Dendritic Ionic Liquids Based on Imidazolium‐Modified Poly(aryl ether) Dendrimers

A series of dendritic ionic liquids (DILs) based on imidazolium‐modified poly(aryl ether) dendrimers IL‐Br‐Gn (n=0–3) were synthesized by a modified convergent approach and “click” chemistry. The resulting DILs exhibited high thermal resistance with decomposition temperatures up to 270 °C and low glass transition temperatures in the range of approximately ?5–0 °C. All IL‐Br‐Gn were found to be miscible with water at any ratio and could encapsulate hydrophobic molecules. The reversible phase transfer of the DILs between the aqueous and organic phases was accomplished by simple anion exchange between the hydrophilic Br^? anion and the hydrophobic bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide anion (NTf₂^?). IL‐Br‐Gn could be used as transporters to shuttle hydrophobic molecules between the organic and aqueous phases efficiently. The present work provides a new kind of transporting materials with potential applications in substance separation, drug delivery, and biomolecule transport.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Imidazolium Salts Bearing Fluorinated Anions

The reaction of 1‐methylimidazole and α,α‐dibromo‐p‐xylene was followed by a metathesis reaction with fluorinated anion sources, which yielded new fluorinated imidazolium salts [C₆H₄(CH₂(C₄H₆N₂)₂]²⁺ 2[A]^– where A = BF₄ ( 2 ), PF₆ ( 3 ), CF₃SO₃ ( 4 ), and CF₃COO ( 5 ). The compounds were characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, ¹⁹F‐, ³¹P NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction data of compounds 2 , 3 , and 4 were also reported, whereas compound 5 was found to be a liquid. The solid compounds crystallized in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group and have similar crystallographic parameters. The study revealed that the different fluorinated anions affected the spatial arrangement of atoms and the extent of cation–anion interactions, hence, influenced the stability and coordination properties of the imidazolium salts. A trend was observed which related the strength of cation–anion interaction to physical properties such as melting point.     

Synthesis and Structure of Ionic Liquids Containing the ­[Al(OC6H4CN)4]– Anion

The synthesis, structure, and physical properties of ionic liquids (IL) bearing the novel [Al(O–C₆H₄–CN)₄]^– ion as counterion to the commonly used [NR₄]⁺, [PR₄]⁺ and imidazolium ions are reported. Both the influence of the alkyl chain length as well as the functionalization with cyano groups is studied. These ILs are easily obtained by reaction of Ag[Al(O–C₆H₄–CN)₄] with the corresponding ammonium, phosphonium, and imidazolium halides. The stability towards electrophilic cations was investigated. All prepared salts have a window for the liquid phase of ca. 200 °C and are thermally stable up to 450 °C. The solid‐state structures reveal only weak cation ··· anion and anion ··· anion interactions in accord with the observed low melting points (glass transition points).     

3,3′‐Dimethyl‐1,1′‐methyl­ene­di­imid­azolium tetrachloro­cobaltate(II)

The title compound, (C₉H₁₄N₄)[CoCl₄], a methyl­ene‐bridged bis‐imidazolium salt containing a tetrachloro­cobaltate anion, is one of the first examples where an alkyl‐bridged bis‐imidazolium compound could be structurally characterized. Short C—H·Cl contacts between the imidazolium C—H bonds and the Cl atoms of the counter‐anion build up a three‐dimensional network and indicate that the C—H bonds are strongly polarized.     

3‐[(Diphenylphosphinothioyl)oxy]‐N‐methylpropan‐1‐aminium diphenylphosphanylthioate

The title salt, C₁₆H₂₁NOPS⁺·C₁₂H₁₀OPS, was synthesized from the reaction between 3‐(methylamino)propan‐1‐ol and PPh₂(S)Cl in the presence of Et₃N. Its structure has been identified using spectroscopic methods and X‐ray analysis. Single crystals were obtained from ethanol by slow evaporation. In the asymmetric unit, a cation–anion pair is formed through an intermolecular N—H...O [N...O = 2.6974 (18) Å] hydrogen bond. The molecules are packed through N—H...O and N—H...S hydrogen bonds in the crystal and these hydrogen bonds are responsible for the high melting point. The P atoms of the anion and cation both have distorted tetrahedral environments.     

