Ionic Liquids for and by Analytical Spectroscopy

Abstract

In this mini‐review we highlight two aspects of ionic liquids that to date have either no or limited studies. They are (1) exploitation of unique features of ionic liquids to develop novel spectroscopic methods and (2) development of novel spectroscopic methods, for the sensitive and accurate determination of thermal physical properties of ionic liquids. In the first category, we will describe several novel methods which were developed utilizing unique properties of ionic liquids for measurements which are not possible otherwise. They include the sensitive and accurate method to determine enantiomeric compositions of a variety of pharmaceutical products with different size, shape, and functional groups. This method is based on the use of a chiral IL which serves both as a solvent and also as a chiral selector. Ionic liquids have also been successfully used to substantially enhance the sensitivity of thermal lens measurements. In the second category, we will describe recent development in which transient grating technique and thermal lens technique have been successfully used for the sensitive, accurate, nondestructive determination of thermal physical properties of ILs.     

Design and synthesis of pyridinium chiral ionic liquids tethered to a urea functionality

Nine chiral room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), which contain a chiral moiety and a urea functionality bonded to a pyridinium ring, have been designed and synthesized. The synthesis of these ionic liquids is concise and practical due to the commercial availability of the starting materials. These novel RTILs were readily prepared from 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine and amino acid ester derived isocyanates. We envision that these new chiral RTILs can serve as effective reaction media as well as chiral catalysts for asymmetric reactions, which are presently being investigated in our laboratory.     

Design and synthesis of fused-ring chiral ionic liquids from amino acid derivatives

Six novel imidazolium salts, which contain a chiral moiety as well as a fused-ring system, have been designed, synthesized, and fully characterized. The synthesis of these ionic liquids is concise and practical due to the commercial availability of the starting materials. These imidazolium compounds were readily prepared from 1-methyl-2-imidazoliumcarboxaldehyde and chiral amino alcohols. Salts that contain the PF₆ anion were solids, but salts with the NTf₂ anion were liquids at room temperature. We envision that these new chiral imidazolium compounds can serve as effective reaction media as well as chiral catalysts for asymmetric reactions, which are presently being investigated in our lab.     

Natural terpene derivatives as new structural task‐specific ionic liquids to enhance the enantiorecognition of acidic enantiomers on teicoplanin‐based stationary phase by high‐performance liquid chromatography

We present the specific cooperative effect of a semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin and chiral ionic liquids containing the (1R ,2S ,5R )‐(–)‐menthol moiety on the chiral recognition of enantiomers of mandelic acid, vanilmandelic acid, and phenyllactic acid. Experiments were performed chromatographically on an Astec Chirobiotic T chiral stationary phase applying the mobile phase with the addition of the chiral ionic liquids. The stereoselective binding of enantiomers to teicoplanin in presence of new chiral ionic liquids were evaluated applying thermodynamic measurements and the docking simulations. Both the experimental and theoretical methods revealed that the chiral recognition of enantiomers in the presence of new chiral ionic liquids was enthalpy driven. The changes of the teicoplanin conformation occurring upon binding of the chiral ionic liquids are responsible for the differences in the standard changes in Gibbs energy (ΔG ⁰) values obtained for complexes formed by the R and S enantiomers and teicoplanin. Docking simulations revealed the steric adjustment between the chiral ionic liquids cyclohexane ring (chair conformation) and the β‐d ‐glucosamine ring of teicoplanin and additionally hydrophobic interactions between the decanoic aliphatic chain of teicoplanin and the alkyl group of the tested salts. The obtained terpene derivatives can be considered as “structural task‐specific ionic liquids” responsible for enhancing the chiral resolution in synergistic systems with two chiral selectors.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Task‐Specific Ionic Liquids Possessing Two Brönsted Acid Sites

Abstract

Task‐specific ionic liquids possessing two Brönsted acid sites with –COOH, HSO^? ₄, or H₂PO^? ₄ groups have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. Under mild conditions and without any additional organic solvent, the esterification of isopropanol by chloroacetic acid could be carried out in these new task‐specific ionic liquids. In comparison with most of acidic ionic liquids in current use, these ionic liquids are halogen free and more environmentally benign as media and catalysts.     

