Structures of ionic liquids with different anions studied by infrared vibration spectroscopy

We investigated the structures of ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide [BMIM][I] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF4]) and their aqueous mixtures using attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopy. The ATR spectrum in the CHx (x = 1, 2, 3) vibration region from 2800 to 3200 cm-1 was very different between [BMIM][BF4] and [BMIM][I] even though all the spectral features in this region were from the butyl chain and the imidazolium ring of the same cation. The spectrum did not change appreciably irrespective of the water concentration for [BMIM][BF4], whereas the spectrum from [BMIM][I] showed significant changes as the water concentration was increased, especially in CH-vibration modes from the imidazolium ring. For very diluted solutions both aqueous mixtures of [BMIM][I] and [BMIM][BF4] showed very similar spectra. Mixing of [BMIM][I] with heavy water (D2O) facilitated the isotopic exchange of the proton attached to the most acidic carbon of the imidazolium ring into deuterium from D2O, whereas even prolonged exposure to D2O did not induce any isotopic exchange for [BMIM][BF4]. Raman spectra around 600 cm(-1) indicative of the butyl chain conformation also changed differently as the water concentration was increased between [BMIM][I] and [BMIM][BF4]. These differences are considered to come from the variation in the position of the anion, where I- is expected to be closer to the C(2) hydrogen of the imidazolium cation and interacting more specifically as compared to BF(4-).     

Determination of an acidic scale in room temperature ionic liquids

The acidity scale of different Br?nsted acids in ionic liquids such as [BMIM][NTf2], [BMIM][BF4], and [BMMIM][BF4] has been investigated by determination of Hammett functions, using a spectrophotometric indicator method. This scale should permit one to correlate the acidity strength of ionic liquid systems with their ability to achieve acid-catalyzed reactions.     

Dynamically coated silica monolith with ionic liquids for capillary electrochromatography

An ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) was introduced as dynamic coating of a silica monolithic column for capillary electrochromatography of phenols and nucleoside monophosphates. The run-to-run and column-to-column repeatability of migration time for six phenols were satisfactory on this column with relative standard deviation values less than 0.90 and 4.31%, respectively. Anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) was observed, which increased with the increase of [BMIM][BF4] concentration within 120 mM and when [BMIM][BF4] concentration was above 120 mM, EOF leveled off due to the saturation of [BMIM][BF4] on the monolith. Efficient separation of phenols and nucleoside monophosphates on this dynamically coated monolithic column was obtained, compared with a dynamically coated fused-silica column and unmodified silica monolithic column. The retention behavior of uncharged phenols is mainly manipulated by hydrophobic interactions due to the presence of butyl groups, and that of nucleoside monophosphates is governed by the electrostatic attraction mechanism based on the interaction between positively charged [BMIM][BF4] moieties and negatively charged phosphate groups. In addition, silica matrix also contributes to the separation resolution.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of sulfide M2S3 (m = Bi, Sb) nanorods using an ionic liquid

Single-crystalline Bi(2)S(3) and Sb(2)S(3) nanorods have been successfully synthesized by the microwave-assisted ionic liquid method. The starting reagents were Bi(2)O(3) or Sb(2)O(3), HCl, Na(2)S(2)O(3), and ethylene glycol (EG) or ethanolamine, and the ionic liquid used was 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF(4)]). Our experiments showed that the ionic liquid played an important role in the morphology of M(2)S(3) (M = Bi, Sb). Single-crystalline Bi(2)S(3) nanorods could be prepared in the presence of [BMIM][BF(4)]. However, urchinlike Bi(2)S(3) structures consisting of nanorods were formed without using [BMIM][BF(4)]. Single-crystalline Sb(2)S(3) nanorods were obtained in the presence of [BMIM][BF(4)]. However, single-crystalline Sb(2)S(3) nanosheets could be prepared in the absence of [BMIM][BF(4)]. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electron diffraction (ED).     

