Salts and Ionic Liquids of Resonance Stabilized Amides

The synthesis, structure, and bonding of alkali salts of resonance stabilized amides, such as diformylamide (dfa), formylcyanoamide (fca), nitrocyanoamide (nca), and for comparision, the well‐known dicyanoamide (dca), are discussed on the basis of experimental and theoretical data. The first structural reports of K(18‐crown‐6)⁺dfa^?, K(18‐crown‐6)⁺fca^?, Na⁺nca^?, and Li(TMEDA)⁺dca^? are presented. Examination of the X‐ray data reveals almost planar anions with strong cation–anion interactions resulting in network‐like structures in the solid state. For comparison, the X‐ray structures of covalently bound phenyldicyanoamide and diformamide are also discussed. The thermal behavior of the alkali salts of these amides is studied by thermoanalytical experiments. Moreover, several novel ionic liquids based on resonance stabilized amides have been prepared and were fully characterized, namely the dfa, fca, and nca salts of EMIM (1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium), BMIM (1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium), and HMIM (1‐hexyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium). Most of them are liquid at room temperature, except BMIM⁺fca^? that melts at 32 °C. These ionic liquids are neither heat nor shock sensitive, are thermally stable up to over 200 °C, and can be prepared easily in large quantities.     

New Insights into the Role of Amines in the Synthesis of Molecular Sieves in Ionic Liquids

In a new direction : In situ NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculation studies demonstrate that the hybrid of imidazolium ionic liquids with morpholine can be formed by means of hydrogen bonds during the crystallization of molecular sieves (see graphic; T=Al or P), which drastically alters the structure‐directing property.

     

Effects of Cationic Structure on Cellulose Dissolution in Ionic Liquids: A Molecular Dynamics Study

In recent years, great progress has been made in the dissolution of cellulose with ionic liquids (ILs). However, the mechanism of cellulose dissolution, especially the role the IL cation played in the dissolution process, has not been clearly understood. Herein, the mixtures of cellulose with a series of imidazolium‐based chloride ionic liquids and 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl pyridinium chloride ([C₄mpy]Cl) were simulated to study the effect that varying the heterocyclic structure and alkyl chain length of the IL cation has on the dissolution of cellulose. It was shown that the dissolution of cellulose in [C₄mpy]Cl is better than that in [C₄mim]Cl. For imidazolium‐based ILs, the shorter the alkyl chain is, the higher the solubility will be. In addition, an all‐atom force field for 1‐allyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium cation ([Amim]⁺) was developed, for the first time, to investigate the effect the electron‐withdrawing group within the alkyl chain of the IL cation has on the dissolution of cellulose. It was found that the interaction energy between [Amim]⁺ and cellulose was greater than that between [C₃mim]⁺ and cellulose, indicating that the presence of electron‐withdrawing group in alkyl chain of the cation enhanced the interaction between the cation and cellulose due to the increase of electronegativity of the cations. These findings are used to assess the cationic effect on the dissolution of cellulose in ILs. They are also expected to be important for rational design of novel ILs for efficient dissolution of cellulose.     

Ion Pairing in Protic Ionic Liquids Probed by Far‐Infrared Spectroscopy: Effects of Solvent Polarity and Temperature

The cation–anion and cation–solvent interactions in solutions of the protic ionic liquid (PIL) [Et₃NH][I] dissolved in solvents of different polarities are studied by means of far infrared vibrational (FIR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The dissociation of contact ion pairs (CIPs) and the resulting formation of solvent‐separated ion pairs (SIPs) can be observed and analyzed as a function of solvent concentration, solvent polarity, and temperature. In apolar environments, the CIPs dominate for all solvent concentrations and temperatures. At high concentrations of polar solvents, SIPs are favored over CIPs. For these PIL/solvent mixtures, CIPs are reformed by increasing the temperature due to the reduced polarity of the solvent. Overall, this approach provides equilibrium constants, free energies, enthalpies, and entropies for ion‐pair formation in trialkylammonium‐containing PILs. These results have important implications for the understanding of solvation chemistry and the reactivity of ionic liquids.     

IR and NMR Properties of Ionic Liquids: Do They Tell Us the Same Thing?

