Fluorination with ionic liquid EMIMF(HF)2.3 as mild HF source

Hydrogen fluoride is a basic fluorinating reagent, but handling it is difficult. For this reason, some modified fluorinating reagents such as HF-pyridine, Et₃N-HF, and poly(hydrogen fluoride) complex have been developed. Those reagents, however, still require aqueous work-up procedures which generate hydrogen fluoride. Recently, ionic liquids have received much attention because of the ease in handling them and the possibility of non-aqueous work-up. An ionic liquid, 3-ethyl-1-methyimidazolium oligo hydrogen fluoride (EMIMF(HF)_2.3), which is stable in air and moisture, can be used as a hydrogen fluoride equivalent for some fluorination reactions; it does not require an aqueous work-up.     

Halofluorination of alkenes with ionic liquid EMIMF(HF)2.3

Halofluorination of alkene by means of N-halosuccinimide and ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazorium oligo hydrogenfluoride (EMIMF(HF)_2.3), was demonstrated. Various alkenes were converted into β-halo organofluorides in good yields after non-aqueous work-up.     

A mild method for halofluorination of alkenes with ionic liquid EMIMF(HF)2.3

Halofluorination of alkene in the presence of N-halosuccinimide and ionic liquid, 3-ethyl-1-methyl-imidazorium oligo hydrogen fluoride (EMIMF(HF)_2.3), as a HF source was demonstrated. Various alkenes were converted into β-halo organofluorides in good yields and with high regioselectivity.     

Cesium fluorohydrogenate, Cs(FH)2.3F

Cs(FH)_2.3F is a liquid salt exhibiting a low viscosity of 20.1 cP and a high conductivity of 86.3 mS cm⁻¹ at 25 °C, in spite of the relatively high melting point (16.9 °C). The high density of 2.82 g cm⁻³ at the liquid state is due to the heavy atomic weight and small size of cesium atom compared to the organic cations of general ionic liquids. The infrared spectroscopy indicates that this salt contains (FH)₂F⁻ as a main anionic species. The other anionic species such as (FH)₃F⁻ found in the cases of other M⁺(HF)_2.3F (M = a univalent organic cation) ionic liquid salts is not detected, suggesting its small abundance as well as the presence of neutral HF in the form of molecular and/or oligomers. The result of ¹H NMR also suggests that the anions exchange HF between them. These observations coincide with the experimental result that Cs(FH)_2.3F acts as an acid against general ionic liquid fluorohydrogenates such as EMIm(FH)_2.3F (EMIm = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) to lose HF and give Cs(FH)₂F precipitate.     

Osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation of alkenes by H2O2 in room temperature ionic liquid co-catalyzed by VO(acac)2 or MeReO3

Room temperature ionic liquid [bmim]PF₆ was used to immobilize a bimetallic catalytic system for H₂O₂-based dihydroxylation of alkenes. Osmium tetroxide was used as the substrate-selective catalyst with either VO(acac)₂ or MeReO₃ as co-catalyst. The latter serve as an electron transfer mediator (ETM) and activates H₂O₂. For an increased efficiency N-methylmorpholine is required as an additional ETM in most cases. A range of alkenes were dihydroxylated using this robust bimetallic system and it was demonstrated that for some of the alkenes the catalytic system can be recycled and used up to five times.     

Synthesis of 1,2-azidoalcohols from epoxides using a task-specific protic ionic liquid: 1-hydrogen-3-methylimidazolium azide

A task-specific ionic liquid as an environmentally eco-friendly green catalyst has been synthesized and used in the ring opening of epoxides under green conditions. In order to use protic ionic liquids (PIL), we decided to synthesize 1,2-azidoalcohols via a ring opening reaction of epoxides with 1-hydrogen-3-methylimidazolium azide ([Hmim]N₃), which actually acts as a solvent, a reagent and an activator of the epoxide ring. The reaction was carried out in short times (50–70 min) at 70 °C to give 1,2-azidoalcohol in 80–94% isolated yields.     

CuI/La(OTf)3 catalyzed, one-pot synthesis of isomeric ellipticine derivatives in ionic liquid

An efficient method for one-pot synthesis of isomeric ellipticine derivatives through CuI/La(OTf)₃ catalyzed sequential inter/intramolecular cyclization of substituted alkynes with imines followed by aromatization is reported in good to excellent yields.     

Thermal stability of ionic liquid BMI(BF4) in the presence of nucleophiles

We have found that a common ionic liquid--one containing a N-N′-dialkylimidazolium cation--decomposes in the presence of nucleophiles at much lower temperatures than previously believed. The decomposition occurs through S_N2 attack of the nucleophile on the electrophilic alkyl groups attached to the imidazolium ring.     

