Dynamics of Methanol in Ionic Liquids: Validity of the Stokes–Einstein and Stokes–Einstein–Debye Relations

The validity of Stokes–Einstein (SE) and Stokes–Einstein–Debye (SED) relations for methanol in the physical environment of the ionic liquid (IL) 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide is studied by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time experiments, viscosity measurements and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The reorientational correlation times of the hydroxyl groups of pure methanol and of methanol in the IL/methanol mixtures were determined. For that purpose an approach for estimating NMR deuteron quadrupole coupling constants, presented by Wendt and Farrar (Mol. Phys.­ 1998 , 95, 1077–1081), was confirmed. The self‐diffusion coefficients of methanol were taken from the MD simulations. The viscosities of all systems were then measured and the SE and SED relations validated. For pure methanol both relations are valid, whereas they become increasingly invalid with increasing IL concentration, as indicated by effective volumes and radii that are too low. The deviation from the SE and SED relations could be related to dynamical heterogeneities described by the non‐Gaussian parameter α(t) obtained from MD simulations. For pure methanol, α(t) is close to zero in accord with the validity of both relations. With increasing IL concentration the dynamical heterogeneities of methanol increase strongly. The times t* at the maximum of α(t) increase linearly with the relative number of methanol monomers in the mixtures. Thus, the dynamical heterogeneities are largest for single methanol molecules fully embedded in the IL environment. In their own environment methanol molecules are highly mobile, whereas in the IL‐rich region the mobility is strongly reduced leading to the non‐validity of SE and SED relations.     

Triphilic Ionic‐Liquid Mixtures: Fluorinated and Non‐fluorinated Aprotic Ionic‐Liquid Mixtures

We present here the possibility of forming triphilic mixtures from alkyl‐ and fluoroalkylimidazolium ionic liquids, thus, macroscopically homogeneous mixtures for which instead of the often observed two domains—polar and nonpolar—three stable microphases are present: polar, lipophilic, and fluorous ones. The fluorinated side chains of the cations indeed self‐associate and form domains that are segregated from those of the polar and alkyl domains. To enable miscibility, despite the generally preferred macroscopic separation between fluorous and alkyl moieties, the importance of strong hydrogen bonding is shown. As the long‐range structure in the alkyl and fluoroalkyl domains is dependent on the composition of the liquid, we propose that the heterogeneous, triphilic structure can be easily tuned by the molar ratio of the components. We believe that further development may allow the design of switchable, smart liquids that change their properties in a predictable way according to their composition or even their environment.     

Non‐Ideal Mixing Behaviour of Hydrogen Bonding in Mixtures of Protic Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) attract interest in science and technology as a result of their unique properties. Binary and ternary mixtures of ILs significantly increase the number of possible cation/anion combinations, resulting in targeted physical and chemical properties. In this work, we study the mixing behaviour of two protic ILs: triethyl ammonium methylsulfonate [Et₃NH][CH₃SO₃] and triethylammonium triflate [Et₃NH][CF₃SO₃]. We find a characteristic deviation from ideal mixing by means of low‐frequency infrared spectroscopy. By using molecular dynamics simulations, we explain this behaviour as being the result of different strengths of anion/cation hydrogen bonding. This non‐ideality of non‐random H‐bond mixing is also reflected in macroscopic properties such as the viscosity. Mixing suitable ILs may, thus, result in new ILs with targeted physical properties.     

Liquid‐Crystalline Ionic Liquids as Ordered Reaction Media for the Diels–Alder Reaction

Liquid‐crystalline ionic liquids (LCILs) are ordered materials that have untapped potential to be used as reaction media for synthetic chemistry. This paper investigates the potential for the ordered structures of LCILs to influence the stereochemical outcome of the Diels–Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and methyl acrylate. The ratio of endo‐ to exo‐product from this reaction was monitored for a range of ionic liquids (ILs) and LCILs. Comparison of the endo:exo ratios in these reactions as a function of cation, anion and liquid crystallinity of the reaction media, allowed for the effects of liquid crystallinity to be distinguished from anion effects or cation alkyl chain length effects. These data strongly suggest that the proportion of exo‐product increases as the reaction media is changed from an isotropic IL to a LCIL. A detailed molecular dynamics (MD) study suggests that this effect is related to different hydrogen bonding interactions between the reaction media and the exo‐ and endo‐transition states in solvents with layered, smectic ordering compared to those that are isotropic.     

