Micelle formation by N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide in ethylammonium nitrate

The aggregation behavior of long-chain pyrrolidinium ionic liquids, N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide (C_nMPB, n = 12, 14, and 16) was investigated by surface tension measurements in a protic room temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), at various temperatures. A series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_CMC), maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), and the area occupied per surfactant molecule at the air/solution interface (A_min) were estimated. From these parameters, we demonstrated that the surface activity of C_nMPB is much lower in EAN than that in water. Comparing C_nMPB with alkylimidazolium bromides and alkylpyridinium bromides, the effect of the cationic group on micellization in EAN was also investigated. The thermodynamic analysis of micellization revealed that the micelle formation process for C_nMPB (n = 12, 14, and 16) is entropy-driven at low temperature and enthalpy-driven at high temperature. The micelle aggregation number estimated from the ¹H NMR data is about 21 for C₁₂MPB in EAN, which is much less than that in water. The results of the surface tension measurements and ¹H NMR spectra indicate that the [CH₃CH₂NH₃]⁺ cations of EAN exist around the head groups of C_nMPB when micelles are formed and the NO₃⁻ ions are adsorbed at the micelle surface.     

Aggregation behavior of long-chain imidazolium ionic liquids in ethylammonium nitrate

The aggregation behavior of long-chain imidazolium ionic liquids, 1-alkyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bromide (C_nmimBr, n?=?12, 14, 16) was studied by surface tension measurements in a room temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), at various temperatures. A series of parameters including critical micelle concentration (cmc), surface tension at the cmc (γ _cmc), and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_cmc) were obtained. In addition, from the cmc values and their temperature dependence, we estimated the thermodynamic parameters of the micelle formation, $ \Delta G_{\rm{m}}^0 $ , $ \Delta H_{\rm{m}}^0 $ , and $ \Delta S_{\rm{m}}^0 $ . The contribution of enthalpy term to the micelle formation is superior to that of entropy term. ¹H NMR was performed to study the C_nmimBr micelle formation mechanism in EAN.     

Pressure-Induced Solidification of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate

We have used Raman spectroscopy to investigate the high-pressure phase behavior of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), a representative ionic liquid, at pressures up to ~7.5 GPa. We have also studied how increasing pressure leads to conformational changes in the [bmim]⁺ cation. We have found that liquid [bmim][BF₄] undergoes pressure-induced solidification (freezing) into a superpressed (metastable) state at 2.5 GPa; another structural change probably occurs at ~6 GPa. Remarkably, conformational changes in the [bmim]⁺ cation between trans and gauche conformers are concordant with the metastable structural changes of [bmim][BF₄]. As the pressure is increased from ambient, the fraction of gauche conformers increases, but the gauche fraction decreases above the solidification pressure (2.5 GPa), and slope of the gauche/trans ratio changes again above 6 GPa. We interpret these results in terms of the fragility of the ionic liquid.     

离子液体型表面活性剂研究

以1-甲基咪唑为原料, 制备了6个常规离子液体: 1-正丁基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[bmim][BF₄]及[bmim][PF₆])、1-正己基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[hmim][BF₄]及[hmim][PF₆])、1-正十六烷基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[C₁₆mim][BF₄]及[C₁₆mim][PF₆])和4个功能化离子液体: 1-(2-羟乙基)-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[2-hemim][BF₄]及[2-hemim][PF₆])、1-乙氧羰基甲基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐及六氟磷酸盐(简称[eocmmim][BF₄]及[eocmmim][PF₆]). 研究了这两类离子液体的一些物理性能, 旨在挖掘离子液体在香料香精化妆品工业中的应用价值. 分别检测了它们与一般溶剂的互溶性, 并测定了它们的表面张力和发泡性能, 实验结果表明, 仅[C₁₆mim][BF₄]和[C₁₆mim][PF₆]具有发泡性能, 发泡力分别为68和120 mm.     

Amine basicity: measurements of ion pair stability in ionic liquid media

The stability constants relevant to the formation of amine/p-nitrophenol ion pairs have been determined in [bmim][BF₄] solution, in the presence of butylamine, piperidine, and triethylamine, by using spectrophotometric measurements. In order to evaluate how the ion pair stability is affected by ionic liquid structure, piperidine has been chosen as model amine for studies in [bmim][PF₆], [bmim][NTf₂], [bm₂im][NTf₂] and in several [bmim][BF₄]/1,4-dioxane binary mixtures. Data obtained in ionic liquid solutions have been compared with those previously reported in conventional organic solvents.     

