Synthesis and characterisation of imidazolium-based ionic liquid crystals bearing a cholesteryl mesogenic group

A series of cholesteryl-containing imidazolium chlorides and imidazolium tetrachloroaluminates were synthesised, and the chemical structure, liquid crystalline behaviour and ionic conductivity were characterised by several technical methods. Whereas the imidazolium chlorides show chiral smectic A (SmA*) phase on heating and cooling cycles, the imidazolium tetrachloroaluminates display chiral nematic (N*) phase, which is uncommon for ionic liquid crystals (ILCs). The imidazolium chlorides display similar phase transition temperature and entropy, indicating the cholesteryl component influence predominately on the phase transition rather than the different alkyl substituent groups. The imidazolium tetrachloroaluminates show lower melting point temperatures and lower clear point temperature than the imidazolium chlorides. The mesophases exist at rather moderate temperatures. Non-mesomorphic imidazolium tetrachloroaluminate(III) salts with short alkyl substituents have been known for a long time, and the synthesised imidazolium tetrachloroaluminates are the first examples of tetrahalogenoaluminate(III)-containing ILCs. For the imidazolium tetrachloroaluminates, imidazolium cations combine loosely with AlCl₄^? ions because AlCl₄^? ions are large and occupy more space in spite of the hydrogen bond and electrostatic attraction interaction, indicating that the layer structure can be destroyed easily to form N* phase on heating.     

Lamellar to inverted hexagonal mesophase transition in DNA complexes with calamitic, discotic, and cubic shaped cationic lipids

In this study, we report on the lipid tail molecular shape/size effect on the mesophase self-assembly behaviors of various cationic lipids complexed with double-stranded DNA. The molecular shape of the cationic lipids was tailored from rodlike (a cyanobiphenyl imidazolium salt) to discotic (a triphenylene imidazolium salt), and finally to cubic [a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) imidazolium salt]. An increase in the cross-sectional area of the hydrophobic tails with respect to the hydrophilic imidazolium head induced a negative spontaneous curvature of the cationic lipids. As a result, a morphological change from lamello-columnar (L(C)(alpha)) phase for the DNA-cyanobiphenyl imidazolium salt (DNA-rod) and DNA-triphenylene imidazolium salt (DNA-disk) complexes to an inverted hexagonal columnar (H(C)(II)) phase for the DNA-POSS imidazolium salt (DNA-cube) complex was observed. The DNA-rod complex had a typical smectic A (SmA) L(C)(alpha) morphology, whereas the DNA-disk complex had a double lamello-columnar liquid crystalline phase. However, when the lipid tail changed to POSS, an H(C)(II) morphology was achieved. These morphological changes were successfully characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. We expect that these liquid crystalline and crystalline DNA hybrid materials may become potential functional materials for various applications such as organic microelectronics and gene transfection.     

Abnormal ligand binding and reversible ring hydrogenation in the reaction of imidazolium salts with IrH(5)(PPh(3))(2)

We show that imidazolium salts do not always give normal or even aromatic carbenes on metalation, and the chemistry of these ligands can be much more complicated than previously thought. N,N'-disubstituted imidazolium salts of type [(2-py)(CH(2))(n)(C(3)H(3)N(2))R]BF(4) react with IrH(5)(PPh(3))(2) to give N,C-chelated products (n = 0, 1; 2-py = 2-pyridyl; C(3)H(3)N(2) = imidazolium; R = mesityl, n-butyl, i-propyl, methyl). Depending on the circumstances, three types of kinetic products can be formed: in one, the imidazole metalation site is the normal C2 as expected; in another, the metalation occurs at the abnormal C4 site; and in the third, C4 metalation is accompanied by hydrogenation of the imidazolium ring. The bonding mode is confirmed by structural studies, and spectroscopic criteria can also distinguish the cases. Initial hydrogen transfer can take place from the metal to the carbene to give the imidazolium ring hydrogenation product, as shown by isotope labeling; this hydrogen transfer proves reversible on reflux when the abnormal aromatic carbene is obtained as final product. Care may therefore be needed in the future in verifying the structure(s) formed in cases where a catalyst is generated in situ from imidazolium salt and metal precursor.     

A highly efficient catalytic system for cross-coupling of aryl chlorides and bromides with malononitrile anion by palladium carbene complexes

Six imidazolium chlorides (1-6) as precursors of 1,3-diaryl substituted N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were synthesized and evaluated in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl chlorides and bromides with malononitrile in the presence of NaH. Among them, 1,3-bis(2,4,6-triethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride (5) and 1,3-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)imidazolium chloride (6) are novel. The catalytic system combining Pd(0) with imidazolium salts 4, 5 and 6 with bulky aryl groups in pyridine is found to be superior over others and afforded alpha-arylmalononitriles in high yields when employing a wide variety of substrates.     