Supramolecular Ionic‐Liquid Gels with High Ionic Conductivity

Supramolecular ionogels were prepared by the gelation of room‐temperature ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF₄]) with (S,S)‐bis(leucinol)oxalamide. Remarkably, the ionic conductivity of solutions and ionogels with low gelator concentrations is higher than that of neat [BMIm][BF₄]. On the basis of molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical calculations, the origin of this phenomenon is attributed to the higher affinity of gelator molecules towards [BF₄]^? ions, which reduces the electrostatic attraction between [BMIm]⁺ and [BF₄]^? and thus increases their mobility. With increasing gelator concentration, the ionic conductivity decreases due to the formation of a denser gelator matrix, which hinders the pathways for ionic transport. However, even for very dense ionogels, this decrease is less than one order of magnitude relative to neat [BMIm][BF₄], and thus they can be classified as highly conductive materials with strong potential for application as functional electrolytes.     

Temperature‐Dependent Prediction of the Liquid Entropy of Ionic Liquids

Modeling of the temperature‐dependent liquid entropy of ionic liquids (ILs) with great accuracy using COSMO‐RS is demonstrated. The minimum structures of eight IL ion pairs are investigated and the entropy, calculated from ion pairs, is found to differ on average only 2 % from the available experimental values (119 data points). For calculations with single ions, the average error amounts to 2.6 % and stronger‐coordinating ions tend to give higher deviations. Additionally, the first parameterization of the standard liquid entropy for ILs is presented in the context of traditional volume‐based thermodynamics (S_l⁰=1.585 kJ mol^?1 K^?1 nm^?3?r_m³+14.09 J mol^?1 K^?1), which sheds light on the statistical treatment of ionic interactions. The findings provide the first direct access to accurate predictions of liquid entropies of ILs, which are tedious and time‐consuming to measure.     

Ordered Mesoporous Organosilica with Ionic‐Liquid Framework: An Efficient and Reusable Support for the Palladium‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction in Water

The preparation of a novel palladium‐supported periodic mesoporous organosilica based on alkylimidazolium ionic liquid (Pd@PMO‐IL) in which imidazoilium ionic liquid is uniformly distributed in the silica mesoporous framework is described. Both Pd@PMO‐IL and the parent PMO‐IL were characterized by N₂‐adsorption–desorption, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), TEM, and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. We have demonstrated that Pd@PMO‐IL is an efficient and reusable catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of various types of iodo‐, bromo‐, and even deactivated aryl chlorides in water. It was also found that although the PMO‐IL nanostructure acts as reservoir for soluble Pd species, it can also operate as a nanoscaffold to recapture the Pd nanoparticles into the mesochannels thus preventing extensive agglomeration of Pd. This observation might be attributed to the isolated ionic liquid units that effectively control the reaction mechanism by preventing Pd agglomeration and releasing and recapturing Pd nanoparticles during the reaction process. The catalyst can be recovered and reused for at least four reaction cycles without significant loss of activity.     

Rapid Preparation of Silsesquioxane‐Based Ionic Liquids

Three new hybrid ionic liquids (ILs) based on cage silsesquioxane (SQ) were rapidly prepared in high yields from octa(mercaptopropyl)silsesquioxane and 1‐allyl‐3‐methylimidazolium salts (Br^?, BF₄^?, PF₆^?) through the photochemical thiol–ene reaction. These SQ‐based ILs exhibited low glass transition temperatures and good thermal stability. The unique amphiphilic nature of these hybrid ILs cause them to self‐assemble into perfect vesicles with “yolk–shell” structures, in which cages formed the “yolk” due to their aggregation and outer anions formed the “shell”.     

Synthesis and Properties of Alkoxy‐ and Alkenyl‐Substituted Peralkylated Imidazolium Ionic Liquids

Novel peralkylated imidazolium ionic liquids bearing alkoxy and/or alkenyl side chains have been synthesized and studied. Different synthetic routes towards the imidazoles and the ionic liquids comprising bromide, iodide, methanesulfonate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTf₂]^?), and dicyanamide {[N(CN)₂]^?} as the anion were evaluated, and this led to a library of analogues, for which the melting points, viscosities, and electrochemical windows were determined. Incorporation of alkenyl moieties hindered solidification, except for cations with high symmetry. The alkoxy‐derivatized ionic liquids are often crystalline; however, room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) were obtained with the weakly coordinating anions [NTf₂]^? and [N(CN)₂]^?. For the viscosities of the peralkylated RTILs, an opposite trend was found, that is, the alkoxy derivatives are less viscous than their alkenyl‐substituted analogues. Of the crystalline compounds, X‐ray diffraction data were recorded and related to their molecular properties. Upon alkoxy substitution, the electrochemical cathodic limit potential was found to be more positive, whereas the complete electrochemical window of the alkenyl‐substituted imidazolium salts was shifted to somewhat more positive potentials.     