Synthesis and Surface Activity of Heterogemini Imidazolium Surfactants

A series of heterogemini imidazolium surfactants with two-methylene spacer groups ([C_m-2-C_nim]Br_{2, m, n}=8, 10, 12, 14, 16; m≠n) have been synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopy. The effects of various reaction parameters, including stoichiometry, reaction temperature and time, were investigated. In addition, the surface activity study about heterogemini imidazolium surfactants was carried out and the influences of dissymmetric degree on the surface properties were also discussed.     

Thermodynamic study on the interaction of imidazolium salts and POE-type nonionic surfactant in the adsorbed film

The composition of the adsorbed film and the excess Gibbs energy of adsorption $ {\widehat{g}}^{\mathrm{H},\mathrm{E}} $ were evaluated from thermodynamic analysis of surface tensions for the 1-decyl-3-methylimidazoulium bromide (C₁₀mimBr)–tetraethylene glycol monooctyl ether (C₈E₄) and 1-decyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluorobrorate (C₁₀mimBF₄)–C₈E₄ systems, where the counter anion of imidazolium salts is different from each other. The higher miscibility of two components compared to an ideal mixing and thus negative $ {\widehat{g}}^{\mathrm{H},\mathrm{E}} $ were observed in the former, which comes from the ion–dipole interaction between imidazolium cation and the oxyethylene group of C₈E₄. On the other hand, the lower miscibility and thus positive $ {\widehat{g}}^{\mathrm{H},\mathrm{E}} $ were observed for the latter. Such differences were attributed to that BF₄ ^? forms two hydrogen bonds and has stronger affinity with the cationic head group of C₁₀mim⁺ than Br^?. This results in that the ion–dipole interaction between C₈E₄ and C₁₀mim⁺ cation is diminished in the C₁₀mimBF₄–C₈E₄ system.     

Oxidative addition of an imidazolium cation to an anionic gallium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene analogue: Synthesis and characterisation of novel gallium hydride complexes

The reactions of N-heterocyclic carbenes and imidazolium salts towards an anionic gallium(I) heterocycle, [:Ga{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}]⁻, , have been studied. No reactions with N-heterocyclic carbenes were observed, though the reaction of the gallium heterocycle with the imidazolium salt, [HC{N(Mes)C(H)}₂]Cl, IMesHCl, Mes = C₆H₂Me₃-2,4,6, led to oxidative insertion of the Ga(I) centre into the imidazolium C-H bond and formation of the gallium hydride complex, [HGa{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}(IMes)]. When this reaction was carried out in the presence of traces of water, partial hydrolysis of [HGa{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}(IMes)] resulted in the formation of the hydroxy-bridged, anionic gallium hydride complex, [{HGa[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}₂OH][(IMes)₂H]. Both compounds have been spectroscopically and structurally characterised.     

Design and synthesis of fused-ring chiral ionic liquids from amino acid derivatives

Six novel imidazolium salts, which contain a chiral moiety as well as a fused-ring system, have been designed, synthesized, and fully characterized. The synthesis of these ionic liquids is concise and practical due to the commercial availability of the starting materials. These imidazolium compounds were readily prepared from 1-methyl-2-imidazoliumcarboxaldehyde and chiral amino alcohols. Salts that contain the PF₆ anion were solids, but salts with the NTf₂ anion were liquids at room temperature. We envision that these new chiral imidazolium compounds can serve as effective reaction media as well as chiral catalysts for asymmetric reactions, which are presently being investigated in our lab.     

C−F Bond Activation by a Saturated N‐Heterocyclic Carbene: Mesoionic Compound Formation and Adduct Formation with B(C6F5)3

The reaction of SIPr, [1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene] ( 1 ), with C₆F₆ led to the formation of an unprecedented mesoionic compound ( 2 ). The formation of 2 is made accessible by deprotonation of the SIPr backbone with simultaneous elimination of HF. The C?F bond para to the imidazolium ring in 2 is only of 1.258(4) Å, which is the one of the shortest structurally authenticated C?F bonds known to date. The liberation of HF during the reaction is unequivocally proved by the addition of one more equivalent of SIPr, which leads to the imidazolium salt with the HF₂^? anion. To functionalize 2 , the latter reacted with B(C₆F₅)₃ to give an unusual donor–acceptor compound, where the fluoride atom from the C₆F₅ moiety coordinates to B(C₆F₅)₃ and the carbanion moiety remains unaffected. Such coordination susceptibility of the fluoride atom of a nonmetallic system to a main‐group Lewis acid (F_non‐metal→BR₃) is quite unprecedented.     