Comparative Investigation of the Ionicity of Aprotic and Protic Ionic Liquids in Molecular Solvents by using Conductometry and NMR Spectroscopy

Electrical conductivity (σ), viscosity (η), and self‐diffusion coefficient (D) measurements of binary mixtures of aprotic and protic imidazolium‐based ionic liquids with water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethylene glycol were measured from 293.15 to 323.15 K. The temperature dependence study reveals typical Arrhenius behavior. The ionicities of aprotic ionic liquids were observed to be higher than those of protic ionic liquids in these solvents. The aprotic ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmIm][BF₄], displays 100 % ionicity in both water and ethylene glycol. The protic ionic liquids in both water and ethylene glycol are classed as good ionic candidates, whereas in DMSO they are classed as having a poor ionic nature. The solvation dynamics of the ionic species of the ionic liquids are illustrated on the basis of the ¹H NMR chemical shifts of the ionic liquids. The self‐diffusion coefficients D of the cation and anion of [HmIm][CH₃COO] in D₂O and in [D₆]DMSO are determined by using ¹H nuclei with pulsed field gradient spin‐echo NMR spectroscopy.     

On the characterization of some [bmim][X]/co-solvent binary mixtures: a multidisciplinary approach by using kinetic, spectrophotometric and conductometric investigations

In order to study the intrinsic characteristics and to evaluate the structural variations determined by the addition of a co-solvent to 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]) we examined the behaviour of some probes in [bmim][BF₄]/co-solvent binary mixtures. The rate constants of the piperidino-catalyzed rearrangement of the Z-phenylhydrazone of the 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole into the relevant 4-benzoylamino-2,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole as well as the spectrometric properties of pyrene and Nile Red were evaluated. With the same purpose also ¹H NMR and conductivity measurements were carried out. By comparison the behaviour of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonylimide)/1,4-dioxane mixtures has been analyzed. The whole of data confirms the presence of weak interactions that determine a partially preorganized structure for [bmim][X]. This is perturbed at some degrees by quantity and nature of guest molecules. For example conductivity measurements support the idea that different charged aggregates are present in the [bmim][X]/co-solvent binary mixtures.     

Aggregation behavior of silicone surfactants in ethylammonium nitrate ionic liquid

The aggregation behavior of two silicone surfactants (monomeric and Gemini) was studied by surface tension measurements in a room temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), at various temperatures. A series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ _CMC), adsorption efficiency (pC ₂₀), and effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π _CMC), were obtained. By comparing the silicone surfactants with traditional surfactants, we deduced that the surface activity of the silicone surfactants in EAN was superior to the activity of other surfactants. In addition, from the CMC values and their temperature dependence, we estimated the thermodynamic parameters of the micelle formation, $ \Delta G_m^0 $ , $ \Delta H_m^0 $ , and $ \Delta S_m^0 $ . It was revealed that the micellization of the silicone surfactants is entropy driven at low temperature and enthalpy driven at high temperature. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements were also carried out to study the micellization of Gemini silicone surfactant. ¹H NMR was performed to study the silicone surfactant micelle formation mechanism in EAN.     

Effects of temperature and anion species on CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 separation coefficient through ionic liquid membranes

The permeability of carbon dioxide (CO₂) through imidazolium-based ionic liquid membranes was measured by a sweep gas method. Six species of ionic liquids were studied in this work as follows: [emim][BF₄], [bmim][BF₄], [bmim][PF₆], [bmim][Tf₂N], [bmim][OTf], and [bmim][dca]. The ionic liquids were supported with a polyvinylidene fluoride porous membrane. The measurements were performed at T = (303.15 to 343.15) K. The partial pressure difference between feed and permeate sides was 0.121 MPa. The permeability of the CO₂ increases with temperature for the all ionic liquid species. Base on solution diffusion theory, it can be explained that the diffusion coefficient of CO₂ in an ionic liquid affects the temperature dependence more strongly than the solubility coefficient. The greatest permeability was obtained with the [bmim][Tf₂N] membrane. The membrane of [bmim][PF₆] presents the lowest permeability.The separation coefficient between CO₂ and N₂ through the ionic liquid membranes was also investigated at the volume fraction of CO₂ at feed side 0.10. The separation coefficient decreases with the increase of temperature for the all ionic liquid species. The membrane of [emim][BF₄] and [bmim][BF₄] gives the highest separation coefficient at constant temperature. The lowest separation coefficient was obtained from [bmim][Tf₂N] membrane which presents the highest permeability of CO₂.     

