Enantioselective enzymatic resolution of racemic alcohols by lipases in green organic solvents

The effects of two eco-friendly solvents, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), on the enzyme activity and enantioselectivity of Novozym 435, Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL), Lipase AK, Lipase PS, and Lipozyme, a series of commercial lipases, in the enantioselective transesterfications of racemic menthol, racemic sulcatol and racemic α-cyclogeraniol were studied. Vinyl acetate was chosen as the acyl donor and the reactions were carried out at water activity 0.06. The activity of lipases in CPME was similar to that observed in other largely employed organic solvents [toluene and tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE)], and was slightly lower in MeTHF. However, for most of the lipases tested, the enantioselectivity was higher in the eco-friendly solvents. Lipase AK exhibited a high enantioselectivity (E = 232) for the resolution of racemic menthol but the reaction rate was low. Lipase formulation (the enzyme was frozen and lyophilized in potassium phosphate buffer without and with 5% (w/v) of sucrose, d-mannitol, or methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)) was tested with this lipase in order to improve its activity, which increased up to 4.5 times, compared to the untreated enzyme. CALB was found to be a useful biocatalyst for the resolution of racemic sulcatol, where high activity and enantioselectivity were obtained (E ≥ 1000). For the resolution of the racemic primary alcohol α-cyclogeraniol, most of the lipases tested were active but not enantioselective, except lipase PS which displayed a moderate enantioselectivity (E = 19). The effect of the presence of a low percentage of two ionic liquids (ILs) 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIM][TFSI]) (5% (v/v)) and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) (1% (v/v)) in the medium was also investigated. Only in the case of CRL the ILs slightly increased the enantioselectivity from E = 91 to E = 103 and E = 120 for [BMIM][TFSI] and [BMIM][BF4], respectively. However, in all cases ILs caused a decrease of enzyme activity.     

Isobaric vapor–liquid equilibria for ethanol–water system containing different ionic liquids at atmospheric pressure

Isobaric vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for ethanol–water systems containing ionic liquids (ILs) 1-methyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([MMIM][DMP]), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ([EMIM][DEP]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM][Br]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF₆]) at atmospheric pressure (101.32 kPa) were measured with a circulation still. The results showed that the VLE of ethanol–water systems in the presence of different ILs was obviously different from that of the IL-free system. All ILs studied showed a salting-out effect, which gave rise to a change of the relative volatility of ethanol, and even to an elimination of the azeotropic point. It was found that the salting-out effect followed the order of [BMIM][Cl] > [BMIM][Br] > [BMIM][PF₆] and [MMIM][DMP] > [EMIM][DEP], which was ascribed to the preferential solvation ability of the ions resulting from the dissociation of the IL.     

Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alternating co-polymerization of propene with carbon monoxide using ionic liquids

A protocol for Pd-catalyzed stereoselective co-polymerization of propene and carbon monoxide using chiral ligands, such as (2S,3S)-DIOP and (R)-P-Phos in [C₄mim][PF₆]/[C₆mim][PF₆] as an ionic liquid medium was developed. With (2S,3S)-DIOP as chiral ligand and [C₄mim][PF₆] as medium, the Pd-catalyzed co-polymerization of propene and CO gave almost completely regioregular polyketones, and the product polymer showed moderate stereoregularity (61% of ℓ-diads). The highest molar optical rotation = +15.9 and polydispersity = 1.2 were attained when (R)-P-Phos was used as the ligand and [C₆mim]PF₆ as the solvent. The co-polymer exhibited regioregularity of H–H/H–T/T–T (%) = 17:66:17.     

Study on the phase behaviour and thermodynamic properties of ionic liquids containing imidazolium cation with ethanol at several temperatures

Experimental densities, speeds of sound and refractive indices of the binary mixtures of ethanol with MMIM MeSO₄ (1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate), BMIM MeSO₄ (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate), BMIM PF₆ (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate), HMIM PF₆ (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) and OMIM PF₆ (1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) were determined from T = (293.15 to 303.15) K. Excess molar volumes, changes of refractive index on mixing and deviations in isentropic compressibility for the above systems were calculated. The (liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data of (IL + ethanol) were carried out experimentally and the NRTL and UNIQUAC correlative equation was applied to these mixtures.     