A powerful, practical and chemoselective synthesis of 2-anilinoalkanols catalyzed by Bi(TFA)3 or Bi(OTf)3 in the presence of molten TBAB

A facile and efficient synthesis of β-amino alcohols by ring opening of epoxides with anilines in good to excellent yields in the presence of catalytic amounts of Bi(TFA)₃ or Bi(OTf)₃ via the use of molten tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as an ionic liquid is described. In addition, the observed chemoselectivity can be considered as a noteworthy advantage of this method.     

Ethylcyclopentane ring opening reaction over PtGe/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by controlled surface reaction

Platinum-germanium catalysts supported on a non-acidic Al₂O₃ have been prepared by adding Ge in amounts corresponding nominally to 1/8 (PtGe1/8/Al₂O₃); 1/2 (PtGe1/2/Al₂O₃); 1 (PtGe1/Al₂O₃) and 2 (PtGe2/Al₂O₃) monolayers by controlled surface reaction of Ge(n-C₄H₉)₄ to Pt/Al₂O₃. These catalysts were characterized by electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR of CO adsorption and H₂ chemisorption. The ring opening of ethylcyclopentane (ECP) was studied as a test reaction between 543 and 633 K. PtGe1/8/Al₂O₃ catalyst produced the most ring opening products (ROP) in the whole temperature range. A good agreement with statistical values of ROP was observed at low temperature, but at higher temperature, the opening became selective, producing mostly heptane. Bimetallic catalysts PtGe1/Al₂O₃ and PtGe2/Al₂O₃ led to a nonselective hydrogenolysis, similar to the monometallic platinum catalyst Pt/Al₂O₃. The catalysts PtGe1/Al₂O₃ and PtGe2/Al₂O₃ produced ROP with the lowest selectivity; instead, much aromatics and fragments were formed, in increasing amounts above 600 K.     

Essential oil deterpenation by solvent extraction using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethylsulfate ionic liquid

Taking into account that heat application can have undesirable effects in essential oil properties, liquid extraction comes up as a promising process instead of distillation for citrus oil deterpenation. In this work the suitability of using the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethylsulfate as a solvent for the extraction of linalool from citrus essential oil (which has been simulated as a mixture of limonene and linalool) has been analyzed. Liquid–liquid equilibrium data at three different temperatures (298.15 K, 308.15 K and 318.15 K) have been reported and successfully correlated using NRTL model. The best results were achieved using α = 0.1 for the systems at 298.15 K and 308.15 K and α = 0.2 at 318.15 K. The solute distribution ratio has showed values close to one and high values of selectivity have been achieved.     

Studies on the synthesis of DNA-damaging part of leinamycin: regioselectivity in Ti(OiPr)4 mediated opening of hydroxy epoxides with carboxylic acids

The preparation of the key intermediate in the synthesis of the DNA damaging fragment of the anticancer antibiotic leinamycin starting from geraniol is described. The synthetic sequence involves the building of a quaternary asymmetric center through kinetic resolution through Sharpless epoxidation followed by the regioselective opening of the resultant enantiomerically pure hydroxyepoxide and intramolecular Wittig-Horner olefination.     

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].     

γ-Radiation effect on ionic liquid [bmim][BF4]

The effect of γ radiation on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]) was investigated in detail. It was found that radiation induced an increase of UV absorption of the ionic liquid but no change in its glass transition point. Raman spectroscopy analysis indicates that the radiolysis of [bmim][BF₄] induces detectable destruction of alkyl-chain and scission of H-atoms of ring of imidizolium cation, and the relatively small changes of BF₄⁻ anion. Viscosities of irradiated [bmim][BF₄] samples were measured at different shear rates and temperatures, and compared with irradiated [bmim][PF₆] samples. The plots of shear stress against shear rate indicates that [bmim][BF₄] is a Newtonian fluid, no matter with irradiation. The viscosity of irradiated [bmim][BF₄] decreased with increasing of temperature and followed an Arrhenius equation. However, radiation caused no change in the viscosity of [bmim][BF₄], but a decrease in the viscosity of [bmim][PF₆] by up to 10%. We conclude that the radiation stability of [bmim][BF₄] is higher than [bmim][PF₆].     

