Aggregation behavior of COOH-functionalized imidazolium-based surface active ionic liquids in aqueous solution

Self-assembly of choline-based surface-active ionic liquids and concentration-dependent enhancement in the enzymatic activity of cellulase in aqueous medium

The micellization of choline-based anionic surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs) having lauroyl sarcosinate [Sar]-, dodecylsulfate [DS]-, and deoxycholate [Doc]- as counter-ions was investigated in an aqueous medium. Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to investigate the net interactional energy (Enet), extent of non-covalent interactions, and band gap of the choline-based SAILs. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) along with various parameters related to the surface adsorption, counter-ion binding (β), and polarity of the cores of the micelles were deduced employing surface tension measurements, conductometric titrations and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. A dynamic light scattering (DLS) system equipped with zeta-potential measurement set-up and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) were used to predict the size, zeta-potential, and morphology, respectively, of the formed micelles. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard Gibb's free energy and standard enthalpy change of micellization were calculated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Upon comparing with sodium salt analogues, it was established that the micellization was predominantly governed by the extent of hydration of [Cho]+, the head groups of the respective anions, and the degree of counter-ion binding (β). Considering the concentration dependence of the enzyme-SAIL interactions, aqueous solutions of the synthesized SAILs at two different concentrations (below and above the cmc) were utilized as the medium for testing the enzymatic activity of cellulase. The activity of cellulase was found to be ∼7- to ∼13-fold higher compared to that observed in buffers in monomeric solutions of the SAILs and followed the order: [Cho][Sar] > [Cho][DS] > [Cho][Doc]. In the micellar solution, a ∼4- to 5-fold increase in enzymatic activity was observed.

Synthesis, Self-Aggregation, Surface Characteristics, Electrochemical Property, Micelle Size, and Antimicrobial Activity of a Halogen-Free Picoline-Based Surface-Active Ionic Liquid

We present a new approach toward the design of a halogen-free picoline-based surface-active ionic liquid (SAIL) (1-octyl-4-methyl pyridinium dodecyl sulfate) [C₈γPic]DS consisting of long dodecyl sulfate (DS) as an anion. The surface properties, micellization behavior, and antimicrobial activity in an aqueous solution were investigated using tensiometry, conductometry, and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. Incorporating the DS group in SAIL leads to lower critical micellar concentration (CMC) and enhanced adsorption at the air/water interface of the functionalized ionic liquid compared to the C₈-alkyl chain-substituted pyridine ionic liquids. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against a representative Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria panel. Antibacterial activities increased with the alkyl chain length, C₈ being the homologous most effective antimicrobial agent. The micelle size of [C₈γPic]DS was determined by the dynamic light-scattering (DLS) study. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements have been employed to evaluate the interaction between the SAIL micelle and working electrode, diffusion coefficient, and micelle size of the SAIL solution. The diffusion coefficient explored the correlation of surface properties and the antimicrobial activity of [C₈γPic]DS. This halogen-free SAIL is the future of wetting agents and emulsion studies in agriculture due to its small micelle size and surface characteristics.

The effect of anion on aggregation of amino acid ionic liquid: Atomistic simulation

Aggregation behavior of dodecyl betaine chloride [DB][Cl], as an amino acid ionic liquid, and dodecyl betaine N-acetyl glycinate [DB][AG], as a bio ionic liquid, in aqueous media was studied through molecular dynamics simulation. The aggregating was investigated by radial distribution function, coordination numbers, and hydrogen bond numbers. The results demonstrated the hydrogen bond between [DB]⁺ and [AG]^- that leads to aggregation. The number of hydrogen bonds of [DB][AG] is greater than [DB][Cl] and causes a decrease in the gradient of the mean square displacement, thereby the diffusion coefficient of cation, anion, and water in [DB][AG]. The results point to a stable aggregation of [DB][AG] which is in agreement with the results of root mean square deviations. The aggregation number for [DB][AG] is 50 and 44 for [DB][Cl]. Computing the radius of gyration and geometrical radius shows that the aggregation size is 23.0 Å and 26.4 Å for [DB][AG] and [DB][Cl], respectively. It was also observed that the shape of the aggregates is quasi-spherical that points to a sub-diffusive regime.