S-Substituted-2-mercaptobenzthiazolium-based chiral ionic liquids: efficient organocatalysts for enantioselective sodium borohydride reductions of prochiral ketones

Novel chiral ionic liquids having chirality in their cationic part have been synthesized for evaluation of their catalytic potential as organocatalysts in sodium borohydride reduction of prochiral ketones to yield optically active secondary alcohols. The chiral ionic liquids have been synthesized from the reaction of (?)-menthol or (?)-borneol, chloroacetic acid and S-methyl/benzyl-2-mercaptobenzthiazole. The synthesized chiral ionic liquids have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR and Mass spectrometry. Moderate to excellent enantiomeric excess (ee > 99%) has been obtained in asymmetric sodium borohydride reduction of prochiral ketones using these salts as chiral catalysts.     

Synthesis of functionalized chiral ammonium,imidazolium, and pyridinium-based ionic liquids derived from (−)-ephedrine using solvent-free microwave activation. Applications for the asymmetric Michael addition

An efficient procedure for the synthesis of functionalized chiral ammonium, imidazolium, and pyridinium-based ionic liquids derived from (1R, 2S)-ephedrine using solvent-free microwave activation has been described. Good yields were obtained in very short reaction time. These chiral ionic liquids were used as chiral reaction media for the asymmetric Michael addition, giving good yields and moderate enantioselectivities.     

Novel imidazolium chiral ionic liquids that contain a urea functionality

Nine chiral room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), which contain a chiral moiety and a urea functionality bonded to a imidazolium ring, have been designed and synthesized. The synthesis of these ionic liquids is concise and practical due to the commercial availability of the starting materials. These novel RTILs were readily prepared from 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole and amino acid ester derived isocyanates. We envision that these new chiral RTILs can serve as effective reaction media as well as chiral catalysts, which are presently being investigated in our laboratory.     

Synthesis of novel chiral imidazolium-based ionic liquids derived from isosorbide and their applications in asymmetric aza Diels-Alder reaction

A novel family of chiral imidazolium-based ionic liquids containing a chiral moiety and a free hydroxyl function has been designed and synthesized using isosorbide as a biorenewable substrate. These chiral ionic liquids were found to catalyze the aza Diels-Alder reaction to give good yields and moderate diastereoselectivities. Chiral ionic liquids are recycled while their efficiency is preserved.     

The effect of chiral solvent and various kinds of chiral organic salts on the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate over an improved tartaric acid modified Raney nickel catalyst

The influence of the chiral ionic liquid (CIL) on the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate (MAA) over an improved tartaric acid-modified Raney nickel catalyst using it as reaction medium was investigated. At the same time, we also studied the effect of up to eight chiral ionic salts, and ionic liquids on this reaction using these ionic salts as co-catalyst. Although no obviously improved optical yields were gained, the possible cause has been given.     

Synthesis of Novel Chiral Ionic Liquids Based on (−)-Menthyl Isonicotinate

Abstract

Thirteen novel chiral ionic liquids (CILs) containing the (?)-menthyl group can be easily prepared from isonicotinic acid with yields of 35–90%. The properties and characterization of these compounds were discussed and the alternation of optical rotation was analyzed.     

Pyrrolidine-based chiral pyridinium ionic liquids (ILs) as recyclable and highly efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition reactions

A novel series of pyrrolidine-based chiral pyridinium ionic liquids (ILs) have been developed by using commercially available (S)-(2-aminomethyl)-1-N-Boc-pyrrolidine. These chiral ILs have been found to be recyclable and efficient organocatalysts for the asymmetric catalytic Michael addition reactions of ketones to nitroolefins with high yields, high enantioselectivies, and diastereoselectivies.     

Novel chiral ammonium ionic liquids as efficient organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins

Two chiral ammonium ionic liquids 1a and 1b have been newly synthesized from commercially available (+)-cis-2-benzamidocyclohexanecarboxylic acid. These CILs have been demonstrated to be efficient organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroolefins with excellent yields (up to 99%), high enantioselectivities (up to 90%) and modest to high diastereoselectivities (syn/anti ratio up to 99/1).     

