Coordination of 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridine to Li+ in different ionic liquids. How innocent are ionic liquids?

On the basis of (7)Li NMR measurements, we have made detailed studies on the influence of the ionic liquids [emim][NTf(2)], [emim][ClO(4)], and [emim][EtSO(4)] on the complexation of Li(+) by the bidentate N-donor ligands 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). For each of the employed ionic liquids the NMR data implicate the formation of [Li(bipy)(2)](+) and [Li(phen)(2)](+), respectively. X-ray diffraction studies were performed to determine the coordination pattern in the solid state. In the case of [emim][ClO(4)] and [emim][EtSO(4)], crystal structures confirmed the NMR data, resulting in the complexes [Li(bipy)(2)ClO(4)] and [Li(phen)(2)EtSO(4)], respectively. On the contrary, the ionic liquid [emim][NTf(2)] generated the C(i) symmetric, dinuclear, supramolecular cluster [Li(bipy)(NTf(2))](2), where the individual Li(+) centers were found to be bridged by two [NTf(2)] anions. Density functional theory (DFT)-calculations lead to further information on the effect of stacking on the coordination geometry of the Li(+) centers.     

Activation of bismuth(III) derivatives in ionic liquids: novel and recyclable catalytic systems for Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatic compounds

The activity of four bismuth(III) derivatives when employed as Friedel-Crafts catalysts for the acylation of aromatics was found to increase dramatically when dissolved in ionic liquids. Solutions of bismuth oxide or triflate in [emim][NTf(2)] and [bmim][NTf(2)] are the most efficient catalytic systems, with catalyst loading as low as 1% leading to clean, high-yielding acylation of a variety of benzene derivatives. These improved Friedel-Crafts catalytic systems can also be efficiently recycled as opposed to traditional systems. [reaction: see text]     

Transimination reactions in [b-3C-im][NTf2] ionic liquid

Compared to conventional molecular solvents, the ionic liquid [b-3C-im][NTf(2)] was found to promote transimination reactions with up to ～100-fold rate enhancement. This rate effect observed at ambient temperature might be explained by the fact that the ionic liquid displays weak Lewis acidity with very low, if any, nucleophilicity and its imidazolium cation is expected to interact by associating with, and thus electrophilically activating, the C=N bond of the starting imine, leading to increased stabilization of the polar, charged intermediate species and ultimately, rapid product formation. Moreover, the presence of 1 mol% Sc(OTf)(3) in [b-3C-im][NTf(2)] further facilitates the transimination reactions studied.     

Ionic liquids/[bmim][N3] mixtures: promising media for the synthesis of aryl azides by SNAr

The nucleophilic aromatic substitution of some activated aryl or heteroaryl halides has been performed in ionic liquid solution, using the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium azide as a nucleophile. The reaction course was studied varying the structures of both substrates and ionic liquids. In particular, in the latter case, the reaction of 2-bromo-5-nitrothiophene was carried out in five different ionic liquids ([bmim][BF 4], [bmim][PF 6], [bmim][NTf 2], [bm 2im][NTf 2], and [bmpyrr][NTf 2]). Finally, for all the substrates considered, a comparison with data obtained in MeOH solution in the presence of NaN 3 was also performed. Data collected indicate that in some cases it is possible to obtain aromatic or heteroaromatic azide derivatives in satisfactory yield by means of a S NAr reaction using [bmim][N 3] as the nucleophile.     

Thermochemistry of imidazolium-based ionic liquids: experiment and first-principles calculations

In this work the molar enthalpy of formation of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanoamide in the gaseous phase [C(2)MIM][N(CN)(2)] was measured by means of combustion calorimetry and enthalpy of vaporization using transpiration. Available, but scarce, primary experimental results on enthalpies of formation of imidazolium based ionic liquids with the cation [C(n)MIM] (where n = 2 and 4) and anions [N(CN)(2)], [NO(3)] and [NTf(2)] were collected and checked for consistency using a group additivity procedure. First-principles calculations of the enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase for the ionic liquids with the common cation [C(n)MIM] (where n = 2 and 4) and with the anions [N(CN)(2)], [NO(3)], [NTf(2)], [Cl], [BF(4)] and [PF(6)] have been performed using the G3MP2 theory. It has been established that the gaseous phase enthalpies of formation of these ionic liquids obey the group additivity rules.     