Ionic Liquid-Based Catanionic Coacervates: Novel Microreactors for Membrane-Free Sequestration of Dyes and Curcumin

Surfactant-mediated coacervates are termed as the new age microreactors for their ability to spontaneously sequester the molecules with varied polarities and functionalities. Efforts to emulate this applicability of coacervates through synthetic control of surfactant structures are finding success; however, there is little understanding of how to translate these changes into tailor-made properties. Herein, we designed 3-methyl-1-(octyloxycarbonylmethyl)imidazolium bromide (C₈EMeImBr), an ester-functionalized ionic liquid-based surfactant, which shows better surface active properties than the nonfunctionalized and conventional cationic surfactant and forms complex coacervates over the broad range of concentration with sodium salicylate (NaSal). Mono- and divalent cations as well as ionic strength, viscosity, and time-dependent stability of the coacervates had also been addressed in order to study whether these coacervates could work as microreactors to encapsulate various molecules. The anionic charged complex coacervates with sponge morphology and honey comb-like interior show good efficiency to sequester cationic dyes from water because of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions and good encapsulation efficiency for curcumin owing to their high surface area. Results suggest that ionic liquid-based coacervates studied here could be exploited as a novel low-cost, effective, and environmentally benign alternative to sequester dyes from the contaminated water and their recovery.

Thermo-Switchable de Novo Ionic Liquid-Based Gelators with Dye-Absorbing and Drug-Encapsulating Characteristics

An ionic liquid-based surfactant with ester functionality self-aggregates in an aqueous medium and forms ionogels at 8.80% (w/v) concentration at physiological pH. The ionogel exhibited a remarkable change in its appearance with temperature from fibrillar opaque to transparent because of the dynamic changes within its supramolecular structure. This gel-to-gel phase transition occurs below the melting point of the solid ionic liquid. The ionogels were investigated using turbidity, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission SEM (FE-SEM), inverted microscopy, transmission electron microscopy imaging, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and rheological measurements. The fibrillar opaque ionogel and transparent ionogel were studied for their ability to absorb dyes (methyl orange and crystal violet) and to encapsulate drugs (diclofenac sodium and imatinib mesylate).

Micellization and Antimicrobial Properties of Surface-Active Ionic Liquids Containing Cleavable Carbonate Linkages

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) containing cleavable carbonate linkages, 1-alkyloxycarbonyloxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorides with alkyl chains of 10, 12, and 14 carbon atoms, were synthesized, and their self-assembly behavior and antimicrobial activity were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy studies reveal that carbonate-functionalized ILs form stable thermotropic smectic liquid-crystalline phases over a wide range of temperature. The surface activity and aggregation behavior of these new ILs were investigated by tensiometry, conductometry, potentiometry, and spectrofluorimetry. The size of aggregates was examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Carbonate-functionalized ILs display a higher adsorption efficiency and a lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) than simple alkyl-chain-substituted ILs. The insertion of a carbonate ester moiety in the alkyl side chain favors adsorption at the air-water interface and micellization in the bulk solution when compared to nonfunctionalized ILs. DLS measurements show that small micellelike aggregates are spontaneously formed above the cmc. Furthermore, carbonate-functionalized ILs were examined for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically relevant microorganisms. Biological activity was found to increase with hydrophobicity. The presence of a carbonate ester moiety significantly enhances the antimicrobial efficiency as compared to nonfunctionalized ILs, with the susceptibility of Staphylococcus sp. toward the action of these compounds being particularly remarkable. It has been demonstrated that the functionalization of the alkyl side chain of the imidazolium salts can not only modify the aggregation behavior but also lead to differences in both efficiency and the spectrum of antimicrobial activity of amphiphilic ILs.