少量离子液体对有机相R.miehei脂肪酶催化合成辛酸戊酯的影响

研究了疏水性离子液体[BMIM][PF6]对脂肪酶R. miehei有机相催化合成辛酸戊酯反应的影响,并结合荧光发射光谱分析R. miehei构象变化与酶活性表达的关联。结果表明,该酯化反应在饱和烷烃中的初速度比在芳烃中的大,且当溶剂logP为1.5～3.5时,反应初速度随logP的增加而降低。在不同有机溶剂中,加入占辛酸质量1%的[BMIM][PF6]均导致反应初速度降低15%左右,降低幅度几乎不与溶剂种类有关。表明[BMIM][PF6]对该反应的影响与所在溶剂系统无关,而只与离子液体的加入有关。[BMIM][PF6]加入量为辛酸质量1%～3%时,以壬烷为溶剂时的反应初速度随[BMIM][PF6]加入量的增加而降低,进一步表明离子液体的加入量是影响反应初速度的重要因素。荧光光谱分析表明,酶活性的表现与酶分子的构象变化有一定的相关性。     

离子液体对木瓜蛋白酶催化特性的影响

研究了以1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑、四乙基铵及N-乙基吡啶为阳离子, 配以多种阴离子(H₂PO₄^-, ClO₄^-, HSO₄^-, CH₃COO^-, Cl^-, Br^-, NO₃^-, SCN^-, BF₄^-, PF₆^-)的离子液体对木瓜蛋白酶催化N-苯甲酰-L-精氨酸乙酯(BAEE)水解的活性及热稳定性的影响. 通过分析含离子液体体系中木瓜蛋白酶的水解活性和热力学失活参数, 发现该酶活性及稳定性与离子液体的Kosmotropicity性质无关. 因此, 离子的Hofmeister效应并不适合解释离子液体对木瓜蛋白酶催化特性的影响规律. 当以BF₄^-为阴离子, 改变阳离子结构时, 仅[BMIm][BF₄]可提高酶活性, 其它含官能团的咪唑类离子液体则降低酶活性, 但大部分离子液体明显提高木瓜蛋白酶的热稳定性. 在所研究的离子液体中, 基于PF₆^-或BF₄^-阴离子的离子液体可提高木瓜蛋白酶的活性及其热稳定性. 在含[BMIm][PF₆]介质中, 木瓜蛋白酶的水解活性最高; 在含[HOEtMIm][BF₄]介质中其热稳定性最好.     

离子液体体系中离子型锰卟啉对苯乙烯的催化氧化

以单氧给体乙酰碘苯[PhI(OAc)2]为氧源, 在无需轴向配体和有机溶剂的参与下, 离子型锰卟啉[MnⅢ(BF4)T(N-Me-4-Py)P][BF4]4和离子液体 [BMIM]BF4组成的多元离子液体体系, 在温和的反应条件下对苯乙烯的催化氧化表现出较高的活性(87%)和环氧苯乙烷选择性(90％), 并且有较好的底物普适性. 构筑的锰卟啉多元离子液体体系可以一定程度上抑制卟啉聚合和氧化降解等反应.     

Enhanced refolding of lysozyme with imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids: Effect of hydrophobicity and sulfur residue

The expression of recombinant proteins in microorganism frequently leads to the formation of insoluble aggregates, inclusion bodies (IBs). Thus, the additional in vitro protein refolding process is required to convert inactive IBs into water-soluble active proteins. This study investigated the effect of sulfur residue and hydrophobicity of imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) on the refolding of lysozyme as a model protein in the batch dilution method which is the most commonly used refolding method. When lysozyme was refolded in the refolding buffer containing [BF4]-based RTILs with a systematic variety of alkyl chain on cations varying from two to eight, less hydrophobic imidazolium cations having shorter alkyl chains were effective to facilitate lysozyme refolding. Compared to the conventional refolding buffer, 2 times higher lysozyme refolding yield was obtained in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM][BF4]) containing refolding buffer. The refolding yield of lysozyme was even more increased by 2.5 times when 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([BMIM][MS]) containing sulfur residue on anion was used. The sulfur residue in [BMIM][MS] is supposed to improve the refolding yield of lysozyme which has 4 intramolecular disulfide bonds. For dilution-based refolding of lysozyme, the optimum concentrations of RTILs in refolding buffer were found to be 1.0 M [EMIM][BF4] and 0.5 M [BMIM][MS], respectively. The optimum temperate for dilution-based refolding of lysozyme with RTILs was 4 °C.     