Separation of benzene and hexane by solvent extraction with 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amide ionic liquids: effect of the alkyl-substituent length

The influence of the alkyl-substituent chain in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amide ionic liquids ([C(n)mim][NTf(2)], where n is the length of a linear alkyl chain) as solvents for the separation of benzene and hexane by liquid extraction was investigated. The liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) at 25 degrees C for the ternary systems ([C(n)mim][NTf(2)] + hexane + benzene), with n taking the values 4, 8, 10, and 12, were determined. These data were analyzed and compared to those previously reported for the system ([C(2)mim][NTf(2)] + hexane + benzene). The results show that short alkyl chains on the imidazolium cation of the ionic liquid lead to a better extractive separation of benzene and hexane, and reveal the influence of the relative degree of ordering in the ionic liquids on the extraction parameters.     

Limiting diffusion coefficients of ionic liquids in water and methanol: a combined experimental and molecular dynamics study

Mutual diffusion coefficients D(12) of the ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C(2)MIM][NTf(2)]) and [C(4)MIM][NTf(2)] in highly diluted solutions of water and methanol have been measured at different temperatures between 288 K and 313 K using the Taylor dispersion technique. Tracer diffusion coefficients of the two cations [C(2)MIM](+) and [C(4)MIM](+) as well as the anion [NTf(2)](-) in these solutions have been obtained by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For our simulations we used well established force fields for the solvents water and methanol and a recently developed force field for imidazolium-based ionic liquid [C(n)MIM][NTf(2)]. Mutual diffusion coefficients D(12) have been calculated from the tracer diffusion coefficients using the Nernst-Hartley equation strictly valid only at low ionic concentration. The agreement between the diffusion coefficients reported in the literature, the experimental data obtained in this work and the MD results is excellent.     

Nanostructural organization and anion effects on the temperature dependence of the optical Kerr effect spectra of ionic liquids

The intermolecular spectra of three imidazolium ionic liquids were studied as a function of temperature by the use of optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. The ionic liquids comprise the 1,3-pentylmethylimidazolium cation ([C(5)mim]+), and the anions, bromide (Br-), hexafluorophosphate (PF(6)-), and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf(2)-). Whereas the optical Kerr effect (OKE) spectrum of [C(5)mim][NTf(2)] is temperature-dependent, the OKE spectra of [C(5)mim]Br and [C(5)mim][PF6] are temperature-independent. These results are surprising in light of the fact that the bulk densities of these room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are temperature-dependent. The temperature independence of the OKE spectra and the temperature dependence of the bulk density in [C(5)mim]Br and [C(5)mim][PF(6)] suggest that there are inhomogeneities in the densities of these liquids. The existence of density inhomogeneities is consistent with recent molecular dynamics simulations that show RTILs to be nanostructurally organized with nonpolar regions arising from clustering of the alkyl chains and ionic networks arising from charge ordering of the anions and imidazolium rings of the cations. Differences in the temperature dependences of the OKE spectra are rationalized on the basis of the degree of charge ordering in the polar regions of the RTILs.     

Transport properties in ionic liquids and ionic liquid mixtures: the challenges of NMR pulsed field gradient diffusion measurements

Pulsed field gradient NMR is a powerful method for the measurement of diffusion coefficients in liquids and solids and has begun to attract much attention in the ionic liquids field. However, aspects of the methodology as traditionally applied to solutions may not be uniformly applicable in these more viscous and chemically complex systems. In this paper we present data which shows that the Pulsed Gradient Spin Echo (PGSE) method in particular suffers from intrinsic internal gradients and can produce apparent diffusion coefficients which vary by as much as 20% for different 1H nuclei within a given molecule--an obvious anomaly. In contrast, we show that the Pulsed Gradient Stimulated Echo method does not suffer from this problem to the same extent and produces self-consistent data to a high degree of accuracy (better than 1%). This level of significance has allowed the detection, in this work, of subtle mixing effects in [C(3)mpyr][NTf(2)] and [C(4)mpyr][NTf(2)] mixtures.     

