The Buoy Effect: Surface Enrichment of a Pt Complex in IL Solution by Ligand Design

A Surface-Active Pt(II) Bis-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Complex for Interface-Enhanced Supported Ionic Liquid Phase (SILP) Catalysis

We present the preparation and investigation of a fluorine-free surface-active bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) platinum(II) complex - trans-[Pt(mPEG3C8Im)2Cl2] - for interface-enhanced supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalysis within a group of (mPEGn)-substituted ionic liquids (ILs) ([(mPEGn)2Im][A] ILs). The complex was characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (scXRD) analysis and multinuclear (1H, 13C, 195Pt) NMR spectroscopy, indicating the presence of two almost equimolar syn-anti-rotamers of the square-planar complex in solution. Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) revealed pronounced interface-accumulation of trans-[Pt(mPEG3C8Im)2Cl2] in IL solutions of [(mPEG2)2Im][A] (A-=I- and PF6 -).

Unlocking the Fluorine-Free Buoy Effect: Surface-Enriched Ruthenium Polypyridine Complexes in Ionic Liquids

Controlling the local concentration of metal complexes at the surface of ionic liquids (ILs) is a highly sought-after objective due to its pivotal implications in supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalysis. Equally important is to avoid per- and polyfluorinated substances due to environmental concerns. Herein, we investigate the surface enrichment of Ru polypyridyl complexes with fluorine-free alkylic side groups of varying lengths and shapes, using the hydrophilic IL [C2C1Im][OAc] as solvent. Additional charged carboxylate groups are included into the polypyridyl ligands to increase the solubility of the complex in the IL. When the ligand system is functionalized with long and hydrophobic alkyl side chains, the complex predominantly localizes at the IL/vacuum interface, as deduced from angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Conversely, in the presence of short or more bulky substituents, no surface enrichment is observed. This buoy-like behaviour with fluorine-free side groups is explored for 0.05 %mol to 1 %mol solutions. Intriguingly, surface saturation occurs at approximately 0.5 %mol, which is beneficial to the efficient operation of catalytic systems featuring high surface areas, such as SILP catalysts.

Evolution of Surface Tension and Hansen Parameters of a Homologous Series of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids

In this study, we systematically analyze the surface tension and Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) with different anions ([NTf2]-, [PF6]-, [I]-, and [Br]-). These anions are combined with the classical 1-alkyl-3-methyl-substituted imidazolium cations ([CnC1Im]+) and a group of oligoether-functionalized imidazolium cations ([(mPEGn)2Im]+) based on methylated polyethylene glycol (mPEGn). In detail, the influences of the length of the alkyl- and the mPEGn-chain, the anion size, and the water content are investigated experimentally. For [CnC1Im]+-based ILs, the surface tension decreases with increasing alkyl chain length in all cases, but the magnitude of this decrease depends on the size of the anion ([NTf2]- < [PF6]- < [Br]- ≤ [I]-). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on [CnC1Im]+-based ILs indicate that these differences are caused by the interplay of charged and uncharged domains, in particular in the different anions, which affects the ability of the alkyl chains of the cation to orient toward the liquid-gas interface. An increase in the mPEGn-chain length of the [(mPEGn)2Im][A] ILs does not significantly influence the surface tension. These changes upon variation of the cation/anion combination do not correlate with the evolution of the HSPs for the two sets of ILs. Finally, our data suggest that significant water contents up to water mole fractions of x(H2O) = 0.25 do not significantly affect the surface tension of the studied binary IL-water mixtures.

Exploring the interfacial behavior of ruthenium complexes in ionic liquids: implications for supported ionic liquid phase catalysts

The interaction of metal complexes with ionic liquids, with a particular focus on the stability and surface concentration of the metal centers, is crucial in applications involving catalysts based on supported ionic liquids. In this study, we synthesized the complexes [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl][PF6] and [Ru(tpy)(dcb)Cl][PF6] (tpy = 2,2',2''-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dcb = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) and we prepared solutions using the ionic liquids (ILs) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [C2C1Im][OAc] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C4C1Im][PF6]. The chemical environment of the Ru(II) metal center and the interfacial behavior of the complexes in the different IL solutions were determined using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS). In [C4C1Im][PF6], [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl][PF6] maintains its chemical structure, while in [C2C1Im][OAc], partial changes in the chemical environment of the Ru center are indicated by XPS, likely due to ligand exchange. The presence of carboxylic acid functional groups in the bipyridyl ligand seems to inhibit this ligand exchange. The investigated complexes do not exhibit surface activity but are depleted from the IL/gas interface. These findings hold significance for the design of new supported ionic liquid phase catalysts based on Ru complexes.

Understanding the Buoy Effect of Surface-Enriched Pt Complexes in Ionic Liquids: A Combined ARXPS and Pendant Drop Study

Recently, we demonstrated that Pt catalyst complexes dissolved in the ionic liquid (IL) [C4 C1 Im][PF6 ] can be deliberately enriched at the IL surface by introducing perfluorinated substituents, which act like buoys dragging the metal complex towards the surface. Herein, we extend our previous angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) studies at complex concentrations between 30 and 5 %mol down to 1 %mol and present complementary surface tension pendant drop (PD) measurements under ultraclean vacuum conditions. This combination allows for connecting the microscopic information on the IL/gas interface derived from ARXPS with the macroscopic property surface tension. The surface enrichment of the Pt complexes is found to be most pronounced at 1 %mol . It also displays a strong temperature dependence, which was not observed for 5 %mol and above, where the surface is already saturated with the complex. The surface enrichment deduced from ARXPS is also reflected by the pronounced decrease in surface tension with increasing concentration of the catalyst. We furthermore observe by ARXPS and PD a much stronger surface affinity of the buoy-complex as compared to the free ligands in solution. Our results are highly interesting for an optimum design of IL-based catalyst systems with large contact areas to the surrounding reactant/product phase, such as in supported IL phase (SILP) catalysis.