Thermodynamics of imidazolium based ionic liquids with cyano containing anions

Thermochemistry in the twenty-first century–quo vadis? In silico assisted diagnostics of available thermochemical data

Which comes first, experiment or theory? The answer is obvious—the experiment comes first. But how to be sure that the result of the experiment is reliable? Perhaps the crucial criterion is that the result should be consistent with the network of knowledge already available. In this study, we propose a step-by-step algorithm for quality diagnostics of thermochemical data on enthalpies of formation and enthalpies of phase transitions of organic compounds. The consistency of the data is studied and established using empirical structure–property correlations as well as using quantum chemical calculations. The diagnostic algorithm is exemplarily demonstrated on a series of alkyl-substituted benzophenones for which conflicting thermochemical data were available.

Imidazolium Based Ionic Liquids: Unbiased Recovering of Vaporization Enthalpies from Infinite-Dilution Activity Coefficients

We propose and test an efficient approach for the assessment of the enthalpies of vaporization of ionic liquids at the reference temperature 298.15 K. The approach is based on activity coefficients at infinite dilution of volatile organic solutes in ionic liquids bearing the imidazolium cation of the general formula [C_nmim][Anion].

Determination of the dispersion forces in the gas phase structures of ionic liquids using exclusively thermodynamic methods

Ionic liquids are described by a delicate balance of Coulomb interaction, hydrogen bonding and dispersion forces. Dissecting the different types of interactions from thermodynamic properties is still a challenge. Here, we show that comparison of vaporization enthalpies of tetra-alkyl-ammonium ionic liquids with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [NTf₂]^- anions and the related molecular liquids, trialkylamines, allows for determining dispersion interactions in the gas phase ion-pairs. For this purpose, we measured vapor pressures and vaporization enthalpies of these ionic and molecular liquids by using a quartz-crystal microbalance. For supporting these data, we determined the vaporization enthalpies additionally from experimental activity coefficients at infinite dilution. Characteristic alkyl chain length dependences of the vaporization enthalpies have been established and were used for quantifying the dispersion forces in the gas phase species. The dissected dispersion contributions suggest that the alkyl chains do not show star-like topologies but embrace the anion maximizing the dispersion interactions. For the longest alkyl chains with eight carbon atoms, the dispersion interaction is as strong as two and a half hydrogen bonds. The proportion of dispersion in the gas phase species depending on the number of methylene groups in the ammonium cations is strongly supported by quantum chemical calculations.

In the footsteps of August Michaelis: Syntheses and Thermodynamics of Extremely Low-Volatile Ionic Liquids

A series of nine different known ionic liquids or low melting salts was synthesised and purified. They are composed of the [NTf2 ]- (bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide), [OTf]- (trifluoro-methane-sulfonate), or [B(CN)4 ]- (tetracyanidoborate) anion and [Ph4 P]+ (tetraphenylphosphonium), [Ph3 BzP]+ (triphenylbenzyl phosphonium), [n Bu4 P]+ (tetra-n butylphosphonium), [n BuPh3 P]+ (tri-phenyl-n butylphosphonium), [n Bu4 N]+ (tetra-n butylammonium), or the [PPN]+ (bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium) cation. Precise vapour pressure data and enthalpies of vaporisation were measured using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) method and evaluated. Structure-property relations are established using the obtained data as well as literature known data of ILs with alkyl-substituted imidazolium cations. It turns out that ILs with the tetracyanidoborate anion have even higher values of the enthalpy of vaporisation than those with the common [NTf2 ]- or [OTf]- anion and therefore are even less volatile.