Catalytic Synthesis of a New Series of Alkyl Uronates and Evaluation of Their Physicochemical Properties

Large quantities (>3 g) of a new series of alkyl uronates were synthesized in two steps from commercial methyl hexopyranosides. Firstly, several tens of grams of free methyl α-d-glucopyranoside were selectively and quantitatively oxidized into corresponding sodium uronate using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO)-catalyzed oxidation. Hydrophobic chains of different length were then introduced by acid-mediated esterification with fatty alcohols (ethyl to lauryl alcohol) leading to the desired alkyl glucuronates with moderate to good yields (49%–72%). The methodology was successfully applied to methyl α-d-mannopyranoside and methyl β-d-galactopyranoside. Physicochemical properties, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), equilibrium surface tension at CMC (γ_cmc), solubility, and Krafft temperature were measured, and the effect of structural modifications on surface active properties and micelle formation was discussed.

Novel surface-active ionic liquids used as solubilizers for water-insoluble pesticides

Three surface active ionic liquids (ILs) containing organic anions but no halides were used as solubilizers for water insoluble pesticides and as well as alternates for similar ILs with halide anions, which have been increasingly popular in the agricultural practice. The solubilities of five pesticides (fluazifop-P, clethodim, pyrethrin, fosthiazate, and prochloraz) in three aqueous micellar systems, each containing 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium--tartrate ([OMIM][Tart]), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium-l-proline ([OMIM][Prol]), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium-l-lactate ([OMIM][lact]), respectively, were measured. The solubilities of all five pesticides were found to increase with the increasing concentrations of ILs solubilzers The enhancements in solubilities were related to surface activities of these SAILs, as indicated in the results of the measurements of their corresponding critical aggregation concentration (CAC), lowest surface tension (γcac), maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax) and minimum area per molecule (Amin) of aqueous solutions of ILs. When comparing with similar ILs with halides as counter anions, we found that these ILs with organic counterions are at least comparable, often more effective solubilizers for all of the five very different pesticides we tested. We conclude that these novel SAILs with organic counterions would serve as at least similarly effective and more environmentally-friendly solubilizers over the more traditional ones with halides.

Efficient and selective removal of dyes using imidazolium-based supramolecular gels

A supramolecular gel was constructed by using an imidazolium-based surfactant, N-cetyl-N'-carboxymethyl imidazolium bromide ([N-C16, N'-CO2H-Im]Br), in the DMSO/H2O binary solvent mixtures and investigated as an adsorbent for removing dyes from aqueous solution. The self-assembled gel displays a morphology of microplatelets stacked in bilayer units with interdigitated hydrocarbon tails, and the structure remains unchanged below the sol-gel transition temperature. The gel also exhibits a strong birefringence property and excellent mechanical strength. In particular, the gels show superior performance in removal of anionic dye molecules, for example, removing 80% of eosin Y within 10 min, The constructed gels also present excellent salinity tolerance, even when the concentration of NaCl is 1000 times higher than that of the dye, and can maintain their high efficiency after 25 cycles, indicative of their promise in water treatment.

Micellization behavior of morpholinium-based amide-functionalized ionic liquids in aqueous media

Morpholinium-based amide-functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) [C(n)AMorph][Br], where n = 8, 12, and 16, have been synthesized and characterized for their micellization behavior in aqueous medium using a variety of state of the art techniques. The adsorption and micellization behavior of [CnAMorph][Br] ILs at the air-solution interface and in the bulk, respectively, has been found to be much better compared to that observed for nonfunctionalized homologous ILs and conventional cationic surfactants, as shown by the comparatively higher adsorption efficiency, lower surface tension at the critical micelle concentraiton (γ(cmc)), and much lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) for [C(n)AMorph][Br] ILs. Conductivity measurements have been performed to obtain the cmc, degree of counterion binding (β), and standard free energy of micellization (ΔG(m)°). Isothermal titration calorimetry has provided information specifically about the thermodynamics of micellization, whereas steady-state fluorescence has been used to obtain the cmc, micropolarity of the cybotactic region, and aggregation number (N(agg)) of the micelles. Both dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy have provided insights into the size and shape of the micelles. 2D (1)H-(1)H nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy experiments have provided insights into the structure of the micelle, where [C16AMorph][Br] has shown distinct micellization behavior as compared to [C8AMorph][Br] and [C12AMorph][Br] in corroboration with observations made from other techniques.