Rapid ligand substitution reactions in ionic liquids studied by stopped-flow technique

Detailed kinetic studies on ligand substitution reactions of [M(II)(terpy)Cl](+) complexes (M = Pt, Pd; terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) with thiourea as entering nucleophile were for the first time performed in the imidazolium based ionic liquid [emim][NTf(2)] using stopped-flow techniques, opening the route to study fast reactions of transition metal complexes in ionic liquids.     

XIm][FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)] (XIm: EMIm, EHIm, PMIm) containing a barbell-shaped FeSn(2)-carbonyl complex

By reacting Fe(CO)(5) and SnI(4) in the ionic liquids [XIm][NTf(2)] (XIm: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium/EMIm, 1-ethyl-imidazolium/EHIm, 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium/PMIm; NTf(2): bistrifluoridomethansulfonimide), the compounds [XIm][FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)] are obtained as transparent, dark red crystals. According to single-crystal structure analysis, the title compounds crystallize monoclinically and contain the anionic carbonyl complex [FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)](-) as well as [EMIm](+), [EHIm](+) or [PMIm](+) cations. The anionic carbonyl is composed of a Sn-Fe-Sn barbell-shaped building unit with Fe-Sn distances of 252.0(1) pm. Herein, tin is coordinated distorted tetrahedrally by iodine; iron is coordinated pseudo-octahedrally by three carbonyl ligands, one iodine atom and two tin atoms. Bonding situation and valence state are investigated in detail for [EMIm][FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)] based on bond-lengths considerations, infrared spectroscopy, M?ssbauer spectroscopy, density functional theory and DFT-based Mulliken population analysis. Hence, the formal oxidation state of the metal atoms can be concluded to Fe(±0) and Sn(3+).     

Bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids: synthesis and characterization

We previously reported the use of imidazole as starting compound for preparing a bicyclic imidazolium ionic liquid, [b-3C-im][NTf₂], with an overall 29% isolated yield in four synthetic steps. This new room temperature ionic liquid was shown to be far more chemically stable than commonly used [bmim][PF₆], [bdmim][PF₆], and [bdmim][NTf₂]. Because of this intriguing chemical stability, it prompted us to develop a more generalized and high yielding synthesis so that molecular diversity of bicyclic ionic liquids may be explored. In this work, we amended the previous synthetic route by employing 4-chlorobutyronitrile or 5-chlorovaleronitrile as starting materials and successfully developed a five-step synthesis of a series of novel bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids in 40-53% overall isolated yields. We investigated intrinsic reactivity of all bicyclic ionic liquids prepared and found that, under strongly basic conditions, among all tested ionic liquids the 5,5-membered [R-3C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were most stable to solvent deuterium isotope exchange while the previously reported [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was 50% deuterium exchanged at its C-2 methyl in 30 min at ambient temperature. Under identical condition, the commonly used [bmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was deuterium exchanged instantaneously at its C-2 hydrogen. In the absence of bases, only [bmim][PF₆] was deuterium exchanged (50% within 1 h) and all other ionic liquids gave no detectable exchanges even after 25 days at ambient temperature. Moreover, both [bmim][NTf₂] and [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquids were readily methylated at C-2 position with methyl iodide under basic condition at room temperature. Under the same condition, [R-3C-im][NTf₂] and [R-4C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were completely stable and chemically inert. We envisioned that [R-3C-im][NTf₂] should be well suited as solvents for organic synthesis.     

Nonsolvent application of ionic liquids: organo-catalysis by 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation based room-temperature ionic liquids for chemoselective N-tert-butyloxycarbonylation of amines and the influence of the C-2 hydrogen on catalytic efficiency

1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation based ionic liquids efficiently catalyze N-tert-butyloxycarbonylation of amines with excellent chemoselectivity. The catalytic role of the ionic liquid is envisaged as "electrophilic activation" of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (Boc(2)O) through bifurcated hydrogen bond formation with the C-2 hydrogen of the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation and has been supported by a downfield shift of the imidazolium C-2 hydrogen of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][NTf(2)]) from δ 8.39 to 8.66 in the presence of Boc(2)O in the (1)H NMR and a drastic reduction of the catalytic efficiency with 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium ionic liquids that are devoid of the C-2 hydrogen. The differential time required for reaction with aromatic and aliphatic amines has offered means for selective N-t-Boc formation during inter and intramolecular competitions. Preferential N-t-Boc formation with secondary aliphatic amine has been achieved in the presence of primary aliphatic amine. Comparison of the catalytic efficiency for N-t-Boc formation with a common substrate revealed that [bmim][NTf(2)] is superior to the reported Lewis acid catalysts.     