(Liquid + liquid) extraction of methanol from alkanes using dialkylphosphate-based ionic liquids as solvents

In this work, the feasibility of ionic liquids (ILs), 1,3-dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([MMIM][DMP]), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ([EMIM][DEP]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dibutylphosphate ([BMIM][DBP]), as solvents for the extraction of methanol from its mixtures with hexane and heptane was analyzed. The knowledge of (liquid + liquid) equilibria (LLE) of these mixtures is necessary for the design of the extraction separation process. Hence, the LLE data for the ternary systems, {methanol + hexane + ([MMIM][DMP], or [EMIM][DEP], or [BMIM][DBP])}, and {methanol + heptane + ([MMIM][DMP], or [EMIM][DEP], or [BMIM][DBP])}, were measured at T = 298.2 K and atmospheric pressure. The experimental results were correlated with the thermodynamic nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model. The solute distribution ratios of methanol and methanol/alkane selectivities, derived from the experimental LLE data, were calculated and analyzed to evaluate the capability of the studied ILs to accomplish the separation target. Meanwhile, these capabilities were also compared with that of other ILs obtained from the literature.     

Enantioselective acylation of rac-2-phenylcycloalkanamines catalyzed by lipases

The kinetic resolution of some 2-phenylcycloalkanamines was performed by means of aminolysis reactions catalyzed by lipases, with Kazlauskas’ rule being obeyed in all cases. The size of the ring and the stereochemistry of the stereogenic centers of the amines had a strong influence on both the enantiomeric ratio and the reaction rate of these aminolysis processes. Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B) showed excellent enantioselectivities toward trans-2-phenylcyclohexanamine in a variety of reaction conditions (E >150), whereas lipase A from C. antarctica (CAL-A) was the best catalyst for the acylation of cis-2-phenylcyclohexanamine (E = 34) and trans-2-phenylcyclopropanamine (E = 9).     

Enol ethers and acetals: acylation with dichloroacetyl,acetyl and benzoyl chloride in ionic liquid medium

Synthesis of 4-alkoxy-1,1-dichloro-3-alken-2-ones [CHCl₂C(O)C(R²)C(R¹)-OR, where R, R¹, R² = Et, H, H; Me, Me, H; Et, H, Me; Me, –(CH₂)₂–; Me, –(CH₂)₃–; Et, Et, H; Et, Bu, H; Et, i-Pr, H; Et, i-Bu, H; Me, Ph, H; Me, thien-2-yl, H] from acylation of enol ethers and acetals with dichloroacetyl chloride, in ionic liquid ([BMIM][BF₄] or [BMIM][PF₆]) is reported. The synthesis of alkenones [R³–C(O)C(R²)C(R¹)-OR], where R/R¹/R²/R³ = Et/H/H/Ph, t-Bu/H/H/Ph, Me/-(CH₂)₄/Ph, Me/-(CH₂)₄/Me] from the reaction of enol ethers with benzoyl chloride or acetyl chloride, in ionic liquid [BMIM][BF₄], is also reported. Last products are described for the first time.     

Solubility of H2S in ionic liquids [hmim][PF6], [hmim][BF4], and [hmim][Tf2N]

The solubility of hydrogen sulphide in three ionic liquids, viz. 1-hexyl-3-methylilmidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([hmim][PF₆]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim][BF₄]), and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([hmim][Tf₂N]), at temperatures ranging from 303.15 K to 343.15 K and pressures up to 1.1 MPa were determined. The solubility values were correlated using the Krichevsky–Kasarnovsky equation and Henry’s constants were obtained at different temperatures. Partial molar thermodynamic functions of solvation such as standard Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated from the solubility results. Comparison of the values obtained show that the solubility of H₂S in these three ionic liquids was in the sequence: [hmim][BF₄] > [hmim][PF₆] ≈ [hmim][Tf₂N].     