Imidazolium ionic liquids with short polyoxyethylene chains

It has been observed by us earlier that imidazolium ionic liquids ([bmim][BF₄] react with paraformaldehyde giving in nearly quantitative yield imidazolium ionic liquids substituted at 2‐position with hydroxymethyl group ([bhmim][BF₄]). In this article, we describe the application of those ionic liquids (after converting hydroxyl group into alkoxide anion by reaction with sodium hydride) as initiators for anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO). Up to DP_n ～ 30 polymerization proceeds without side reactions, and the product is exclusively low‐molecular‐weight polyoxyethylene containing imidazolium head group (POE‐IL) with DP_n equal to [EO]/[bhmim] ratio. By increasing [EO]/[bhmim] ratio further, side reaction start to interfere, and macromolecules that does not contain imidazolium head groups are also formed, as evidenced by analysis of MALDI TOF spectra. Blending of POE‐IL with high‐molecular‐weight POE leads to significant reduction of crystallinity of POE. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6961–6968, 2008     

CsC2H: Synthese,Kristallstruktur und spektroskopische Eigenschaften

CsC₂H: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Spectroscopic Properties CsC₂H was synthesised by the reaction of caesium solved in liquid ammonia with acetylene. The crystal structure could be solved and refined from X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction data (space group: R3c, Z = 18). The structure is characterised by C₂H^– trimers which are surrounded by caesium ions. Spectroscopic investigations (IR and Raman) of the stable monoalkalimetal acetylides mainly confirm the data given in the literature and show that the alkalimetal cation has a marked influence on the vibrational properties of the C₂H^– anion.     

An Abnormal N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Carbon Dioxide Adduct from Imidazolium Acetate Ionic Liquids: The Importance of Basicity

In the reaction of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate [C₂C₁Im][OAc] ionic liquid with carbon dioxide at 125 °C and 10 MPa, not only the known N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–CO₂ adduct I , but also isomeric aNHC‐CO₂ adducts II and III were obtained. The abnormal NHC‐CO₂ adducts are stabilized by the presence of the polarizing basic acetate anion, according to static DFT calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics studies. A further possible reaction pathway is facilitated by the high basicity of the system, deprotonating the initially formed NHC‐CO₂ adduct I , which can then be converted in the presence of the excess of CO₂ to the more stable 2‐deprotonated anionic abnormal NHC–CO₂ adduct via the anionic imidazolium‐2,4‐dicarboxylate according to DFT calculations on model compounds. This suggests a generalizable pathway to abnormal NHC complex formation.     

Synthesis of Boron-Containing Siloxanes by Reaction of Hydroxy-<Emphasis Type="Italic">closo</Emphasis>-Decaborates with Dihalosilanes

A new approach to the preparation of boron-containing siloxanes based on cluster boron anions has been suggested. This approach consists in the reaction of hydroxy derivatives of closo-decaborate anion [B₁₀H_10–n(OH)_n]^2– (n = 1, 2) with dihalosilanes SiR₂Cl₂ (R = CH₃, _t- C₄H₉, C₆H₅). The obtained compounds have been characterized by IR, ESI/MS, and NMR (1H, 11B, 13C) spectroscopy.     

Sodium carbonate as phase promoter in aqueous solutions of imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquids

Several methylsulfate and chloride anion-based ionic liquids, such as 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium methyl sulfate, C_nMIM CH₃SO₄ (n = 1, 2, and 4), 1-benzyl-3-methyl imidazolium methyl sulfate, BzMIM CH₃SO₄, 1-benzyl, or hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride, XMIM Cl (X = Bz and Hx), and methylpyridinium methylsulfate, Mpy CH₃SO₄, with sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃, as phase forming salt, have been investigated and discussed for their potential use in separations based on aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). Phase diagrams have been experimentally ascertained at T = 298.15 K, and Merchuck equation and a variation of this model have been used for correlating the binodal data. The alkyl chain length in the cation and the type of anion and cation have been explored and discussed due to their decisive influence in the ATPS behavior. The consistence of tie-line data was ascertained by applying the Othmer–Tobias and Bancroft equations.     