Effect of cationic head group on micellization behavior of new amide-functionalized surface active ionic liquids

The functionalization of the alkyl chain with an amide group led to marked changes in the characteristic properties of micellization of different SAILs.

Ionic and Molecular Liquids: Working Together for Robust Engineering

Because of their outstanding versatility, room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are utilized in an ever increasing number of novel and fascinating applications, making them the Holy Grail of modern materials science. In this Perspective, we address the fundamental research and prospective applications of RTILs in combination with molecular liquids, concentrating on three significant areas: (1) the use of molecular liquids to decrease the viscosity of RTILs; (2) the role of RTIL micelle formation in water and organic solvents; and (3) the ability of RTILs to adsorb pollutant gases. Current achievements are examined, and future directions for the potential uses of RTILs are outlined.

Aggregation behavior and antimicrobial activity of ester-functionalized imidazolium- and pyridinium-based ionic liquids in aqueous solution

Two series of long chain imidazolium- and pyridinium-based ionic liquids containing an ester functional group in the alkyl side chain, 3-methyl-1-alkyloxycarbonylmethylimidazolium bromides (C(n)EMeImBr) and 1-alkyloxycarbonylmethylpyridinium bromides (C(n)EPyrBr), were synthesized and their thermal stability, aggregation behavior in aqueous medium, and antimicrobial activity investigated. The introduction of an ester group decreased the thermal stability of the functionalized ILs compared to simple alkyl chain containing ILs (1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromides and 1-alkylpyridinium bromides). Tensiometry, conductimetry, and spectrofluorimetry were applied to study the self-aggregation of the amphiphilic ILs in aqueous solution. The ILs investigated displayed surface activity and the characteristic chain length dependence of the micellization process of surfactants. As compared to simple alkyl chain containing ILs bearing the same hydrocarbon chain, ester-functionalized ILs possess higher adsorption efficiency (pC(20)) and significantly lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) and surface tension at the cmc (γ(cmc)), indicating that the incorporation of an ester group promotes adsorption at the air/water interface and micelle formation. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. ILs containing more than eight carbon atoms in the alkyl chain showed antimicrobial activity. Their efficiency as antimicrobial agents increased with the hydrophobicity of the amphiphilic cation being the C(12) homologous the most active compounds. The incorporation of an ester group particularly increased the biological activity against fungi.

Lewis molecular acidity of ionic liquids from empirical energy-density models

Two complementary models of Lewis molecular acidity are introduced and tested in a wide series of 45 room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL). They are defined in the context of the conceptual density functional theory. The first one, which we tentatively call the excess electronic chemical potential, assesses the electron accepting power of the RTIL by relating the H-bond donor acidity with the charge transfer associated to the acidic H-atom migration at the cation of the RTIL considered as a HB-donor species. This global index accounts for the molecular acidity of the cation moiety of the ionic liquid that takes into account the perturbation of the anionic partner. The second index is defined in terms of the local charge capacity modeled through the maximum electronic charge that the cation, in its valence state, may accept from an unspecified environment. Each model is compared with the experimental HB-donor acidity parameter of the Kamlet Taft model. The best comparison is obtained for a combination of both the excess electronic chemical potential and the local charge capacity. As expected, the correlations with the Kamlet Taft α parameter do not lead to a universal model of HB-donor acidity. Reduced correlations for limited series of structurally related RTIL are obtained instead. Finally, we illustrate the reliability and usefulness of the proposed model of RTIL molecular acidity to explain the cation-dependent solvent effects on the reactivity trends for cycloaddition, Kemp elimination, and Menschutkin reactions, for which experimental rate coefficients are available from literature.