Electron-Deficient Imidazolium Substituted Cp Ligands and their Ru Complexes

The synthesis of electron-poor mono-, di- and tri(imidazolium)-substituted Cp-ylides is presented and their electronic properties are discussed based on NMR spectroscopy, X-ray structure analyses, electrochemical investigations and DFT calculations as well as by their reactivity toward [Ru(CH₃CN)₃Cp*](PF₆). With mono- and di(imidazolium)-substituted cyclopentadienides the respective monocationic and dicationic ruthenocences are formed (X-ray), whereas tri(imidazolium) cyclopentadienides are too electron-poor to form the ruthenocenes. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of the ruthenocenes shows reversible oxidation at a potential that increases with every additional electron-withdrawing imidazolium substituent at the Cp ligand by 0.53–0.55 V in an electrolyte based on a weakly coordinating anion. A reversible oxidation can be observed for the free 1,3-disubstituted ligand as well.     

Synthesis of Clicked Imidazolium‐Containing Biosourced Copolymers and Application in Carbon Nanotube Dispersion

New polyesters incorporating a variable quantity of imidazolium rings along the backbone are synthesized by Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition (“click” reaction). Subsequently, the imidazolium‐grafted copolymers reveal an efficient dispersing ability toward the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through supramolecular interactions in organic media. Interestingly, these compounds offer a simple and reliable strategy to control the quantity of dispersed CNTs as a function of imidazolium content. This approach is particularly suitable for the elaboration of biosourced and biodegradable materials based on poly(butylene succinate) with high‐performance properties.     

Disclosure of the imidazolium cation coordination and stabilization mode in ionic liquid stabilized gold(0) nanoparticles

A surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) study of imidazolium ionic liquid stabilized gold(0) nanoparticles (GNPs) furnished previously unknown knowledge about the coordination and stabilization mode of the imidazolium cation. GNPs were prepared by hydrazine reduction of a chloroauric acid solution in 1-triethylene glycol monomethyl ether-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate 2 as ether-functionalized room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). UV-vis spectroscopy showed the presence of GNP aggregates as absorptions extended to the NIR region. A parallel coordination mode for the imidazolium cation of RTIL 2 on the GNP surface was observed by SERS, which occurred without the simultaneous coordination of the 1-triethylene glycol monomethyl ether-functionality. Instead of this, the ether-functionality was directed away from the GNP surface and acted as steric barrier between the GNPs/GNP aggregates, thus preventing further aggregation. These new insights suggest that the imidazolium cation is responsible for electrosteric stabilization.     

Investigating the effect of macrocycle size in anion templated imidazolium-based interpenetrated and interlocked assemblies

The effect of varying the size of the macrocycle component on the formation of anion templated imidazolium interpenetrated assemblies is investigated. Two different approaches to reducing the macrocycle size are undertaken and the stabilities of the resulting pseudorotaxanes incorporating substituted imidazolium threading components studied using (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Novel imidazolium axle containing interlocked rotaxane host structures are synthesised using chloride anion templated amide condensation and 'stoppering' methods, and the anion recognition properties of the 'stoppered' rotaxane investigated.     

Quantification of amino acid ionic liquids using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) containing imidazolium cations and amino acid (AA) anions, were synthesized and applied as task-specific ionic liquids. A sensitive and fast liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was established for the quantitative analysis of 20 AAILs. Using ion pairing-reversed phase liquid chromatography technique, heptafluorobutyric acid was used as ion-pairing reagent to increase the retention of AAILs. Based on the zwitterionity of amino acid, this method was proposed to determine both the cation and the anion of AAILs simultaneously. The limit of detection of this method is down to 1-15ng/mL and the analysis time is less than 15min. According to the analytical data of seven selected AAILs, we found that the content of amino acid anion is always lower than that of butyl methyl imidazolium cation in AAILs. Moreover, the molar ratio of imidazolium cation to amino acid anion is dependent on the chemical property of the amino acid. These results supplied useful information on the interaction of imidazolium cation with acidic, basic, neutral and non-polar amino acids in AAILs.     

