biocompatible and efficient transfection agents. This robust, efficient, and orthogonal click reaction of an ionic liquid, which we term ClickabIL, allows straightforward screening of polymeric TAC derivatives. This platform provides a modular route to synthesize and study various properties of novel TAC‐based polymers.     

Synthesis and properties of chiral ammonium-based ionic liquids

New chiral ammonium-based ionic liquids containing the (1R,2S,5R)-(-)-menthyl group can be easily and efficiently prepared under ambient conditions. The preparation and characterization of trialkyl[(1R,2S,5R)-(-)-menthoxymethyl]ammonium salts is reported. The salts have been demonstrated to be air- and moisture-stable under ambient conditions and can be readily used in a variety of standard experimental procedures. The single-crystal X-ray structure of butyldimethyl[(1R,2S,5R)-(-)-menthoxymethyl]ammonium chloride has been determined. The chiral, room-temperature ionic liquids have been characterized by physical properties such as specific rotation, density, viscosity, thermal degradation, and glass transition temperature. Trialkyl[(1R,2S,5R)-(-)-menthoxymethyl]ammonium chloride prototype ionic liquids have also been found to exhibit strong antimicrobial and high antielectrostatic activities.     

Water-soluble ionic liquids as novel stabilizers in suspension polymerization reactions: engineering polymer beads

Aqueous solutions of ionic liquids have been used as novel and environmentally friendly reaction media to synthesize and "control" the size of different cross-linked polymer beads by suspension polymerization reactions. It was found that the investigated ionic liquids can act as novel stabilizing agents of the suspensions as a result of their surface-active properties. The results have demonstrated that the average size of polymer beads can be varied from the macro- to the nanoscale and their surface area can also be "adjusted" by this synthetic approach. Furthermore, the use of a combination of ionic liquids and water for the synthesis of polymers, the simple isolation of the products formed in this polymerization procedure, as well as the recycling of the continuous medium for further reactions open up possibilities for the development of "new and green" polymerization processes.