Evaluation of the ionic liquids 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as a solvent for the extraction of benzene from cyclohexane: (Liquid + liquid) equilibria

In the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane, the separation of unreacted benzene from the product stream is inevitable and essential for an economically viable process. In order to evaluate the separation efficiency of ionic liquids (ILs) as a solvent in this extraction processes, the ternary (liquid + liquid) equilibrium of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C_nmim][PF₆] (n = 4, 5, 6), with benzene and cyclohexane was studied at T = 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The reliability of the experimentally determined tie-line data was confirmed by applying the Othmer–Tobias equation. The solute distribution coefficient and solvent selectivity for the systems studied were calculated and compared with literature data for other ILs and sulfolane. It turns out that the benzene distribution coefficient increases and solvent selectivity decreases as the length of the cation alkyl chain grows, and the ionic liquids [C_nmim][PF₆] proved to be promising solvents for benzene–cyclohexane extractive separation. Finally, an NRTL model was applied to correlate and fit the experimental LLE data for the ternary systems studied.     

Chemoenzymatic approach to enantiopure piperidine-based β-amino esters in organic solvents

This research concentrates on the enantioselectivities of lipase-catalysed reactions with methyl esters of 2-piperidylacetic acid and 3-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivatives. N-Acetylated 2-piperidylacetic acid methyl ester displayed good enantioselectivity (E = 66) in a 1:1 mixture of diisopropyl ether and butyl butanoate in the presence of lipase PS-C II from Burkholderia cepacia. The reaction is known as interesterification with butyl butanoate rather than alcoholysis with the butanol, because butyl butanoate has to be first hydrolysed or go through alcoholysis with MeOH in order to release butanol. Other N-protective groups (Boc, Ns, Fmoc and Bzn) gave excellent enantioselectivity (E >200) under the same conditions, and a gram-scale resolution was performed with N-Boc-2-piperidylacetic acid methyl ester. Reaction with a 3-piperidylcarboxylic acid derivative took place with disappointingly low enantioselectivity (E = 4), with Candida antarctica lipase B being the best of the lipases screened.     

Phase equilibria study of the binary systems (ionic liquid + thiophene): Desulphurization process

(Solid + liquid) equilibria (SLE) and (liquid + liquid) equilibria (LLE) for the binary systems: {ionic liquid (IL) N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium tosylate (p-toluenesulfonate) [BM⁴Py][TOS], or N-butyl-3-methylpyridinium tosylate [BM³Py][TOS], or N-hexyl-3-methylpyridinium tosylate [HM³Py][TOS], or N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide [BM⁴Py][NTf₂], or 1,4-dimethylpyridinium tosylate [M^1,4Py][TOS], or 2,4,6-collidine tosylate [M^2,4,6Py][TOS], or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [EMIM][SCN], or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [BMIM][SCN], or 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [HMIM][SCN], or triethylsulphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Et₃S][NTf₂] + thiophene} have been determined at ambient pressure. A dynamic method was used over a broad range of mole fractions and temperatures from (270 to 390) K. In the case of systems (pyridinium IL, or sulphonium IL + thiophene) the mutual immiscibility with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) was detected at the very narrow and low mole fraction of the IL. For the binary systems containing (imidazolium thiocyanate IL + thiophene), the mutual immiscibility with the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was detected at the higher mole fraction range of the IL. The basic thermal properties of the pure ILs, i.e. melting and glass-transition temperatures as well as the enthalpy of fusion have been measured using a differential scanning microcalorimetry technique (DSC). The well-known NRTL equation has been used to correlate experimental SLE/LLE data sets.     

Solubilities of imidazolium-based ionic liquids in aqueous salt solutions at 298.15 K

The solubilities of ionic liquids in the ternary systems (ionic liquid + H₂O + inorganic salt) were reported at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The examined ionic liquids are [C₄mim][PF₆] (1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate), [C₈mim][PF₆] (1-n-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate), and [C₈mim][BF₄] (1-n-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate). The examined inorganic salts are the chloride-based salts (sodium chloride, lithium chloride, potassium chloride, and magnesium chloride) and the sodium-based salts (sodium thiocyanate, sodium nitrate, sodium trifluoroacetate, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium perchlorate, sodium acetate, sodium hydroxide, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium phosphate, sodium tetrafluoroborate, sodium sulfate, and sodium carbonate). The effects of the cations and the anions of the ionic liquids and of the inorganic salts on the solubility of the ionic liquids in the ternary solutions were systematically compared and discussed.     

