Synthesis,Stabilization, Functionalization and,DFT Calculations of Gold Nanoparticles in Fluorous Phases (PTFE and Ionic Liquids)

Gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs) were reproducibly obtained by thermal, photolytic, or microwave‐assisted decomposition/reduction under argon from Au(CO)Cl or KAuCl₄ in the presence of n‐butylimidazol dispersed in the ionic liquids (ILs) BMIm⁺BF₄^?, BMIm⁺OTf^?, or BtMA⁺NTf₂^? (BMIm⁺=n‐butylmethylimidazolium, BtMA⁺=n‐butyltrimethylammonium, OTf^?=^?O₃SCF₃, NTf₂^?=^?N(O₂SCF₃)₂). The ultra small and uniform nanoparticles of about 1–2 nm diameter were produced in BMIm⁺BF₄^? and increased in size with the molecular volume of the ionic liquid anion used in BMIm⁺OTf^? and BtMA⁺NTf₂^?. Under argon the Au‐NP/IL dispersion is stable without any additional stabilizers or capping molecules. From the ionic liquids, the gold nanoparticles can be functionalized with organic thiol ligands, transferred, and stabilized in different polar and nonpolar organic solvents. Au‐NPs can also be brought onto and stabilized by interaction with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon) surface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations favor interactions between IL anions instead of IL cations. This suggests a Au???F interaction and anionic Au_n stabilization in fluorine‐containing ILs. The ¹⁹F NMR signal in BMIm⁺BF₄^? shows a small Au‐NP concentration‐dependent shift. Characterization of the dispersed and deposited gold nanoparticles was done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM/HRTEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron spin resonance (ESR), and electron probe micro analyses (EPM, SEM/EDX).     

A Monolithic Hybrid Cellulose‐2.5‐Acetate/Polymer Bioreactor for Biocatalysis under Continuous Liquid–Liquid Conditions Using a Supported Ionic Liquid Phase

Mesoporous monolithic hybrid cellulose‐2.5‐acetate (CA)/polymer supports were prepared under solvent‐induced phase separation conditions using cellulose‐2.5‐acetate microbeads 8–14 μm in diameter, 1,1,1‐tris(hydroxymethyl)propane and 4,4′‐methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) as monomers as well as THF and n‐heptane as porogenic solvents. 4‐(Dimethylamino)pyridine and dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL), respectively, were used as catalysts. Monolithic hybrid supports were used in transesterification reactions of vinyl butyrate with 1‐butanol under continuous, supported ionic liquid–liquid conditions with Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) and octylmethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([OMIM⁺][BF₄^?]) immobilized within the CA beads inside the polymeric monolithic framework and methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) as the continuous phase. The new hybrid bioreactors were successfully used in dimensions up to 2×30 cm (V=94 mL). Under continuous biphasic liquid–liquid conditions a constant conversion up to 96 % was achieved over a period of 18 days, resulting in a productivity of 58 μmol mg^?1(CALB) min^?1. This translates into an unprecedented turnover number (TON) of 3.9×10⁷ within two weeks, which is much higher than the one obtained under standard biphasic conditions using [OMIM⁺][BF₄^?]/MTBE (TON=2.7×10⁶). The continuous liquid–liquid setup based on a hybrid reactor presented here is strongly believed to be applicable to many other enzyme‐catalyzed reactions.     

Theoretical study on interactions between thiophene/dibenzothiophene/cyclohexane/toluene and 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

It is critically important to understand the interactions between thiophene/dibenzothiophene/cyclohexane/toluene and 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?) due to desulfurization by ionic liquids. In this work, the structures of thiophene, dibenzothiophene, cyclohexane, toluene, [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?, [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?-thiophene, [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?-dibenzothiophene, [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?-cyclohexane, and [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?-toluene were optimized systematically at the GGA/PW91/DNP level, and the most stable geometries were performed by NBO and AIM analyses. It was found that [BF₄]^? anion tends to locate near C2–H2 and four hydrogen bonds between [C8MIM]⁺ and [BF₄]^? form in [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?. There exist hydrogen bonds and C–H···π interactions between [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^? and thiophene/cyclohexane/toluene, while the hydrogen bonding interactions, π···π and C–H···π interactions occur between [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^? and dibenzothiophene confirmed by NBO and AIM analyses. The interaction energies between [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^? and thiophene, dibenzothiophene, cyclohexane, toluene are 18.83, 20.93, 6.83, 12.99 kcal/mol, showing the preferential adsorption of dibenzothiophene and thiophene by ionic liquid, in agreement with the experimental results of dibenzothiophene and thiophene extraction by [C8MIM]⁺[BF₄]^?.     