Efficient rearrangement of epoxides catalyzed by a mixed-valent iron trifluoroacetate [Fe3O(O2CCF3)6(H2O)3]

The mixed-valent oxo-centered triiron(III, III, II) trifluoroacetate complex [Fe₂^IIIFe^IIO(O₂CCF₃)₆(H₂O)₃] was prepared by reacting anhydrous iron(III) chloride with boiling trifluoroacetic acid under nitrogen. The non-hygroscopic and readily available mixed-valent triiron trifluoroacetate complex was found to be an efficient catalyst for the regioselective rearrangement of epoxides. A number of carbonyl compounds formed via the rearrangement of epoxides could be obtained by a simple filtration of the reaction mixture through a short plug of silica gel.     

Effect of ionic liquid BMImBr on palladium-catalyzed oxidation of ethylene with LiNO3

Oxidative bromination of ethylene was found to proceed effectively in the presence of a catalytic system Pd(OAc)₂–LiNO₃ in two-component BMImBr–HOAc and three-component BMImBr–HOAc–H₂O solvents. At a large content of BMImBr, conversion of ethylene was found to yield 1,2-dibromoethane with a selectivity over 95%. The composition of the Pd(OAc)₂–LiNO₃ solutions was followed during the reaction of ethylene by means of UV–Vis spectroscopy.     

A new room temperature ionic liquid of oxyfluorometallate anion: 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium oxypentafluorotungstate (EMImWOF5)

The first room temperature ionic liquid (room temperature molten salt) containing oxyfluorometallate anion, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium oxypentafluorotungstate (EMImWOF₅), has been synthesized and characterized compared to other known EMIm fluorocomplex salts. EMImWOF₅ is synthesized by two routes: one is the hydrolysis of EMImWF₇ and the other is the fluoroacid-base reaction of EMIm(HF)_2.3F and WOF₄. EMImWOF₅ is a hydrophilic room temperature ionic liquid but is stable in aqueous solution. From the result of DSC analysis, EMImWOF₅ exhibits a glass transition at 182 K and melts at 253 K. The density, conductivity and viscosity at 298 K are 2.25 g cm⁻³, 3.0 mS cm⁻¹ and 105.1 cP, respectively.     

Elimination of AsF3 from anhydrous HF using AgFAsF6 as a mediator

Elimination of the arsenic (III) impurity AsF₃ from anhydrous hydrogen fluoride has been demonstrated using a bench-scale apparatus (∼500 mL of HF), with a Ag(II) salt AgFAsF₆ as a mediator. In this process, AsF₃ is oxidized by AgFAsF₆ to AsF₅. In the next step, AsF₅ is eliminated from HF by reaction with NaF. The oxidizer, AgFAsF₆, is reduced to AgAsF₆ which is regenerated to AgFAsF₆ by F₂ in HF at room temperature. This method can reduce the arsenic content in HF from a few hundred ppm to the industrially required level (<3 ppm). The results for three other methods (distillation, oxidation by F₂ gas, and oxidation by K₂NiF₆) are reported and compared with the AgFAsF₆ method in a preliminary examination (using ∼4 mL of HF).     

High-temperature synthesis of highly hydrothermal stable mesoporous silica and Fe-SiO2 using ionic liquid as a template

Mesoporous silicas and Fe-SiO₂ with worm-like structures have been synthesized using a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-hexadecane-3-methylimidazolium bromide, as a template at a high aging temperature (150-190 °C) with the assistance of NaF. The hydrothermal stability of mesoporous silica was effectively improved by increasing the aging temperature and adding NaF to the synthesis gel. High hydrothermally stable mesoporous silica was obtained after being aged at 190 °C in the presence of NaF, which endured the hydrothermal treatment in boiling water at least for 10 d or steam treatment at 600 °C for 6 h. The ultra hydrothermal stability could be attributed to its high degree of polymerization of silicate. Furthermore, highly hydrothermal stable mesoporous Fe-SiO₂ has been synthesized, which still remained its mesostructure after being hydrothermally treated at 100 °C for 12 d or steam-treated at 600 °C for 6 h.     

Structure and bonding in a series of cyano complexes: RuCp(PPh3) 2CN, [RuCp(PPh3) 2(CNH)]CF3SO3, and H-bridged [Ru2(Cp) 2(PPh3) 4CNHNC]CF3SO3

The three title cyanoruthenium complexes have been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and NMR solution spectroscopies, as well as extended Hückel molecular orbital calculations examining the properties of the cyanide fragment changing with complexation and with the co-ligands Cp and PPh₃. Explanations are given for crystallographic results of the C-N bond shortening upon complexation, the supershort (2.573 Å) bond length of N(H) N in the bridged complex, as well as the Ru-C-N and C-N-H-N-C bendings. Although the crystallographically found asymmetry of coordinated Cp is not significant, the MO calculations suggest a distorted endocyclic bond-length pattern indicative of the relative importance of σ and π bonding in the metalcyclopentadienyl interactions.