Use of ionic liquids in the synthesis of nanocrystals and nanorods of semiconducting metal chalcogenides

We have synthesized nanoparticles of hexagonal CdS in the diameter range 3-13 nm by the reaction of cadmium acetate dihydrate with thioacetamide in imidazolium [BMIM]-based ionic liquids. We have obtained three different particle sizes of CdS by changing the anion of the ionic liquid. Addition of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) to the reaction mixture causes greater monodispersity as well as smaller particle size, while addition of ethylenediamine produces nanorods of 7 nm average diameter. Hexagonal ZnS and cubic PbS nanoparticles with average diameters of 3 and 10 nm, respectively, have been prepared by the reaction of the metal acetates with thioacetamide in [BMIM][BF4]. Hexagonal CdSe nanoparticles with an average diameter 12 nm were obtained by the reaction of cadmium acetate dihydrate with dimethylselenourea in [BMIM][BF4]. In this case also we observe the same effect of the addition of TOPO as in the case of CdS. Addition of ethylenediamine to the reaction mixture gives rise to nanorods. ZnSe nanowires with a cubic structures, possible diameters in the range 70-100 nm by the reaction of zinc acetate dihydrate with dimethylselenourea in [BMIM][MeSO4]. The nanostructures obtained are single crystalline in all the cases. Most of the nanostructures show characteristic UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence emission spectra. The thermodynamically most stable structures are generally produced in the synthesis carried out in ionic liquids.     

Halo- and azidodediazoniation of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates with trimethylsilyl halides and trimethylsilyl azide and sandmeyer-type bromodediazoniation with Cu(I)Br in [BMIM][PF6] ionic liquid

Reaction of [ArN(2)][BF(4)] salts immobilized in [BMIM][PF(6)] ionic liquid (IL) with TMSX (X = I, Br) and TMSN(3) represents an efficient method for the preparation of iodo-, bromo-, and azido-derivatives via dediazoniation. The reactions can also be effected starting with ArNH(2) by in situ diazotization with [NO][BF(4)] followed by reaction with TMSX or TMSN(3). Depending on the substituents on the benzenediazonium cation, competing fluorodediazoniation (ArF formation) and hydrodediazoniation (ArH formation) were observed. Dediazoniation with TMSN(3) and with TMSI generally gave the highest chemoselectivity toward ArN(3) and ArI formation. The IL was recycled and reused up to 5 times with no appreciable decrease in the conversions. Multinuclear NMR monitoring of the interaction of [ArN(2)][BF(4)]/TMSX, [BMIM][PF6]/TMSX, and [BMIM][PF(6)]/TMSX/[ArN(2)][BF(4)] indicated that TMSF is formed primarily via [ArN(2)][BF(4)]/TMSX, generating [ArN(2)][X] in situ, which gives ArX on dediazoniation. Competing formation of ArF in Sandmeyer-type bromodediazoniation of [ArN(2)][BF(4)] with Cu(I)Br immobilized in the IL points to significant involvement of heterolytic dediazoniation.     

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.     

A "counter-charge layer in generalized solvents" framework for electrical double layers in neat and hybrid ionic liquid electrolytes

Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have received significant attention as electrolytes due to a number of attractive properties such as their wide electrochemical windows. Since electrical double layers (EDLs) are the cornerstone for the applications of RTILs in electrochemical systems such as supercapacitors, it is important to develop an understanding of the structure-capacitance relationships for the EDLs of these systems. Here we present a theoretical framework termed "counter-charge layer in generalized solvents" (CGS) for describing the structure and capacitance of the EDLs in neat RTILs and in RTILs mixed with different mass fractions of organic solvents. Within this framework, an EDL is made up of a counter-charge layer exactly balancing the electrode charge, and of polarized generalized solvents (in the form of layers of ion pairs, each of which has a zero net charge but has a dipole moment--the ion pairs thus can be considered as a generalized solvent) consisting of all RTILs inside the system except the counter-ions in the counter-charge layer, together with solvent molecules if present. Several key features of the EDLs that originate from the strong ion-ion correlation in RTILs, e.g., overscreening of electrode charge and alternating layering of counter-ions and co-ions, are explicitly incorporated into this framework. We show that the dielectric screening in EDLs is governed predominantly by the polarization of generalized solvents (or ion pairs) in the EDL, and the capacitance of an EDL can be related to its microstructure with few a priori assumptions or simplifications. We use this framework to understand two interesting phenomena observed in molecular dynamics simulations of EDLs in a neat IL of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF(4)]) and in a mixture of [BMIM][BF(4)] and acetonitrile (ACN): (1) the capacitance of the EDLs in the [BMIM][BF(4)]/ACN mixture increases only slightly when the mass fraction of ACN in the mixture increases from zero to 50% although the dielectric constant of bulk ACN is more than two times higher than that of neat [BMIM][BF(4)]; (2) the capacitance of EDLs near negative electrodes (with BMIM(+) ion as the counter-ion) is smaller than that near positive electrodes (with BF(4)(-) as the counter-ion) although the closest approaches of both ions to the electrode surface are nearly identical.     

Lipase-catalyzed glucose fatty acid ester synthesis in ionic liquids

[reaction: see text] Glucose fatty acid ester synthesis with poly(ethylene glycol)-modified Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) was performed in pure 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF(4)] (30% conversion) and in pure 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF(6)] (35% conversion). In a solvent system composed of ionic liquid and 40% t-BuOH conversions up to 90% and isolated yields of up to 89% were achieved using fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors and commercial CAL-B.     

Protein structure and dynamics in ionic liquids. Insights from molecular dynamics simulation studies

We present in this work the first molecular simulation study of an enzyme, the serine protease cutinase from Fusarium solani pisi, in two ionic liquids (ILs): 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate ([BMIM][NO(3)]). We tested different water contents in these ILs at room temperature (298 K) and high temperature (343 K), and we observe that the enzyme structure is highly dependent on the amount of water present in the IL media. We show that the enzyme is preferentially stabilized in [BMIM][PF6] at 5-10% (w/w) (weight of water over protein) water content at room temperature. [BMIM][PF6] renders a more nativelike enzyme structure at the same water content of 5-10% (w/w) as previously found for hexane, and the system displays a similar bell-shape-like dependence with the water content in the IL media. [BMIM][PF6] is shown to increase significantly the protein thermostability at high temperatures, especially at low hydration. Our analysis indicates that the enzyme is less stabilized in [BMIM][NO(3)] relative to [BMIM][PF6] at both temperatures, most likely due to the strong affinity of the [NO(3)]- anion toward the protein main chain. These findings are in accordance with the experimental knowledge for these two ionic liquids. We also show that these ILs "strip off" most of the water from the enzyme surface in a degree similar to that found for polar organic solvents such as acetonitrile, and that the remaining waters at the enzyme surface are organized in many small clusters.     

Sum frequency generation study of the room-temperature ionic liquids/quartz interface

The purpose of this investigation is to study the ionic liquid/quartz interface with sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG). SFG spectroscopy was chosen for this study because of its unique ability to yield vibrational spectra of molecules at an interface. Different polarization combinations are used, which probe different susceptibilities, giving SFG the ability to determine molecular orientation at the interface. The ionic liquids used were 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIM][BF(4)], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [BMIM][PF(6)]. To determine the influence of the molecular structure and charge on orientation at the interface, neutral, 1-methylimidazole, and 1-butylimidazole were also studied. Raman spectra and depolarization ratios were obtained for neat samples of 1-methylimidazole, 1-butylimidazole, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate recorded from 2700 to 3300 cm(-1). SFG spectra of the 1-methylimidazole/quartz interface showed both methyl and aromatic C-H vibrations. Orientation calculations determined that the ring of the molecule is tilted 45-68 degrees from normal, with the methyl group oriented 32-35 degrees from normal. The SFG spectra of 1-butylimidazole contain several resonances from the alkyl chain with only one weak resonance from the aromatic ring. Orientation calculations suggest that the ring is lying in the plane of the surface with the methyl group pointing 43-47 degrees from normal. The orientation of the [BMIM][PF(6)] ionic liquid was sensitive to trace amounts of water and had to be evacuated to <3 x 10(-5) Torr for the water to be removed. SFG spectra of both ionic liquids were similar, displaying resonances from the alkyl chain as well as the aromatic ring. Orientation analysis suggests the aromatic ring was tilted 45-90 degrees from normal for [BMIM][BF(4)], while the ring for [BMIM][PF(6)] was tilted 38-58 degrees from normal. This suggests the orientation of the molecule is influenced by the size of the anion.     