Mass Distribution and Diffusion of [1‐Butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium][Y] Ionic Liquids Adsorbed on the Graphite Surface at 300–800 K

The structure and diffusion behavior of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ([bmim]⁺) ionic liquids with [Cl]^?, [PF₆]^?, and [Tf₂N]^? counterions near a hydrophobic graphite surface are investigated by molecular dynamics simulation over the temperature range of 300–800 K. Near the graphite surface the structure of the ionic liquid differs from that in the bulk and it forms a well‐ordered region extending over 30 Å from the surface. The bottom layer of the ionic liquid is stable over the investigated temperature range due to the inherent slow dynamics of the ionic liquid and the strong Coulombic interactions between cation and anion. In the bottom layer, diffusion is strongly anisotropic and predominantly occurs along the graphite surface. Diffusion perpendicular to the interface (interfacial mass transfer rate k_t) is very slow due to strong ion–substrate interaction. The diffusion behaviors of the three ionic liquids in the two directions all follow an Arrhenius relation, and the activation barrier increases with decreasing anion size. Such an Arrhenius relation is applied to surface‐adsorbed ionic liquids for the first time. The ion size and the surface electrical charge density of the anions are the major factors determining the diffusion behavior of the ionic liquid adjacent to the graphite surface.     

Molecular Reorientational Dynamics of the Neat Ionic Liquid 1‐Butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate by Measurement of 13C Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Data

The reorientational dynamics of the ionic liquid 1butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF₆) were studied over a wide range of temperatures by measurement of ¹³C spin–lattice relaxation rates and NOE factors. The reorientational dynamics were evaluated by performing fits to the experimental relaxation data. Thus, the overall reorientational motion was described by a Cole–Davidson spectral density with a Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann temperature dependence of the correlation times. The reorientational motion of the butyl chain was modelled by a combination of the latter model for the overall motion with a Bloembergen–Purcell–Pound spectral density and an Arrhenius temperature dependence for the internal motion. Except for C2 in the aromatic ring, an additional reduction of the spectral density by the Lipari–Szabo model had to be employed. This reduction is a consequence of fast molecular motions before the rotational diffusion process becomes effective. The C2 atom did not exhibit this reduction, because the librational motion of the corresponding C2? H vector is severely hindered due to hydrogen bonding with the hexafluorophosphate anion. The observed dynamic features of the [BMIM]⁺ cation confirm quantum‐chemical structures obtained in a former study.     

Microwave‐Assisted Functionalization of Carbon Nanostructures in Ionic Liquids

The effect of microwave (MW) irradiation and ionic liquids (IL) on the cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to [60]fullerene has been investigated by screening the reaction protocol with regard to the IL medium composition, the applied MW power, and the simultaneous cooling of the system. [60]Fullerene conversion up to 98 % is achieved in 2–10 min, by using a 1:3 mixture of the IL 1‐methyl‐3‐n‐octyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([omim]BF₄) and o‐dichlorobenzene, and an applied power as low as 12 W. The mono‐ versus poly‐addition selectivity to [60]fullerene can be tuned as a function of fullerene concentration. The reaction scope includes aliphatic, aromatic, and fluorous‐tagged (FT) derivatives. MW irradiation of IL‐structured bucky gels is instrumental for the functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), yielding group coverages of up to one functional group per 60 carbon atoms of the SWNT network. An improved performance is obtained in low viscosity bucky gels, in the order [bmim]BF₄> [omim]BF₄> [hvim]TF₂N (bmim=1‐methyl‐3‐n‐butyl imidazolium; hvim=1‐vinyl‐3‐n‐hexadecyl imidazolium). With this protocol, the introduction of fluorous‐tagged pyrrolidine moieties onto the SWNT surface (1/108 functional coverage) yields novel FT‐CNS (carbon nanostructures) with high affinity for fluorinated phases.     