We used a combination of theoretical and experimental methods to derive the spectroscopic properties of imidazolium-based ionic liquids. Vibrational frequencies, NMR chemical shifts, and quadrupole coupling constants react in comparable manner to changes in the chemical environment. This suggests that both the IR and the NMR spectroscopic properties reflect a similar type of electronic perturbation caused by hydrogen bonding. These relationships of the spectroscopic properties provide detailed information about structural complexes and may thus serve as good indicators of ion-pair formation. They also help to decide which spectroscopic tool is the most sensitive for investigating molecular interactions. The measurement of only one spectroscopic property allows the prediction of other properties that cannot be so easily measured. In some cases, this is the only way to obtain reliable coupling constants for deriving molecular correlation times from macroscopic NMR relaxation times, thus opening a new path for studying structure-dynamics relations in ionic liquids.     

A Roadmap to Uranium Ionic Liquids: Anti‐Crystal Engineering

In the search for uranium‐based ionic liquids, tris(N,N‐dialkyldithiocarbamato)uranylates have been synthesized as salts of the 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (C₄mim) cation. As dithiocarbamate ligands binding to the UO₂²⁺ unit, tetra‐, penta‐, hexa‐, and heptamethylenedithiocarbamates, N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate, N‐methyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamate, N‐ethyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamate, and N‐methyl‐N‐butyldithiocarbamate have been explored. X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction allowed unambiguous structural characterization of all compounds except N‐methyl‐N‐butyldithiocarbamate, which is obtained as a glassy material only. In addition, powder X‐ray diffraction as well as vibrational and UV/Vis spectroscopy, supported by computational methods, were used to characterize the products. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to investigate the phase‐transition behavior depending on the N,N‐dialkyldithiocarbamato ligand with the aim to establish structure–property relationships regarding the ionic liquid formation capability. Compounds with the least symmetric N,N‐dialkyldithiocarbamato ligand and hence the least symmetric anions, tris(N‐methyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamato)uranylate, tris(N‐ethyl‐N‐propyldithiocarbamato)uranylate, and tris(N‐methyl‐N‐butyldithiocarbamato)uranylate, lead to the formation of (room‐temperature) ionic liquids, which confirms that low‐symmetry ions are indeed suitable to suppress crystallization. These materials combine low melting points, stable complex formation, and hydrophobicity and are therefore excellent candidates for nuclear fuel purification and recovery.     

Changes in the Structural Dimensionality of Selenidostannates in Ionic Liquids: Formation,Structures, Stability,and Photoconductivity

In situ transformations of selenidostannate frameworks in ionic liquids (ILs) were initiated by treatment of the starting phase K₂[Sn₂Se₅] and the consecutive reaction products by means of temperature increase and/or amine addition. Along the reaction pathway, the framework dimensionalities of the five involved selenidostannate anions develop from 3D to 1D and back, both in top‐down and bottom‐up style. Addition of ethane‐1,2‐diamine (en) led to the reversion of the 2D→1D step from 2D‐{[Sn₂₄Se₅₆]^16?} to 1D‐{[Sn₆Se₁₄]^4?}. As rationalized by DFT investigations, the 2D anion is thermodynamically favored. Photoconductivity measurements reveal that all samples show Schottky contact behavior with absolute thresholds below 10 V. One of the samples exhibits conductive states within the energy range of visible photons.     

Hypergolic N,N‐Dimethylhydrazinium Ionic Liquids

N,N‐Dimethylhydrazinium dicyanamide and nitrocyanamide ionic liquids (ILs) were prepared by quaterization of N,N‐dimethylhydrazine with alkyl halides followed by metathesis reactions with silver dicyanamide or silver nitrocyanamide. The key physicochemical properties, such as melting point and decomposition temperatures, density, viscosity, heat of formation, detonation pressure and velocity, and specific impulse were measured/calculated. The impact of anions and alkyl‐substituted cations on these properties is demonstrated. Droplet tests with white‐fuming nitric acid (WFNA) as an oxidizer were utilized to show that the 14 new N,N‐dimethylhydrazinium salts are hypergolic with ignition delay (ID) times ranging from 22 to 1642 ms, thereby suggesting that some may have potential as bipropellants.     

Spectroscopic and Computational Study of Boronium Ionic Liquids and Electrolytes

Boronium cation-based ionic liquids (ILs) have demonstrated high thermal stability and a >5.8 V electrochemical stability window. Additionally, IL-based electrolytes containing the salt LiTFSI have shown stable cycling against the Li metal anode, the “Holy grail” of rechargeable lithium batteries. However, the basic spectroscopic characterisation needed for further development and effective application is missing for these promising ILs and electrolytes. In this work, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used in combination to characterise four ILs and electrolytes based on the [NNBH₂]⁺ and [(TMEDA)BH₂]⁺ boronium cations and the [FSI]⁻ and [TFSI]⁻ anions. By using this combined experimental and computational approach, proper understanding of the role of different ion-ion interactions for the Li cation coordination environment in the electrolytes was achieved. Furthermore, the calculated vibrational frequencies assisted in the proper mode assignments for the ILs and in providing insights into the spectroscopic features expected at the interface created when they are adsorbed on a Li(001) surface. A reproducible synthesis procedure for [(TMEDA)BH₂]⁺ is also reported. The fundamental findings presented in this work are beneficial for any future studies that utilise IL based electrolytes in next generation Li metal batteries.     