分子间作用力对咪唑盐介晶相性质的影响

通过对咪唑环1位(N1)取代烷基、3位(N3)取代基及阴离子的修饰合成了一系列具有近晶A (SmA)相的咪唑类离子液晶. 利用差示扫描量热法、单晶衍射、小角度X射线衍射等手段研究了咪唑盐的介晶相温度范围、介晶态的结构, 并测量了部分咪唑盐的各向异性导电率. 结果表明, 咪唑环N1取代烷基、N3取代基及咪唑盐的阴离子会改变分子间范德华力和氢键, 从而对咪唑盐的介晶相性质产生影响. 此外, 当乙烯基引入到咪唑环N3位置时, 咪唑盐相邻的层结构之间形成π-π堆积作用, 不仅有利于介晶态的形成, 同时使氟硼酸类离子液晶具有最大的层间距和最小的各向异性导电率. 这一结果表明, 调控离子液晶的性质时必须综合考虑各种分子间作用力的影响.     

Synthesis of Low‐Viscosity Ionic Liquids for Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Two types of ionic liquids (ILs), 1‐(3‐hexenyl)‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide and 1‐(3‐butenyl)‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide, are synthesized by introducing an unsaturated bond into the side alkyl chain of the imidazolium cation. These new ionic liquids exhibit high thermal stability and low viscosity (104 cP and 80 cP, respectively). The molecular dynamics simulation shows that the double bond introduced in the alkane chain greatly changes the molecular system space arrangement and diminishes the packing efficiency, leading to low viscosity. The low viscosity of the synthesized ionic liquids would enhance the diffusion of redox couples. This enhancement is detected by fabricating dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with electrolytes containing the two ILs and I₂. The highest efficiency of DSSCs is 6.85 % for 1‐(3‐hexenyl)‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide and 5.93 % for 1‐(3‐butenyl)‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide electrolyte, which is much higher than that of 5.17 % with the counterpart 1‐hexyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide electrolyte.     

Improving the Alkaline Stability of Imidazolium Cations by Substitution

Imidazolium cations are promising candidates for preparing anion‐exchange membranes because of their good alkaline stability. Substitution of imidazolium cations is an efficient way to improve their alkaline stability. By combining density functional theory calculations with experimental results, it is found that the LUMO energy correlates with the alkaline stability of imidazolium cations. The results indicate that alkyl groups are the most suitable substituents for the N3 position of imidazolium cations, and the LUMO energies of alkyl‐substituted imidazolium cations depend on the electron‐donating effect and the hyperconjugation effect. Comparing 1,2‐dimethylimidazolium cations (1,2‐DMIm⁺) and 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium cations (1,3‐DMIm⁺) with the same substituents reveals that the hyperconjugation effect is more significant in influencing the LUMO energy of 1,3‐DMIms. This investigation reveals that LUMO energy is a helpful aid in predicting the alkaline stability of imidazolium cations.     

季戊四醇衍生的咪唑鎓化合物的合成及其对阴离子的光谱响应

咪唑鎓本身带有正电荷,2-位碳氢(C2-H)具有一定的酸性,是一种良好的氢键供体,能与阴离子形成氢键。因此,咪唑鎓可以识别各种无机阴离子和生物体内重要的阴离子。本文利用四(1-咪唑甲基)甲烷的独特结构,通过烷基化反应,合成了多咪唑鎓盐2、含有多功能臂的双咪唑鎓盐3和咪唑鎓环番4。采用荧光发射光谱法研究了咪唑鎓盐2、3、4对阴离子(Cl~-、Br~-、I~-、CH_3COO~-、PhCOO~-、HSO_4~-)的光谱响应。结果表明,咪唑鎓盐2和咪唑鎓环番4a加入Cl~-,荧光强度明显增强;咪唑鎓盐3a加入PhCOO~-,荧光强度明显减弱;咪唑鎓盐3b和咪唑鎓环番4b加入I~-,荧光强度明显增强。     

Linkage between Fluorescence and Electrochemical Properties of Imidazolium Compounds in Acetonitrile Solution

The fluorescence properties of some imidazolium derivatives are relevant in photosensing and therefore, the structural analysis of them is a key point for its rational design, which would be useful to prepare new systems with novel applications. Herein we report a multidisciplinary study of the fluorescence and voltammetric properties of three imidazolium compounds {1,3-bis[(R,R)-1′-chloro-1′-phenylpropan-2′-yl]-imidazolium chloride ( 1 ), 1,3-bis[(Z)-1′-phenylprop-1′-en-2′-yl]imidazolium chloride ( 2 ) 1,3-bis[(R)-1′-chlorobutan-2′-yl]-imidazolium chloride ( 3 )}. Electronic structure calculations and Bader analyses were used to correlate both fluorescence and the capability of the molecules to be reduced through a heterogeneous electron transfer process. Both properties are strongly dependent on the proton in position two of the imidazolium ring, where the electron transfer as well as the excitation of the electrons are carried out. The reactivity in this position is controlled by the N-substituents on the imidazolium ring and is due to single contacts H⋅⋅⋅Cl⁻, tricentric contacts Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl⁻⋅⋅⋅Cl, π-electronic delocalization and π-stacking interactions.     