Unexpected reduction pathway of a Co(2+) salt to [HCo(CO)(4)] via [Co(2)(CO)(8)] in an ionic liquid

In the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ionic liquid ([BMI][NTf(2)]), [Co(NTf(2))(2)] is reduced under 5.5 MPa of H(2)-CO to [Co(2)(CO)(8)] prior to [HCo(CO)(4)], provided a pyridine ligand is present in the medium.     

1-Butyl-2,3-trimethyleneimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([b-3C-im][NTf2]): a new, stable ionic liquid

Using imidazole as the starting material, the synthesis of a new bicyclic ionic liquid [b-3C-im][NTf₂] is described. Except for the alkylation reaction in the second step (40% yield) of this four-step synthesis of [b-3C-im][NTf₂], others were all high yielding reactions (85-94% isolated yields). We investigated intrinsic reactivity of this and other imidazolium-based ionic liquids and found that, under strongly basic conditions (KOD in CD₃OD/D₂O (1:1) solution), the new ionic liquid was stable to solvent deuterium isotope exchange while the previously reported [bdmim][NTf₂] and [bdmim][PF₆] ionic liquids were 50% deuterium exchanged at its C-2 methyl in 30 min at ambient temperature. At the same experimental condition, the most commonly employed [bmim][PF₆] ionic liquid was deuterium exchanged instantaneously at its C-2 hydrogen. In the absence of bases (CD₃OD/D₂O = 1:1), only [bmim][PF₆] was deuterium exchanged (50% within 1 h) and other ionic liquids gave no detectable exchanges even after one week at ambient temperature. It is therefore concluded that the new [b-3C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquid is far more chemically stable than previously reported [bmim][PF₆], [bdmim][NTf₂], and [bdmim][PF₆].     

DOSY technique applied to palladium nanoparticles in ionic liquids

Multinuclear ((1)H, (31)P, (19)F and (11)B) diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) technique has been applied to palladium nanoparticles systems dispersed in ionic liquids (ILs). Even if the nanoparticles themselves cannot be detected through NMR, observation of the solvent (methanol) and the IL ([BMI][PF(6)] or [BMI][NTf(2)]), their diffusion coefficients and their changes in the presence of nanoparticles allow us to draw significant assumptions about the organisation of palladium nanoparticles in the IL. For comparison, the corresponding molecular precursors ([PdCl(2)(cod)] or [Pd(2)(dba)(3)]) have been also studied.     

An electrochemical study of the oxidation of hydrogen at platinum electrodes in several room temperature ionic liquids

The electrochemical oxidation of dissolved hydrogen gas has been studied in a range of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), namely [C(2)mim][NTf(2)], [C(4)mim][NTf(2)], [N(6,2,2,2)][NTf(2)], [P(14,6,6,6)][NTf(2)], [C(4)mpyrr][NTf(2)], [C(4)mim][BF(4)], [C(4)mim][PF(6)], [C(4)mim][OTf], and [C(6)mim]Cl on a platinum microdisk electrode of diameter 10 microm. In all cases, except [C(6)mim]Cl, a broad quasi-electrochemically reversible oxidation peak between 0.3 to 1.3 V vs Ag was seen prior to electrode activation ([C(6)mim]Cl showed an almost irreversible wave). When the electrode was pre-anodized ("activated") at 2.0 V vs Ag for 1 min, the peak separations became smaller, and the peak shape became more electrochemically reversible. It is thought that the electrogenerated protons chemically combine with the anions (A-) of the RTIL. The appearance and position of the reverse (reduction) peak on the voltammograms is thought to depend on three factors: (1) the stability of the protonated anion, HA, (2) the position of equilibrium of the protonation reaction HA<==> H+ + A- , and (3) any follow-up chemistry, e.g., dissociation or reaction of the protonated anion, HA. This is discussed for the five different anions studied. The reduction of HNTf(2) was also studied in two [NTf(2)]- -based RTILs and was compared to the oxidation waves from hydrogen. The results have implications for the defining of pKa in RTIL media, for the development of suitable reference electrodes for use in RTILs, and in the possible amperometric sensing of H2 gas.     

