Analysis of the Cybotactic Region of Two Renewable Lactone-Water Mixed-Solvent Systems that Exhibit Synergistic Kamlet-Taft Basicity

Solvatochromism in some cosolvent mixtures of sulfolane and aliphatic alcohols: a tool to predict preferential solvation

The phenomenon of solvatochromism for three indicator solutes, namely para-nitroaniline, N,N-dimethyl-p-nitroaniline, and the betaine dye 4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium-1-yl)-2,6-diphenylphenolate, was studied at 303.15 ± 0.1 K by means of UV–vis absorption measurements. The spectral shifts of these dyes in different mole fractions (0.0–1.0) of binary mixtures of sulfolane with eight alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, iso-butanol, tert-butanol) were analyzed to investigate preferential solvation of them in terms of both the solute–solvent and the solvent–solvent interactions. A modified theoretical model (solvent exchange model) was successfully employed to calculate preferential solvation parameters and to obtain information into the contribution of intermolecular interactions to the local and bulk mole fraction distribution of solvation species. It was found that the solvation shell of the dyes is mainly affected by the solvent–solvent interactions, and in all binary mixtures, the studied solvation behavior was non-ideal.

Preferential solvation of p-nitroaniline in a binary mixture of chloroform and hydrogen bond acceptor solvents: the role of specific solute-solvent hydrogen bonding

Preferential solvation of solvatochromic probe p-nitroaniline (PNA) has been studied in binary mixtures of chloroform with different hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) solvents using the spectroscopic transition energy (E_T). Analyses of the solvatochromic shifts of the absorption spectra of PNA in different neat solvents as a function of the solvent polarity parameters reveal the major contribution from the solvent dipolarity/polarizability and HBA basicity in the solvation of PNA. The event of preferential solvation in the chloroform-HBA binary mixtures and the preference of one solvent above the other in the solvation shell have been attributed to the hydrogen bond donor and acceptor ability of the solvent mixtures. HBA solvents form a strong hydrogen bond with the amino group while chloroform forms a hydrogen bond with the nitro group of PNA. This specific functional group recognition increases the local concentration at specific sites resulting in location specific preferential solvation and synergistic preferential solvation. Solvents with comparable polarity have been found to show significant synergistic behavior as a result of the formation of stronger solvent-solvent hydrogen bonded S₁-S₂ species. These propositions were found to be supported by theoretical solvation models, calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, the effect of deuterated solvent on the extent of PS, and ¹H NMR spectral analyses.

Quantitative production of butenes from biomass-derived γ-valerolactone catalysed by hetero-atomic MFI zeolite

The efficient production of light olefins from renewable biomass is a vital and challenging target to achieve future sustainable chemical processes. Here we report a hetero-atomic MFI-type zeolite (NbAlS-1), over which aqueous solutions of γ-valerolactone (GVL), obtained from biomass-derived carbohydrates, can be quantitatively converted into butenes with a yield of >99% at ambient pressure under continuous flow conditions. NbAlS-1 incorporates simultaneously niobium(V) and aluminium(III) centres into the framework and thus has a desirable distribution of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites with optimal strength. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy show that there is cooperativity between Nb(V) and the Brønsted acid sites on the confined adsorption of GVL, whereas the catalytic mechanism for the conversion of the confined GVL into butenes is revealed by in situ inelastic neutron scattering, coupled with modelling. This study offers a prospect for the sustainable production of butene as a platform chemical for the manufacture of renewable materials.

Correspondence between Spectral-Derived and Viscosity-Derived Local Composition in Binary Liquid Mixtures Having Specific Interactions with Preferential Solvation Theory

Local interactions between unlike molecules (1-2) in solution are commonly measured with spectroscopy and used to estimate local composition. Herein, a viscosity model based on preferential solvation (PS) theory is developed for aqueous and nonaqueous binary liquid mixtures containing a dipolar aprotic solvent that provides local composition considering the hydration or solvation shell around complex (1-2) molecules. Spectral-derived and viscosity-derived local composition distributions showed similar trends with bulk composition, and their correspondence is attributed to characteristics of the hydration or solvation shell. Viscosity-derived local compositions were consistent with literature molecular simulations, whereas spectral-derived local composition distributions contained artifacts. The PS viscosity model is also applicable to nonpolar-polar mixtures for which self-association occurs, and it can be used to estimate solvent mixture dipolarity/polarizability. Since the PS viscosity model only requires bulk viscosity, it may provide a means to estimate microviscosity or the solvent environment around biomolecules.