(R)‐N,N,N‐Trimethyl‐2‐Aminobutanol‐Bis(Trifluoromethane‐Sulfon)Imidate Chiral Ionic Liquid Used as Chiral Selector in HPCE,HPLC, and CGC

Abstract

In this work, the (R)‐N,N,N‐trimethyl‐2‐aminobutanol‐bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imidate chiral ionic liquid was first used in chromatography and exhibited a excellent chiral recognition ability in high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and capillary gas chromatography (CGC), which also showed for the first time that chrial ionic liquid was an effective chiral selector in HPCE and HPLC. The compounds that have been separated using this chiral ionic liquid at least included alcohol, amine, acid, and amino acid, et al. enantiomers. As the chiral ionic liquid can be easily synthesized from relatively inexpensive materials, it should have a great potentiality for chiral separation in chromatographic science.     

(S)-Histidine: the ideal precursor for a novel family of chiral aminoacid and peptidic ionic liquids

(S)-Histidine is shown to be a powerful chiral precursor for the construction of a new series of imidazolium-containing chiral ionic liquids, in which the chiral bifunctional unit of the aminoacid remains unchanged. These ionic materials can be used as building blocks for the synthesis of peptidic ionic liquids.     

Chiral ionic liquids based on nicotine for the chiral recognition of carboxylic acids

The synthesis of enantiopure ionic liquids based on (?)-nicotine is discussed. The desired compounds were prepared in good yields from (?)-nicotine via quaternization of the pyridine ring of (?)-nicotine with MeI and EtBr. After anion metathesis the ionic liquids were investigated as chiral solvating agents and showed a splitting of the signals of Mosher’s acid and mandelic acid in the ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra. In addition to aprotic solvents it was also possible to use methanol in the experiments.     

Recent developments of task-specific ionic liquids in organic synthesis

Abstract

Task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) have received increased attention over the past few years as it is possible to form any specific ionic liquid (IL) composition depending upon user's need of the desired physical, chemical, and biological properties. These fascinating materials have shown promising results in various areas such as organic synthesis, catalysis, and specially recent emerging trend of use as functionalized ILs for chiral and nanoparticle synthesis. Present review gives an update of recent developments in the field of TSILs with emphasis on their applications in organic synthesis.     

Enantioseparation of mandelic acid enantiomers in ionic liquid aqueous two-phase extraction systems

In the past decade, ionic liquids have received great attention owing to their potential as green solvent alternatives to conventional organic solvents. In this work, hydrophobic achiral ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-hexafluorophosphate([bmim][PF₆]), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([omim][BF₄])) were used as solvents in chiral liquid-liquid extraction separation of mandelic acid (MA) enantiomers with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) derivatives as hydrophilic chiral selectors preferentially forming complexes with (R)-enantiomers. Factors affecting the separation efficiency were optimised, namely the type of the extraction solvents and β-CD derivatives, concentrations of the β-CD derivatives and MA enantiomers, pH, and temperature. Excellent enantioseparation of MA enantiomers was achieved in the ionic liquid aqueous two-phase extraction systems under the optimal conditions of pH 2.5 and temperature of 5°C with the maximum enantioselectivity (α) of 1.74. The experimental results demonstrated that the ionic liquid aqueous two-phase extraction systems with a β-CD derivative as the chiral selector have a strong chiral recognition ability, which might extend the application of ionic liquids in chiral separation.     

Amino acid based ionic liquids: A green and sustainable perspective

Chiral and highly functionalized natural amino acids are readily available by renewable methods in high quantities. They can be easily converted into both anions and cations for the synthesis of ionic liquids. This mini review describes the synthesis of amino acid derived ionic liquids (AAILs) with a focus on the most recent developments. Some specialised applications for AAILs, namely in the fields of chiral solvents, acid catalysis and CO₂ absorption will be highlighted.     

Mandelate and prolinate ionic liquids: synthesis, characterization, catalytic and biological activity

A group of quaternary ammonium mandelates and l-prolinates, as ionic liquids, were synthesized and characterized. The prepared salts were soluble in water and showed high surface activity. The described synthesis of l-prolinate was simple and the obtained ionic liquid contained a chiral anion. l-Prolinate in CH₂Cl₂ was employed for the asymmetric Michael addition of a ketone to nitrostyrene. A yield of 60%, enantioselectivity (upto 50% ee), and good diastereoselectivity (syn/anti ratio of up to 90:10) were obtained for the asymmetric addition of cyclohexanone. These novel ionic liquids proved to be very effective anti-microbial and anti-fungal agents, especially didecyldimethylammonium l-prolinate. Additionally, it was found that phytotoxicity can be a useful tool in assessing the optical forms of ionic liquids.