Activity coefficients at infinite dilution of organic solutes in the ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate using gas–liquid chromatography at T = (313.15, 323.15, and 333.15) K

Activity coefficients at infinite dilution were determined for 24 solutes: n-alkanes, alk-1-enes, alk-1-ynes, cycloalkanes, alkylbenzenes and alcohols in the ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [OMIM][PF₆], by gas–liquid chromatography at three different temperatures T = (313.15, 323.15, and 333.15) K. The partial molar excess enthalpy values at infinite dilution were calculated from the experimental data over the same temperature range. Capacities and selectivities at infinite dilution for the systems hexane/benzene and methanol/benzene were determined from the experimental data and compared to the literature values for other ionic liquids, as well as for industrial molecular solvents. The influence of the cation and anion of the ionic liquid on the activity coefficient is discussed, as well as the usefulness of [OMIM][PF₆] in separating organic liquids.     

Prospects for a widely applicable reference potential scale in ionic liquids based on ideal reversible reduction of the cobaltocenium cation

Oxidation of ferrocene, Fe(cp)₂ or reduction of the cobaltocenium cation, [Co(cp)₂]⁺ represent reversible processes that are widely used to provide a voltammetric potential reference scale. However, the [Fe(cp)₂]^0/+ process has been reported to exhibit complexities which may restrict its usefulness for this purpose in ionic liquids. In this study, the reduction of [Co(cp)₂]⁺ in the ionic liquids, [bmpyr][Ntf₂], [emim][Ntf₂], and [bmim][PF₆] (bmpyr = 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, emim = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, bmim = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, Ntf₂ = bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide) is reported at macro, micro, and rotating disk electrodes. Reversible behaviour, after allowance for ohmic drop, and linear current–concentration relationships are attained over wide concentration ranges for all electrode configurations. Results support the use of the [Co(cp)₂]^+/0 process for reference potential purposes, with non-idealities of the kind reported for ferrocene not being detected.     

Effects of temperature and anion species on CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 separation coefficient through ionic liquid membranes

The permeability of carbon dioxide (CO₂) through imidazolium-based ionic liquid membranes was measured by a sweep gas method. Six species of ionic liquids were studied in this work as follows: [emim][BF₄], [bmim][BF₄], [bmim][PF₆], [bmim][Tf₂N], [bmim][OTf], and [bmim][dca]. The ionic liquids were supported with a polyvinylidene fluoride porous membrane. The measurements were performed at T = (303.15 to 343.15) K. The partial pressure difference between feed and permeate sides was 0.121 MPa. The permeability of the CO₂ increases with temperature for the all ionic liquid species. Base on solution diffusion theory, it can be explained that the diffusion coefficient of CO₂ in an ionic liquid affects the temperature dependence more strongly than the solubility coefficient. The greatest permeability was obtained with the [bmim][Tf₂N] membrane. The membrane of [bmim][PF₆] presents the lowest permeability.The separation coefficient between CO₂ and N₂ through the ionic liquid membranes was also investigated at the volume fraction of CO₂ at feed side 0.10. The separation coefficient decreases with the increase of temperature for the all ionic liquid species. The membrane of [emim][BF₄] and [bmim][BF₄] gives the highest separation coefficient at constant temperature. The lowest separation coefficient was obtained from [bmim][Tf₂N] membrane which presents the highest permeability of CO₂.     

Doping effect of nonmagnetic impurity on the spin-Peierls-like transition in the quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) spin system of 1-(4′-nitrobenzyl)pyridinium bis(maleonitriledithiolato)nickelate

A nonmagnetic compound, [NO₂BzPy][Cu(mnt)₂] (mnt^2? = maleonitriledithiolate; NO₂BzPy⁺ = 1-(4′-nitrobenzyl)pyridinium), is isostructural with [NO₂BzPy][Ni(mnt)₂], which is a quasi-1D spin system and exhibits a spin-Peierls-like transition with J = 192 K in the gapless state and spin energy gap = 738 K in the dimerization state, respectively. Further, five nonmagnetic impurity doped compounds [NO₂BzPy][Cu_xNi_1?x(mnt)₂] (x = 0.04–0.74) were prepared, and their crystal structures as well as magnetic properties were investigated. The nonmagnetic doping causes the suppression of the spin transition with an average rate of 139(13) K/percentage of dopant concentration, and the transition collapse is estimated at around x > 0.5.     