离子液体中13-芳基-5,7,12,14-四氢二苯并[b, i]氧杂蒽5,7,12,14(13H)-四酮衍生物的绿色高效合成

在离子液体[bmim+][BF4-]中高产率的合成了一系列13-芳基-5,7,12,14-四氢二苯并[b, i]氧杂蒽-5,7,12,14(13H)-四酮类化合物。该反应操作步骤简单,离子液体易于与产物分离,并且离子液体可以循环使用。     

Supramolecular Ionic‐Liquid Gels with High Ionic Conductivity

Supramolecular ionogels were prepared by the gelation of room‐temperature ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF₄]) with (S,S)‐bis(leucinol)oxalamide. Remarkably, the ionic conductivity of solutions and ionogels with low gelator concentrations is higher than that of neat [BMIm][BF₄]. On the basis of molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical calculations, the origin of this phenomenon is attributed to the higher affinity of gelator molecules towards [BF₄]^? ions, which reduces the electrostatic attraction between [BMIm]⁺ and [BF₄]^? and thus increases their mobility. With increasing gelator concentration, the ionic conductivity decreases due to the formation of a denser gelator matrix, which hinders the pathways for ionic transport. However, even for very dense ionogels, this decrease is less than one order of magnitude relative to neat [BMIm][BF₄], and thus they can be classified as highly conductive materials with strong potential for application as functional electrolytes.     

Heck Reaction of Iodoarenes with Methyl Acrylate Catalyzed by Cyciopalladated Complexes of Tertiary Arylamines Immobilized in Ionic Liquid[ Bmim ] ^＋ BF4^-

Heck reaction of iodoarenes with methyl acrylate, catalyzed by cyclolmlladated complexes of tertiary arylamines, was investi-gated in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-metylimidazolium tetratluorobo-rate ([Bmim] BF4^- ). The products can be isolated convenient-ly from the ionic liquid-catalyst system. The catalysts could be reused for more than 10 times still with satisfactory catalytic ac-tivity.     

Phase equilibrium and macrolide antibiotics partitioning in real water samples using a two-phase system composed of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt

An ionic liquid-salt aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) based on the hydrophilic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF₄) and inorganic salt was developed for direct separation and analysis of macrolide antibiotics coupled with molecular fluorescence spectrophotometry. Liquid–liquid equilibria of [Bmim]BF₄-salt aqueous two-phase systems were studied for different salts and temperatures. It was found that the salting-out ability of different salts may be related to the Gibbs energy of hydration of the ions, and the two-phase area was expanded with a decrease in temperature. The partition coefficients as well as extraction efficiencies of azithromycin and mydecamycin in [Bmim]BF₄-salt aqueous two-phase system were influenced by the types of salts, concentration of salt, and the extracting temperature. Under the optimum conditions, the average partition coefficient of azithromycin in [Bmim]BF₄-Na₂CO₃ ILATPS was 162, and that of mydecamycin in [Bmim]BF₄- NaH₂PO₄ ILATPS was 90.9. This method has been satisfactorily applied to the determination of azithromycin and mydecamycin in real water samples with detection limits of 0.059 µg mL^?1 and 0.019 µg mL^?1. This extraction method is a simple, non-toxic and effective sample pretreatment technique with promise also for the separation of other small biomolecules.     

Layered structure of room-temperature ionic liquids in microemulsions by multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies

Microemulsions form in mixtures of polar, nonpolar, and amphiphilic molecules. Typical microemulsions employ water as the polar phase. However, microemulsions can form with a polar phase other than water, which hold promise to diversify the range of properties, and hence utility, of microemulsions. Here microemulsions formed by using a room‐temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) as the polar phase were created and characterized by using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. ¹H, ¹¹B, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy was applied to explore differences between microemulsions formed by using 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]) as the polar phase with a cationic surfactant, benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (BHDC), and a nonionic surfactant, Triton X‐100 (TX‐100). NMR spectroscopy showed distinct differences in the behavior of the RTIL as the charge of the surfactant head group varies in the different microemulsion environments. Minor changes in the chemical shifts were observed for [bmim]⁺ and [BF₄]^? in the presence of TX‐100 suggesting that the surfactant and the ionic liquid are separated in the microemulsion. The large changes in spectroscopic parameters observed are consistent with microstructure formation with layering of [bmim]⁺ and [BF₄]^? and migration of Cl^? within the BHDC microemulsions. Comparisons with NMR results for related ionic compounds in organic and aqueous environments as well as literature studies assisted the development of a simple organizational model for these microstructures.     