NMR Investigation of Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids and Their Aqueous Mixtures

¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy is employed to investigate the interaction of water with two imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs), 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([C₆mim]Br) and 1‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([C₈mim]Br), at IL concentrations well above the critical aggregation concentration (CAC). The results are compared with those of the neat samples. To this aim, a detailed analysis of the changes in the ¹H chemical shifts, ¹³C relaxation parameters, and 2D ROESY data due to the presence of water is performed. The results for both neat ILs are consistent with a packed structure where head‐to‐head, head‐to‐tail, and tail‐to‐tail contacts occur and where the site of maximal mobility restriction is at the polar head. At the lowest investigated water content, the presence of water influences mainly the environment around the IL polar head, slowing down the motional dynamics of the aromatic ring with respect to the alkyl chain. At higher water contents this difference diminishes, the motional freedom of the whole molecule increasing. The presence of ROESY cross‐peaks between protons in the polar and apolar IL regions, as well as between protons in non‐neighboring alkyl groups, at all investigated water contents suggests that the alkyl tails are not fully segregated in hydrophobic domains, as expected for micelle‐like structures.     

Properties of Apolar Solutes in Alkyl Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids: The Importance of Local Interactions

The solvation and the dynamic properties of apolar model solutes in alkyl imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (IL) are studied by using all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations. In regards to specific IL effects, we focused on the often used 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium cation in combination with the anions tetrafluoroborate, acetate, and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. Our findings reveal that the size of the anion crucially influences the accumulation behavior of the cations, which results in modified IL solvation properties. Deviations between the different alkyl imidazolium‐based IL combinations can be also observed with regard to the results for the radial distribution functions, the number of surrounding molecules, and the molecular orientation. The analysis of the van Hove function further shows pronounced differences in the dynamic behavior of the solutes. The simulations verify that the solute mobilities are mainly influenced by the composition of the local solvent shell and the properties of the underlying Lennard–Jones interactions. Additional simulations with regard to modified short‐range dispersion energies for alkyl imidazolium‐based ILs validate our conclusions.     

Elucidating Interactions between DMSO and Chelate‐Based Ionic Liquids

The C?D bond stretching vibrations of deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide ([D₆]DMSO) and the C₂?H bond stretching vibrations of 1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoropentane‐2,4‐dione (hfac) ligand in anion are chosen as probes to elucidate the solvent–solute interaction between chelate‐based ionic liquids (ILs) and DMSO by vibrational spectroscopic studies. The indirect effect from the interaction of the adjacent S=O functional group of DMSO with the cation [C₁₀mim]⁺ and anion [Mn(hfac)₃]^? of the ILs leads to the blue‐shift of the C?D stretching vibrations of DMSO. The C₂?H bond stretching vibrations in hfac ligand is closely related to the ionic hydrogen bond strength between the cation and anion of chelate‐based ILs. EPR studies reveal that the crystal field of the central metal is kept when the chelate‐based ILs are in different microstructure environment in the solution.     

Microscopic Diffusion Dynamics of Silver Complex‐Based Room‐Temperature Ionic Liquids Probed by Quasielastic Neutron Scattering

Quasielastic neutron scattering is used to probe the microscopic diffusion dynamics of the hydrogen‐bearing cations of two different silver complex‐derived room‐temperature ionic liquids, [Ag(propylamine)₂⁺][Tf₂N^?] (Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl) and [Ag(1‐pentene)⁺][Tf₂N^?]. In the temperature range from 300 to 340 K, analysis of the scattering momentum transfer dependence of the data provides evidence for three distinct diffusion components. The slowest component describes the long‐range cationic translational diffusion. A possible link between the microscopic diffusion parameters and the structural features of the cations comprising these two ionic liquids is discussed.     

Significant Cation Effects in Carbon Dioxide–Ionic Liquid Systems

Carbon dioxide–ionic liquid systems are of great current interest, and significant efforts have been made lately to understand the intermolecular interactions in these systems. In general, all the experimental and theoretical studies have concluded so far that the main solute–solvent interaction takes effect through the anion, and the cation has no, or only a secondary role in solvation. In this theoretical approach it is shown that this view is unfounded, and evidence is provided that, similarly to the benzene–CO₂ system, dispersion interactions are present between the solute and the cation. Therefore, this defines a novel site for tailoring solvents to tune CO₂ solubility.     

Spectacular Rate Enhancement of the Diels–Alder Reaction at the Ionic Liquid/n‐Hexane Interface

The use of the ionic liquid/n‐hexane interface as a new class of reaction medium for the Diels–Alder reaction gives large rate enhancements of the order of 10⁶ to 10⁸ times and high stereoselectivity, as compared to homogeneous media. The rate enhancement is attributed to the H‐bonding abilities and polarities of the ionic liquids, whereas the hydrophobicity of ionic liquids was considered to be the factor in controlling stereoselectivity.