A comparative study on the ionic liquid [bmim][BF4] and its solution with transient absorption spectroscopy

A detailed study was explored to compare the transient absorption spectra of the neat 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]) with its solution in water or acetonitrile. It was concluded that the excited triplet state ³[bmim]^+* was produced after 266 nm laser irradiation, and then the neutral radical [bmim] and the cation radical [bmim] ²⁺ were formed through two possible paths. The transient absorption spectra of the neat [bmim][BF₄] and its solution were similar but the reaction kinetics were different due to their different local structures such as dimeric or cluster. The energy transfer between excited [bmim][BF₄] and β-carotene further affirmed the existence of ³[bmim]^+*. And the reaction that the hydrated electron captured by [bmim]⁺ to produce [bmim] in solution was observed.     

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium p-toluenesulfinate: a novel reagent for synthesis of sulfones and β-ketosulfones in ionic liquid

A novel task-specific ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium p-toluenesulfinate, [bmim][p-TolSO₂] has been synthesized and used as a nucleophile for the reaction with alkyl bromides and phenacyl bromides to prepare sulfones and β-ketosulfones in excellent yields (80-93%) in [bmim][BF₄] ionic liquid. The isolated yields of sulfones and β-ketosulfones were higher in [bmim][BF₄] than other organic solvents at room temperature.     

Solubility of CO2 in imidazolium-based tetrafluoroborate ionic liquids

The solubility of CO₂ in imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), 1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim][BF₄]) and 1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrtafluoroborate ([omim][BF₄]) was determined at 305-25 K and pressures from 1 to 9 MPa. The influence of chain length of alkyl substituents on the imidazolium cation on the solubility of CO₂ was investigated. The differences in solubility with chain length are in the sequence [omim][BF₄] > [hmim][BF₄] > [bmim][BF₄]. The solubility data were correlated by the extended Henry's law, and enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and entropy changes were obtained.     

Prediction of the thermodynamic properties of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate ionic liquids [C n mim][Lact] (n = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) by parachor

An ionic liquid (IL) based on lactate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate ([C₄mim][Lact]), has been prepared and characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Since the IL can form strong hydrogen bonds with water, trace water is a problematic impurity in the IL. Using the standard addition method (SAM), the density, refractive index and surface tension of [C₄mim][Lact] were measured in the temperature range (308.15 to 343.15 ± 0.05) K. On the basis of the experimental data, the parachor and molar volume for [C₄mim][Lact], and the molecular volume V _m, surface tension γ, molar enthalpy of vaporization Δ_l ^g H _m ⁰, refractive index n _D, and the thermal expansion coefficients α, for the homologues [C _n mim][Lact] (n = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were estimated using semi-empirical methods. The estimated values are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Influence of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate on the lamellar liquid crystal formed by tetraethylene glycol lauryl ether and water

Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) formed in tetraethylene glycol lauryl ether–water system by the addition of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C _n Mim][BF₄], n?=?2, 4, 6, 8, 10) are characterised by polarised optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques. A small number of [C _n Mim][BF₄] molecules can be solubilised in the liquid crystal without changing the lamellar type. These imidazolium salts are considered as an ideal kind of modifiers for the ordered structure. With different lengths of alkyl chains, [C _n Mim][BF₄] molecules appear in various domains of ordered assemblies: in the water layer for [C₂Mim][BF₄], in the water layer as well as in the polar domain for [C₄Mim][BF₄] and in the apolar domain for the other imidazolium salts with long alkyl chains. Diverse distributions of [C _n Mim][BF₄] molecules in the inner structure bring about their specific influence on the lamellar phase. These results enlighten the use of diverse alkyl-substituted imidazolium salts in modulating LLC and other assemblies and also enrich the aggregation behaviour of these assemblies.     

Ionic liquid assisted synthesis of flowerlike Cu2O micro-nanocrystals

Novel flowerlike Cu2O micro-nanocrystals were prepared by a greener reductive reaction of cupric acetate monohydrate with ethylene glycol in aqueous solutions of [C8mim]X (X = Cl , Br , BF4 , PF6 ) and [Cnmim][BF4] (n = 4, 6, 8). The obtained microstructures of Cu2O were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). The effects of cations, anions and concentration of the ionic liquids on the morphology of Cu2O were examined in some details. The results suggest that the formation of flowerlike Cu2O was governed by a [C8mim][BF4] controlled reductive reaction mechanism. As one of their applications, the Cu2O nanoparticles were used for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution, and high photocatalytic activity was observed.     