Synthesis of cyano-bridged magnetic nanoparticles using room-temperature ionic liquids

A principally new exploit of ionic liquids as an alternative reaction medium in the synthesis of cyano-bridged coordination-polymer nanoparticles is reported. Stable colloid solutions containing nanoparticles of cyano-bridged molecule-based magnets, M)[Fe(CN)6]2/[RMIM][BF4] (M2+=Ni, Cu, Co) and Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3/[RMIM][BF4] (R=1-butyl (BMIM), 1-decyl (DMIM)), were prepared in the corresponding 1-R-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [RMIM][BF4], which acts as both a stabilising agent and a solvent. By varying the length of the N-alkyl chain on the imidazolium cation of [RMIM]+ and the temperature, the growing process can be controlled to produce nanoparticles of different sizes. By studying the magnetic properties of frozen colloids it is shown that the relaxation of magnetisation is strongly influenced by interparticle interactions, which leads to the appearance of spin-glass-like dynamics in these systems.     

Surface tension of binary mixtures of imidazolium and ammonium based ionic liquids with alcohols, or water: cation, anion effect

The surface tensions were measured at atmospheric pressure, with use of a ring tensiometer, of a series of alcoholic solutions of closely related ionic liquids: 1-methyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate, [MMIM][CH3SO4] in alcohol (methanol, or ethanol, or 1-butanol at 298.15 K), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate, [BMIM][CH3SO4] in alcohol (methanol, or ethanol, or 1-butanol at 298.15 K), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsulfate, [BMIM][OcSO4] in alcohol (methanol, or 1-butanol at 298.15 K) and of 1-hexyloxymethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [C6H(13)OCH2MIM][BF4], 1,3-dihexyloxymethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [(C6H13OCH2)2IM][BF4] in alcohol (methanol, or 1-butanol, or 1-hexanol at 308.15 and 318.5 K) and hexyl(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium bromide, C6Br in 1-octanol at 298.15 K. The set of ammonium ionic liquids of different cations and anions (C2Br, C2BF4, C2PF6, C2N(CN)2, C3Br, C4Br and C6Br) was chosen to show the influence of small amount of the ammonium ionic liquid on the surface tension of water at 298.15 K. The influence of the cation, or anion alkyl chain length on the properties under study (densities and surface tension) was tested.     

Facilitated CO2 transport membranes utilizing positively polarized copper nanoparticles

We suggest copper nanoparticles as a CO(2) carrier by employing the ionic liquid BMIM(+)BF(4)(-) for facilitated transport membranes. The copper nanoparticles were prepared by dissociating the copper metal into the ionic liquid as a facile synthesis. The interactions between BF(4)(-) of the ionic liquid and the surface of copper nanoparticles caused the Cu surface to be partially positively charged, resulting in increased activity in copper-CO(2) complexation.     

GC–MS study of thermochemical conversion of guaifenesin in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Thermochemical conversion of guaifenesin was performed in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF4] ionic liquid at...     

Can the absence of solvation of neutral reagents by ionic liquids be responsible for the high reactivity in base-assisted intramolecular nucleophilic substitutions in these solvents?

[reaction: see text] The kinetics of the rearrangement of the Z-phenylhydrazone of 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (1a) into the relevant 4-benzoylamino-2,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole (2a) induced by amines have been studied in two room-temperature ionic liquids (IL-1, [BMIM][BF4] and IL-2, [BMIM][PF6]). The data collected show that the reaction occurs faster in ionic liquids than in other conventional solvents previously studied (both polar or apolar, protic or aprotic). Presumably, this could depend on their peculiar ability to minimize the strong substrate-solvent, amine-solvent and amine-amine interactions occurring in conventional solvents.