Brønsted acid ionic liquid as a solvent-conserving catalyst for organic reactions

Detoxification of ionic liquids using glutathione, cysteine, and NADH: Toxicity evaluation by Tetrahymena pyriformis

Ionic liquids (ILs), also known as green solvents, are widely acknowledged in several fields, such as chemical separation, synthesis, and electrochemistry, owing to their excellent physiochemical properties. However, their poor biodegradability may lead to environmental and health risks, posing a severe threat to humans, thus requiring further research. In this study, the biotoxicities of the imidazolium-based ILs were evaluated in Tetrahymena pyriformis. Moreover, IL detoxification was investigated by addition of glutathione (GSH), cysteine, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiated by different IL types caused damage to Tetrahymena, while glutathione, cysteine, and NADH eliminated ROS, achieving the detoxification purposes. Detoxification results showed that NADH exhibited the best detoxification ability, followed by glutathione and cysteine. Finally, RT-PCR results suggested that metallothionein might have participated in IL detoxification.

Sulfenylation of Arenes with Ethyl Arylsulfinates in Water

A tetrabutylammonium iodide-mediated direct sulfenylation of arenes with ethyl arylsulfinates in water was developed. Various electron-rich arenes and ethyl arylsulfinates were investigated in the reaction, and a series of aryl sulfides were obtained in excellent yields. The advantages of this green protocol were simple reaction conditions (metal-free, water as the solvent, and under air), odorless and easily available sulfur reagent, broad substrate scope, and gram-scale synthesis. Moreover, the potential application of aryl sulfides was exemplified by further transformations.

Choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents for efficient cycloaddition of CO2 with propylene oxide

Choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) exhibited remarkable activity in the cycloaddition of CO₂ with propylene oxide (PO) in the absence of any additives under solvent- and metal-free conditions as well as recyclability.

Catalytic Ionic-Liquid Membranes: The Convergence of Ionic-Liquid Catalysis and Ionic-Liquid Membrane Separation Technologies

Membrane technologies enable the facile separation of complex mixtures of gases, vapours, liquids and/or solids under mild conditions. Simultaneous chemical transformations can also be achieved in membranes by using catalytically active membrane materials or embedded catalysts, in so-called membrane reactors. A particular class of membranes containing or composed of ionic liquids (ILs) or polymeric ionic liquids (pILs) have recently emerged. These membranes often exhibit superior transport and separation properties to those of classical polymeric membranes. ILs and pILs have also been extensively studied as separation solvents, catalysts and co-catalysts in similar applications for which membranes are employed. In this review, after introducing ILs and their applications in catalysis, catalytic membranes and recent advances in membrane separation processes based on ILs are described. Finally, the nascent concept of catalytic IL membranes is highlighted, in which catalytically active ILs/pILs are incorporated into membrane technologies to act as a catalytic separation layer.

Recent advances in the application of deep eutectic solvents as sustainable media as well as catalysts in organic reactions

This review highlights the recent advances using deep eutectic solvents (DESs), deep eutectic ionic liquids (DEILs), low-melting mixtures (LMMs) or low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs) as green media as well as catalysts in organic reactions.