Solubility of CO2 in 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with different anions

The solubility of carbon dioxide in a series of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium ([hemim]⁺) based ionic liquids (ILs) with different anions, viz. hexafluorophosphate ([PF₆]^?), trifluoromethanesulfonate ([OTf]^?), and bis-(trifluoromethyl)sulfonylimide ([Tf₂N]^?) at temperatures ranging from 303.15 K to 353.15 K and pressures up to 1.3 MPa were determined. The solubility data were correlated using the Krichevsky–Kasarnovsky equation and Henry’s law constants were obtained at different temperatures. Using the solubility data, the partial molar thermodynamic functions of solution such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated. Comparison showed that the solubility of CO₂ in the ILs studied follows the same behaviour as the corresponding conventional 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ([emim]⁺) based ILs with the same anions, i.e. [hemim][NTf₂] > [hemim][OTf] > [hemim][PF₆] > [hemim][BF₄].     

Highly enantioselective enzymatic resolution of aromatic β-amino acid amides with Pd-catalyzed racemization

The kinetic resolution of an aromatic β-amino acid amide 3a–d via N-acylation was explored with two lipases, Candida antarctica lipase A (CALA) and Pseudomonas stutzeri lipase (PSL). The PSL-catalyzed resolution proceeded with excellent enantioselectivity (E = >400) to give both acylated products and unreacted substrates in enantiopure forms. Three additional aromatic β-amino acid amides 3b–d were also resolved by PSL with a high level of enantioselectivity (E = >200). The PSL-catalyzed resolution of 3a was coupled with a Pd-catalyzed racemization to obtain enantiopure N-acylated product (R)-4a (>99% ee) in high yield (90%).     

Room-temperature ionic liquid as a new solvent to prepare high-quality dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayers on polycrystalline gold

This paper reports a new solvent, room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), for the preparation of dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayers (C₁₂SH-SAMs) on polycrystalline gold. The quality of C₁₂SH-SAMs was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). From CV experiments, we find that the differential capacitance C_d values of the C₁₂SH-SAM prepared in RTIL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF₆) containing 10 μL neat C₁₂SH for 24 h (C₁₂SH-SAMs_{[BMIM]PF6,10 μL,24 h}) are independent of the scan rate, the effective thickness d_eff value and the average cant angle φ value of this monolayer are 18 ± 1 Å and 27 ± 4°, respectively. The difference value of the current density at −0.2 and 0.5 V (Δi_p) is only 0.73 ± 0.18 μA cm⁻². EIS experiments show that the phase angle value at 1 Hz Φ_1 Hz, the charge transfer resistance R_ct value and surface coverage θ value of this C₁₂SH-SAM are 88.2 ± 0.7°, 3.44 ± 1.91 MΩ cm² and 99.998 ± 0.001%, respectively. These results indicate that high-quality C₁₂SH-SAMs can be formed in [BMIM]PF₆. In addition, the rate of formations of high-quality C₁₂SH-SAMs in RTIL can be substantially improved by ultrasound.     

(Liquid + liquid) equilibria for mixtures of dodecane and ethanol with alkylsulfate-based ionic liquids

The ternary (liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data for mixtures of dodecane (C₁₂H₂₆) and ethanol with ionic liquids 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methylsulfate [Mmim][MeSO₄], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate, [Emim][MeSO₄] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate, [Bmim][MeSO₄], were studied at T = 298.15 K and 0.101 MPa. The selectivity and solute distribution coefficient ratios determined from the data were used to examine the possibility of using these ionic liquids for extraction of ethanol from dodecane. The temperature dependency was investigated by measuring the LLE data for {dodecane + ethanol + [Mmim][MeSO₄]} at T = 313.15 K and 0.101 MPa. The Othmer–Tobias and Hand equations were used to test the consistency of the tie-line data. The tie-line data were correlated with the Non-Random Two Liquid (NRTL) equation which provided a good model and representation for the experimental results.