Combined dealkoxycarbonylation and lactonisation of unsaturated malonates in ionic liquids

Heating unsaturated malonates with LiCl and water in [bmim][Br] or [bmim][BF₄]/[bmim][Br] produces unsaturated esters or lactones, respectively.     

Electrochemical Behaviors of Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid in Ionic Liquid

Cyclic voltammetric measurements at platinum electrode have been carried out to investigate the electrochemical oxidation of ascorbic acid and uric acid in ionic liquid, [bmim][BF₄]. It is important that a typical redox couple of ascorbic acid was obtained and it is oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid in [bmim][BF₄]. However, there is no electron-transfer for uric acid and no electrochemical oxidation carried out in the same ionic liquid. It provides a new way to eliminate the interfering between ascorbic acid and uric acid in the study of the electrochemical behaviors for them.     

Microwave-Assisted Ionic Liquid-Catalyzed Selective Monoesterification of Alkylphosphonic Acids—An Experimental and a Theoretical Study

It is well-known that the P-acids including phosphonic acids resist undergoing direct esterification. However, it was found that a series of alkylphoshonic acids could be involved in monoesterification with C₂–C₄ alcohols under microwave (MW) irradiation in the presence of [bmim][BF₄] as an additive. The selectivity amounted to 80–98%, while the isolated yields fell in the range of 61–79%. The method developed is a green method for P-acid esterification. DFT calculations at the M062X/6–311+G (d,p) level of theory (performed considering the solvent effect of the corresponding alcohol) explored the three-step mechanism, and justified a higher enthalpy of activation (160.6–194.1 kJ·mol⁻¹) that may be overcome only by MW irradiation. The major role of the [bmim][BF₄] additive is to increase the absorption of MW energy. The specific chemical role of the [BF₄] anion of the ionic liquid in an alternative mechanism was also raised by the computations.     

The ionic parachor and predicting properties of amino acid ionic liquid homologues of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium glycine

The amino acid ionic liquids(AAILs) [C3mim][Gly](1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium glycine) and [C4mim][Gly](1-butyl-3methylimidazolium glycine) have been prepared by the neutralization method and characterized by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC).The values of their density,surface tension and refractive index were measured at(298.15 ± 0.05) K.Since the AAILs can form strong hydrogen bonds with water,small amounts of water are difficult to remove from the AAILs by common methods.In order to eliminate the effect of the impurity water,the standard addition method(SAM) was applied to these measurements.A new concept which is called the ionic parachor has been put forward.The [C n mim] + cations were treated as a group of reference ions and the individual values of their ionic parachor were evaluated in terms of an extrathermodynamic assumption.Then,using the values of the ionic parachor of reference ions,the parachor,surface tension γ and refractive index n D of the ionic liquids investigated in this work were estimated.The estimated values correlate quite well with the corresponding experimental values.     

Relative hydrophobicity of equilibrium phases in biphasic systems (ionic liquid + water)

Partition coefficients for a series of dinitrophenylated (DNP) amino acids in biphasic systems composed of hydrophobic ionic liquids and water were experimentally determined. The ionic liquids used were three 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates, [C_nmim][BF₄], with alkyl chain substituents hexyl, octyl, and decyl. The liquid–liquid phase diagram for the system ([C₁₀mim][BF₄] + water) was experimentally determined. DNP amino acids distribute preferentially to the IL-rich phase and ([C₁₀mim][BF₄] + water) was found to be the system with the lowest partition coefficients for the solutes studied. The experimental partition coefficients decrease as the size of the alkyl side chain in the ionic liquids increases. The free energy of transfer of a methylene group between phases was calculated through the partition coefficients, which provides a measure of the relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases. It was found that the system ([C₁₀mim][BF₄] + water) presents a lower free energy (and thus a lower relative hydrophobicity) than the system ([C₈mim][BF₄] + water). In order to better understand this result, the micellar behavior of the three ionic liquids was studied. Electrical conductivities of several aqueous solutions of the ionic liquids were measured to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the degree of micelle ionization, α, of the three ionic liquids. From these two properties it was possible to obtain the free energy of micellization, ΔG_mic, for the ionic liquids.