Synthesis and characterization of anhydrous conducting polyimide/ionic liquid complex membranes via a new route for high‐temperature fuel cells

The paper deals with the synthesis and characterization of a new series of anhydrous conducting acid‐doped complex membranes based on polyimide (PI) and ionic liquid (IL) for high‐temperature fuel cells via a new route. For this purpose, three imidazolium‐based ILs (RIm⁺BF₄^?) with different alkyl chain lengths (R=methyl, ethyl, and butyl) are added into polyamic acid (PAA) intermediate prepared from the reaction of benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and diaminodiphenylsulfone in different –COOH/imidazolium molar ratios (n = 0.5, 1, and 2). Then, the thermally imidized complex membrane was doped with H₂SO₄. The conductivities of acid‐doped PI/IL complex membranes prepared by taking n of 1 are found to be in the range of 10^?4?10^?5 S cm^?1 at 180°C, whereas the acid‐free PI/IL complex membranes show the conductivity at around 10^?9?10^?10 S cm^?1. Thermogravimetric analysis results reveal that the acid‐doped PI/IL complex membranes are thermally stable up to 250°C. Dynamic mechanical analysis results of the acid‐doped ionically interacted complex membrane show that the mechanical strengths of the PI/IL complex membranes including 1‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (MeIm‐BF₄) and 1‐ethyl 3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EtIm‐BF₄) are comparable with those of pristine PI until 200°C. Furthermore, it can be clearly emphasized that the ionic interaction between carboxylic acid groups of PAA's and IL's cations offers a positive role in long‐term conductivity stability by preventing the IL migration at high temperatures. On the other hand, preliminary methanol permeability tests of the acid‐doped membranes show that they can also be considered as an alternative for direct methanol fuel cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bioelectroanalytical Determination of Rutin Based on bi‐Enzymatic Sensor Containing Iridium Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid Phase Supported in Clay

A matrix comprising iridium nanoparticles and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (Ir‐BMI.BF₄) supported in montmorillonite (MMT) was obtained through an efficient incorporation process. This modified clay matrix (Ir‐BMI.BF₄‐MMT) was used for the immobilization of the enzymes laccase (LAC) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and employed in the construction of a bi‐enzymatic biosensor for determination of rutin by square‐wave voltammetry. Under optimized conditions, the analytical curve showed a linear range for rutin concentrations from 9.17×10^?8 to 3.10×10^?6 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 3.09×10^?8 mol L^?1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of rutin content in pharmaceutical samples.     

Generator‐collector Voltammetry at Dual‐plate Gold‐gold Microtrench Electrodes as Diagnostic Tool in Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids provide high viscosity solvent environments with interesting voltammetric characteristics and new electrochemical mechanisms. Here, a gold‐gold dual‐plate microtrench electrode is employed in generator‐collector mode to enhance viscosity‐limited currents in ionic liquids due to fast feedback within small inter‐electrode gaps (5 μm inter‐electrode gap, 27 μm microtrench depth) and to provide a mechanistic diagnosis tool. Three redox systems in the ionic liquid BMIm⁺BF₄^? are investigated: (i) ferrocene oxidation, (ii) oxygen reduction, and (iii) 2‐phenyl‐naphthyl‐1,4‐dione reduction. Both transient and steady state voltammetric responses are compared. Asymmetric diffusion processes, reaction intermediates, and solubility changes in the ionic liquid are revealed.     

Electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles at a solid|ionic liquid|aqueous electrolyte three-phase junction

Gold nanoparticles have been electrodeposited on an electrode through electrogeneration at an ITO|AuCl₄^? solution in an ionic liquid|aqueous electrolyte three-phase junction. The electrodeposition was carried out by inverted double-pulse potential chronoamperometry. The direct reduction of AuCl₄^? ions at the electrode is followed by a counterion transfer through the liquid|liquid interface. Contrary to the electrodeposition from a single ionic liquid phase, scanning electron microscopy reveals that the shape of the resulting nanoparticles is highly angular and well-developed with a diameter of 110 ± 30 nm. Catalytic oxidation of glucose on the modified electrode is demonstrated.     