Ionic Liquid Ordering at an Oxide Surface

The interaction of the ionic liquid [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] with anatase TiO₂, a model photoanode material, has been studied using a combination of synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The system is of interest as a model for fundamental electrolyte–electrode and dye‐sensitized solar cells. The initial interaction involves degradation of the [BF₄]^? anion, resulting in incorporation of F into O vacancies in the anatase surface. At low coverages, [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] is found to order at the anatase(101) surface via electrostatic attraction, with the imidazolium ring oriented 32±4° from the anatase TiO₂ surface. As the coverage of ionic liquid increases, the influence of the oxide surface on the topmost layers is reduced and the ordering is lost.     

Hirshfeld and DFT analysis of the N‐heterocyclic carbene proligand methylenebis(N‐butylimidazolium) as the acetonitrile‐solvated diiodide salt

N‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) based systems are usually exploited in the exploration of catalytic mechanisms and processes in organocatalysis, and homo‐ and heterogeneous catalysis. However, their molecular structures have not received adequate attention. The NHC proligand methylenebis(N‐butylimidazolium) has been synthesized as the acetonitrile solvate of the diiodide salt, C₁₅H₂₆N₄²⁺·2I⁻·CH₃CN [1,1′‐methylenebis(3‐butylimidazolium) diiodide acetonitrile monosolvate], and fully characterized. An interesting cation–anion connection pattern has been identified in the crystal lattice, in which three iodide anions interact simultaneously with the cisoid‐oriented cation. A Hirshfeld surface analysis reveals the predominance of hydrogen bonding over anion–π interactions. This particular arrangement is observed in different methylene‐bridged bis(imidazolium) cations bearing chloride or bromide counter‐anions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations with acetonitrile as solvent reproduce the geometry of the title cation.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 5‐Cyanotetrazolide‐Based Ionic Liquids

New salts based on imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, guanidinium, and ammonium cations together with the 5‐cyanotetrazolide anion [C₂N₅]^? are reported. Depending on the nature of cation–anion interactions, characterized by XRD, the ionic liquids (ILs) have a low viscosity and are liquid at room temperature or have higher melting temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry, viscosimetry, and impedance spectroscopy display a thermal stability up to 230 °C, an electrochemical window of 4.5 V, a viscosity of 25 mPa s at 20 °C, and an ionic conductivity of 5.4 mS cm^?1 at 20 °C for the IL 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium 5‐cyanotetrazolide [BMPyr][C₂N₅]. On the basis of these results, the synthesized compounds are promising electrolytes for lithium‐ion batteries.     

Direct Correlation Between the H/D Exchange Reaction and Conformational Changes of the Cation in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid–D2O Mixtures

We present a study on the effects of deuterated water on the conformational equilibria of the imidazolium cation in aqueous mixtures of imidazolium-based ionic liquids at room temperature. We provide spectroscopic evidence that the conformational dynamics of the imidazolium cation in D₂O are directly related to the H/D exchange reaction of the C–H group at position 2 on the imidazolium ring. The relation is supported by comparing Raman spectra obtained from solutions prepared with H₂O and D₂O.     

Zirconocene Catalysts: Ion‐pairs,Zwitterions, or Weakly Bound Molecules?

The bonding between electron deficient zirconocene complexes such as [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)₂ZrR]⁺ and the counterions [(C₆F₅)₃BR]^– (R = CH₃, 1 , R = H, 2 ) has been investigated by DFT and extended Hückel calculations. The molecular bonding analysis has been carried out in the light of the structural information on the inter‐ion interactions available for these and other similar electron deficient coordinatively unsaturated zirconocene complexes. It has been shown that the “anion‐cation” interactions in 1 and 2 are different manifestations of the same need to provide electron density to the metal centre. In 1 this is achieved via the ‐C–H σ‐bonds and has been described as a pseudo‐agostic interaction, whereas in 2 electron donation occurs via the phenyl F‐atoms. The study of the covalent component of the bonding between the ionic components has shown that the weak electron donation, though not sufficient to saturate the metal centre, stabilises the unsaturated species and allows it to have a longer life time. It has been inferred that in the homogenous Ziegler‐Natta catalytic process the approach of a strongly coordinating molecule, such as an olefin in the polymerisation, destroys the weak interaction and allows the reaction to proceed whilst the ion‐pairing maintains the counterion in proximity of the complex.