A small tris(imidazolium) cage forms an N-heterocyclic carbene complex with silver(I)

A small, sterically rigid tris(imidazolium) cyclophane reacts with Ag2O to give an Ag(I) carbene complex in which one of the imidazolium moieties remains protonated.     

Cyclophane-type imidazolium salts with planar chirality as a new class of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors

Cyclophane-type imidazolium salts with planar chirality were synthesized from enantiopure 2-amino alcohols, of which the N(1) and N(3) positions were connected with a bridge. The structural profiles of the imidazolium salts and their derivative N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were investigated by means of several analyses. The chiral NHCs derived from these imidazolium salts were found to catalyze the asymmetric cross-annulation of an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde with a ketone by means of the "conjugated" umpolung of the enal to give the target gamma-lactone with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee). Based on the expected structure of the NHCs and their intermediates, together with the absolute configuration of the products, a plausible mechanism for the stereocontrol was proposed.     

Palladium complexes with ethylene-bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) for C-C coupling reactions

A series of new ethylene-bridged bis(imidazolium) halides with various N-substitutions were synthesized. Complexation of these imidazolium halides with Pd(OAc)₂ produced new Pd(II) ethylene-bridged bis(carbene) complexes. Crystallographic analyses of some of the new imidazolium salts and Pd(II) complexes were determined. Applications of these seven-member palladacycles in Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions produced comparable catalytic activities to those of six-member analogs.     

Synthesis of bis(polyfluoroalkylated)imidazolium salts as key intermediates for fluorous NHC ligands

1,3-Bis(polyfluoroalkyl)- and 1-mesityl-3-(polyfluoroalkyl)imidazolium salts differing in the length of a polyfluorinated chain and a non-fluorinated spacer were synthesized as key building blocks for fluorous NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands. A new approach using polyfluoroalkyl triflates instead of the corresponding iodides was employed allowing fine tailoring of fluorous properties, as well as of the electron density of the imidazolium ring. Using bis(polyfluoroalkylated)imidazolium salt, a fluorous analogue of the PEPPSI™ catalyst was synthesized and its structure confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The catalyst was employed in model Heck and Suzuki couplings with moderate yields, however, its recycle was not successful. Fluorophilicity of bis(polyfluoroalkylated)imidazolium salts was found to be surprisingly low compared with the analogous perfluoropolyether-based salts.     

Cross—Coupling of Aryl Iodides with Malononitrile Catalyzed by Palladium N—Heterocyclic Carbene Complex System

Eight N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC),generated in situ from their imidazolium salts,as ligands of palladium complexes were used for the catalytic coupling of iodobenzene with malononi-trile anion,It was found that 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-imidazolium chloride (IMesHCl)-Pd2(dba)3 catalytic system has the highest activity to obtain phenyl malononitrile among the imidazolium salts.The substituted iodoarenes reacted with malononitrile anions by using the catalytic system to give cross-coupling products in yields from 50% to 96%.     

两种高热稳定性端羟基单阳离子型咪唑离子液体毛细管气相色谱固定相的性能评价

采用静态法将合成的端羟基单阳离子咪唑离子液体1-(6-羟己基)-3-丁基咪唑二(三氟甲基)磺酰亚胺盐(HHBIM-NTf₂)和1-(8-羟辛基)-3-丁基咪唑二(三氟甲基)磺酰亚胺盐(HOBIM-NTf₂)作为固定相制备离子液体毛细管气相色谱柱。采用Grob试剂、混合醇样品和芳香族异构体混合物对固定相色谱选择性进行了考察,Grob试剂和混合醇组分产生的尖锐、对称的色谱峰形及异构体混合物组分达到基线分离的结果均表明端羟基离子液体固定相具有良好的色谱选择性。HHBIM-NTf₂柱和HOBIM-NTf₂柱经250 ℃老化8 h后对异构体混合物的分离能力没有明显下降,而HHBIM-NTf₂柱经300 ℃老化后仍有理想的异构体选择性,表明端羟基离子液体固定相具有理想的热稳定性。本结果为进一步改善单阳离子型咪唑离子液体固定相的色谱性能提供了有效途径。