Investigation of the Anodic Behavior of Al in Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Electrolytes: BMI‐BF4, PP14‐BF4 and BMI‐BF4·PC

The anodic polarization behavior of Al, Ta and Nb foil was investigated in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (BMI‐BF₄). Compared with that of Ta and Nb foil, it showed that a better passive film was formed on Al foil surface after the anodic polarization in BMI‐BF₄, which could resist the potential up to 94.58 V vs. Ag⁺/Ag. Besides, similar anodic behavior of Al foil was observed in N‐methyl‐N‐butylpiperidinium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (PP14‐BF₄), which indicated that the anodic polarization behavior of Al foil was independent of the cations of RTIL. In addition, the investigation of anodic polarization behavior of Al foil was carried out in the mixture electrolytes composed of BMI‐BF₄·PC. Differently, two breakdown potential processes of Al foil were presented compared to pure BMI‐BF₄. Further research showed that the passive film on Al foil was mainly composed of AlF₃ and Al₂O₃ after the first breakdown potential process, while the fluoride film increased with continual anodic polarization, which improved the anodic stability of Al foil and resisted higher breakdown potential. The high breakdown potential properties of Al foil in BMI‐BF₄, PP14‐BF₄ and the mixture of BMI‐BF₄·PC during the anodic polarization can be favored for R&D of the high performance electrochemical devices.     

Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of Novel Coumarin Derivatives via a Three-component Reaction in Water

An efficient synthesis of novel coumarin derivatives via a three‐component condensation of 4‐hydroxycoumarin, aldehydes and aromatic amines catalyzed by sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquid L‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1‐(4‐sulfobutyl)pyrrolidinium hydrogen sulfate ([HYSBPI]·HSO₄) is reported. The condensed product was obtained with excellent yields in water under microwave irradiation condition. The antitumor activities of all the synthesized compounds were assessed on two different human cancer cell lines (A‐549 and MCF‐7), and the results showed that these compounds had weak‐to‐good antitumor activities and their IC₅₀ ranged from 0.05 to more than 100 µmol·L^?1.     

Ionic Liquid Ordering at an Oxide Surface

The interaction of the ionic liquid [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] with anatase TiO₂, a model photoanode material, has been studied using a combination of synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The system is of interest as a model for fundamental electrolyte–electrode and dye‐sensitized solar cells. The initial interaction involves degradation of the [BF₄]^? anion, resulting in incorporation of F into O vacancies in the anatase surface. At low coverages, [C₄C₁Im][BF₄] is found to order at the anatase(101) surface via electrostatic attraction, with the imidazolium ring oriented 32±4° from the anatase TiO₂ surface. As the coverage of ionic liquid increases, the influence of the oxide surface on the topmost layers is reduced and the ordering is lost.     

Temperature Dependence of Interactions Between Stable Piperidine‐1‐yloxyl Derivatives and a Semicrystalline Ionic Liquid

The stable 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐yloxyl and its derivatives with hydrogen‐bond‐forming (‐OH, ‐OSO₃H), anionic (‐OSO₃^? bearing K⁺ or [K(18‐crown‐6)]⁺ as counter ion), or cationic (‐N⁺(CH₃)₃ bearing I^?, BF₄^?, PF₆^? or N^?(SO₂CF₃)₂ as counter ion) substituents are investigated in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide over a wide temperature range. The temperature dependence of the viscosity of the ionic liquid is well described by the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation. Interestingly, the temperature dependence of the rotational correlation time of the spin probes substituted with either a hydrogen‐bond‐forming group or an ionic substituent can be described using the Stokes–Einstein equation. In contrast, the temperature dependence of the rotational correlation time of the spin probe without an additional substituent at the 4‐position to the nitroxyl group does not follow this trend. The activation energy for the mobility of the unsubstituted spin probe, determined from an Arrhenius plot of the spin‐probe mobility in the ionic liquid above the melting temperature, is comparable with the activation energy for the viscous flow of the ionic liquid, but is higher for spin probes bearing an additional substituent at the 4‐position. Quantum chemical calculations of the spin probes using the 6‐31G+d method give information about the rotational volume of the spin probes and the spin density at the nitrogen atom of the radical structure as a function of the substituent at the spin probes in the presence and absence of a counter ion. The results of these calculations help in understanding the effect of the additional substituent on the experimentally determined isotropic hyperfine coupling constant.     