纤维素在新型绿色溶剂离子液体中的溶解及其应用*

近年来,离子液体作为一种极具应用前景的绿色溶剂受到越来越多的关注。纤维素是自然界中含量最丰富的可再生资源,必将成为未来最重要的工业原料之一。离子液体在纤维素化学领域的应用遵循了绿色化学中开发环境友好溶剂和利用生物可再生资源为原料这两个基本原则,大大拓展了纤维素的工业应用前景,为纤维素资源的绿色应用提供了一个崭新的平台。本文对纤维素在离子液体中溶解的研究进展及其在制备再生纤维素材料、纤维素衍生物及生物乙醇等方面的应用进行了综述。纤维素大分子的降解机理及其控制途径、纤维素晶态结构变化规律及其调控途径、纤维素与固体反应试剂的均相衍生化体系的建立及提高衍生化效率的途径等基础问题仍需要进一步深入研究。     

Activation of Hydrogen Peroxide by Ionic Liquids: Mechanistic Studies and Application in the Epoxidation of Olefins

Imidazolium‐based ionic liquids that contain perrhenate anions are very efficient reaction media for the epoxidation of olefins with H₂O₂ as an oxidant, thus affording cyclooctene in almost quantitative yields. The mechanism of this reaction does not follow the usual pathway through peroxo complexes, as is the case with long‐known molecular transition‐metal catalysts. By using in situ Raman, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, we have shown that the formation of hydrogen bonds between the oxidant and perrhenate activates the oxidant, thereby leading to the transfer of an oxygen atom onto the olefin demonstrating the special features of an ionic liquid as a reaction environment. The influence of the imidazolium cation and the oxidant (aqueous H₂O₂, urea hydrogen peroxide, and tert‐butyl hydrogen peroxide) on the efficiency of the epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene were examined. Other olefinic substrates were also used in this study and they exhibited good yields of the corresponding epoxides. This report shows the potential of using simple complexes or salts for the activation of hydrogen peroxide, owing to the interactions between the solvent medium and the active complex.     

The Effect of Fluorinated Solvents on the Physicochemical Properties,Ionic Association,and Free Volume of a Prototypical Solvate Ionic Liquid

Solvate ionic liquid (SIL) synthesis and properties depend on a delicate balancing of cation-solvent and cation-anion interactions to produce materials containing only cation-solvent complexes and solvent-separated anions. Most SILs meeting these characteristics fall within the paradigm of oligomeric ethylene oxides (e.g. glymes and glycols) and lithium salts. Targeted functionalization of solvent molecules to achieve desired properties is a relatively unexplored avenue of research. Fluorinated solvents have significantly different electric charge distributions compared to their nonfluorinated analogs. We test the impact of solvent fluorination for a SIL created from equimolar mixtures of lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiNTf₂) and triethylene glycol (TEG), hereafter [(TEG)₁Li]NTf₂. In the first experiment, TEG is partially substituted with 2,2,4,4,5,5,7,7-octafluoro-3,6-dioxaoctane-1,8-diol (FTEG). This leads to a precipitous decrease in ionic conductivity and larger quantities of ionically-associated Li(NTf₂)₂⁻ species, as detected with vibrational spectroscopy. These observations suggest FTEG does not readily coordinate Li⁺ ions in a manner analogous to TEG. Computational studies reinforce this conclusion. Relative complex cation stabilities are ranked as [(FTEG)₁Li]⁺>[(TEG)₁Li]⁺. A second experiment adds FTEG as a diluent to [(TEG)₁Li]NTf₂. This places FTEG and TEG in competition to coordinate a limited number of Li⁺ ions. The resulting mixtures exhibit conductivity enhancement over the parent SIL and minimal changes in ion speciation due to the poor Li⁺ binding by FTEG compared to TEG. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopic studies point to increased amounts of free volume upon dilution of FTEG. This likely explains the origin of the conductivity and viscosity enhancements.