Nanostructural organization and anion effects in the optical Kerr effect spectra of binary ionic liquid mixtures

This article reports a study of the effect of anions on the optical Kerr effect (OKE) spectra of binary ionic liquid mixtures with one mixture comprising the 3-methyl-1-pentylimidazolium ([C 5mim] (+)) cation and the anions PF 6 (-) and CF 3CO 2 (-) (TFA (-)), and another mixture comprising the [C 5mim] (+) cation and the anions Br (-) and bis(trifluomethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf 2 (-)). The spectra were obtained by the use of optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr Effect Spectroscopy at 295 K. The OKE spectra of the mixtures are compared with the calculated mole-fraction weighted sum of the normalized OKE spectra of the neat liquids. The OKE spectra are nearly additive for [C 5mim]Br/[C 5mim][NTf 2] mixtures, but nonadditive for [C 5mim][PF 6]/[C 5mim][TFA] mixtures. In the case of the equimolar [C 5mim][PF 6]/[C 5mim][TFA] mixture, the nonadditivity is such that the experimental OKE spectrum is narrower than the calculated OKE spectrum. The additivity or nonadditivity of OKE spectra for IL mixtures can be explained by assuming ionic liquids are nanostructurally organized into nonpolar regions and ionic networks. The ionic networks in mixtures will be characterized by "random co-networks" for anions that are nearly the same in size (PF 6 (-) and TFA (-)) and by "block co-networks" for anions that differ greatly in size (Br (-) and NTf 2 (-)).     

Nanocomposite ion gels based on silica nanoparticles and an ionic liquid: ionic transport, viscoelastic properties, and microstructure

The dispersion of silica nanoparticles made an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ([C(2)mim][NTf(2)]), gelled even by the addition of 2-3 wt %, due to the formation of interconnected particulate silica networks in [C(2)mim][NTf(2)]. The ionic transport and viscoelastic properties of these nanocomposite ion gels were investigated in relation to the microstructure. Despite their solid-like behavior, the nanocomposite ion gels exhibited a high ionic conductivity of approximately 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 30 degrees C, which is comparable to that of neat [C(2)mim][NTf(2)]. Intriguing viscoelastic responses, such as shear-thinning and shear-induced sol-gel transitions, were found in all of the nanocomposite ion gels. By adjusting the silica concentration, the elastic modulus ( G') could be precisely controlled in a range of more than 3 orders of magnitude and reached approximately 10(6) Pa without a considerable decrease in the ionic conductivity; the characteristic viscoelastic response was also maintained. For the aggregation mechanism in [C 2 mim][NTf(2)], the reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) model was proposed by rheology and light scattering measurements.     

Kemp elimination: a probe reaction to study ionic liquids properties

The amino induced elimination of benzisoxazole into the relevant o-cyanophenolate ion (Kemp elimination) has been studied in [bmim][BF 4] solution at 298 K. To have information about the interactions between reactants and ionic liquid, the reaction has been carried out at different temperatures (293-313 K). Several primary, secondary, and tertiary amines have been used to study the effect of amine structure on the reaction rate. The collected data show that the amine structure seems to have a crucial role in determining the reaction rate. Furthermore, as different cation or anion structures of an ionic liquid can significantly affect its properties, the title reaction has been performed in four different ionic liquids ([bmim][PF6], [bmim][NTf 2], [bm 2im][NTf 2], and [bmpyrr][NTf 2]), using pyrrolidine and piperidine as model amines. An H-donor negative solvent (MeOH and [bmim][NTf 2]) effect on reaction rate was detected. Finally, a narrow range of activation parameters was calculated both for the reaction induced by different amines and for pyrrolidine and piperidine, in the presence of different ILs. This fact suggests the occurrence of an "early" transition state.