Surface Changes at Platinized Platinum Based Hydrogen Gas Electrodes Following Use in Highly Saline Aqueous Solutions

Platinized platinum based hydrogen gas electrodes, Pt(Pt)|H₂(g)|H⁺(aq), and silver‐silver chloride electrodes, Ag|AgCl|Cl^? (aq), make up the Harned cell, without transfer, working in the potentiometric mode at Cl^? concentrations and ionic strengths, I, below 0.1 mol kg^?1, for assigning primary pH values to reference pH buffer solutions. This work reports on experiments performed at higher I and Cl^? solutions up to 0.7 mol kg^?1, aiming at addressing seawater conditions with results of equally high quality. In the course of measurements, the occasional occurrence of highly unstable potentials denoted electrode malfunction; Pt metal surfaces observed by SEM/EDS and XRD exhibit strong Ag and Cl peaks corresponding to the presence of AgCl crystals deposited at both surfaces.     

Molecular Structure,Vibrational Spectra,and Hydrogen Bonding of the Ionic Liquid 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium Tetrafluoroborate

The IR and Raman spectra and conformations of the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [EMIM] [BF₄] ( 6 ), were analyzed within the framework of scaled quantum mechanics (SQM). It was shown that SQM successfully reproduced the spectra of the ionic liquid. The computations revealed that normal modes of the EMIM⁺?BF ion pair closely resemble those of the isolated ions EMIM⁺ and BF , except for the antisymmetric BF stretching vibrations of the anion, and the out‐of‐plane and stretching vibrations of the H? C(2) moiety of the cation. The most plausible explanation for the pronounced changes of the latter vibrations upon ion‐pair formation is the H‐bonding between H? C(2) and BF . However, these weak H‐bonds are of minor importance compared with the Coulomb interactions between the ions that keep them closely associated even in dilute CD₂Cl₂ solutions. According to the ‘gas‐phase’ computations, in these associates, the BF anion is positioned over the imidazolium ring of the EMIM⁺ cation and has short contacts not only with the H? C(2) of the latter, but also with a proton of the Me? N(3) group.     

E4 Butterfly Complexes (E=P,As) as Chelating Ligands

The coordination properties of new types of bidentate phosphane and arsane ligands with a narrow bite angle are reported. The reactions of [{Cp′′′Fe(CO)₂}₂(μ,η^1:1‐P₄)] ( 1 a ) with the copper salt [Cu(CH₃CN)₄][BF₄] leads, depending on the stoichiometry, to the formation of the spiro compound [{{Cp′′′Fe(CO)₂}₂(μ₃,η^1:1:1:1‐P₄)}₂Cu]⁺[BF₄]^? ( 2 ) or the monoadduct [{Cp′′′Fe(CO)₂}₂(μ₃,η^1:1:2‐P₄){Cu(MeCN)}]⁺[BF₄]^? ( 3 ). Similarly, the arsane ligand [{Cp′′′Fe(CO)₂}₂(μ,η^1:1‐As₄)] ( 1 b ) reacts with [Cu(CH₃CN)₄][BF₄] to give [{{Cp′′′Fe(CO)₂}₂(μ₃,η^1:1:1:1‐As₄)}₂Cu]⁺[BF₄]^? ( 5 ). Protonation of 1 a occurs at the “wing tip” phosphorus atoms, which is in line with the results of DFT calculations. The compounds are characterized by spectroscopic methods (heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and IR spectrometry) and by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.     

Aqueous Brønsted–Lowry Chemistry of Ionic Liquid Ions

Ionic liquids have become commonplace materials found in research laboratories the world over, and are increasingly utilised in studies featuring water as co‐solvent. It is reported herein that proton activities, a_H⁺, originating from auto‐protolysis of H₂O molecules, are significantly altered in mixtures with common ionic liquids comprised of Cl^?, [HSO₄]^?, [CH₃SO₄]^?, [CH₃COO]^?, [BF₄]^?, relative to pure water. pa_H⁺ values, recorded in partially aqueous media as ?log(a_H⁺), are observed over a wide range (～0–13) as a result of hydrolysis (or acid dissociation) of liquid salt ions to their associated parent molecules (or conjugate bases). Brønsted–Lowry acid–base character of ionic liquid ions observed is rooted in equilibria known to govern the highly developed aqueous chemistry of classical organic and inorganic salts, as their well‐known aqueous pKs dictate. Classical salt behaviour observed for both protic and aprotic ions in the presence of water suggests appropriate attention need be given to relevant chemical systems in order to exploit, or avoid, the nature of the medium formed.