Conversion of Sugars and Biomass to Furans Using Heterogeneous Catalysts in Biphasic Solvent Systems

Within the last decade, interest in using biphasic systems for producing furans from biomass has grown significantly. Biphasic systems continuously extract furans into the organic phase, which prevents degradation reactions and potentially allows for easier separations of the products. Several heterogeneous catalyst types, including zeolites, ion exchange resins, niobium-based, and others, have been used with various organic solvents to increase furan yields from sugar dehydration reactions. In this minireview, we summarized the use of heterogeneous catalysts in biphasic systems for furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from the past five years, highlighting trends in chemical and physical properties that effect catalytic activity. Additionally, the selection of an organic solvent for a biphasic system is extremely important and we review and discuss properties of the most commonly used organic solvents.

Performances of Several Solvents on the Cleavage of Inter- and Intramolecular Linkages of Lignin in Corncob Residue

The performances of solvents, including γ-butyrolactone (GBL), γ-valerolactone (GVL), tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethyl acetate (EAC), 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF), and the corresponding mixtures with H₂ O, on the cleavage of inter- and intramolecular linkages of lignin in corncob residue were investigated. At 200 °C, miscible cosolvents (H₂ O-GBL, H₂ O-GVL, and H₂ O-THF) exhibited much better efficiency for lignin dissolution than that of both immiscible cosolvents (H₂ O-EAC and H₂ O-2-MeTHF) and pure solvents. The synergetic effect between H₂ O and organic solvent significantly promoted the breakage of intermolecular linkages between C6-O-H of amorphous cellulose and lignin. GBL and THF solvents preferentially dissolved lignin with H and G units, whereas GVL, EAC, and 2-MeTHF solvents exhibited high selectivity for the dissolution of lignin with S and G units. In addition to dissolution, the intramolecular β-O-4 linkage in lignin could be selectively cleaved in H₂ O-GBL cosolvent, whereas the β-O-4, α-O-4, and β-5 linkages were cleaved in H₂ O-EAC, H₂ O-THF, and H₂ O-2-MeTHF cosolvents. At 300 °C, the breakage of the β-γ bond prior to β-O-4 in H₂ O-GBL, H₂ O-THF, H₂ O-EAC, and H₂ O-2-MeTHF produced 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol selectively (accounting for ≈70 % of the total identified monophenols), whereas the α-1 bond was preferably broken in H₂ O-GVL to form guaiacol (accounting for ≈75 % of the total identified monophenols).

The physicochemical properties of a room-temperature liquidus binary ionic liquid mixture of [HNMP][CH3SO3]/[Bmim]Cl and its application for fructose conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Via heating first and then cooling, binary ionic liquid (IL) mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidonium methylsulfonate ([HNMP][CH₃SO₃]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) could form a liquid at room temperature. The glass-transition temperature (T_g) characterized by DSC depends on its composition with T_g being as low as −63 °C. The physicochemical properties of the binary IL mixtures also vary with the composition. With the increase of the mole fraction of [Bmim]Cl, the hydrogen-bond accepting ability (β) of the binary IL mixture increases, but the hydrogen-bond donating ability (α) deceases. In this binary IL mixture, fructose could be effectively converted into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) at room temperature. The HMF yields at a given time are found to be well correlated with the physicochemical properties of the binary mixture, especially the α and β values. Under specified conditions, the present IL mixture as medium for fructose dehydration into HMF is comparable to the medium formed by ILs and alcohol, where the alcohols have negative effect on the HMF formation.

A liquidus mixture of [HNMP][CH₃SO₃]/[Bmim]Cl has been characterized and tried as medium for room-temperature conversion of fructose into HMF.

WtF-Nano: One-Pot Dewatering and Water-Free Topochemical Modification of Nanocellulose in Ionic Liquids or γ-Valerolactone

Ionic liquids are used to dewater a suspension of birch Kraft pulp cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and as a medium for water-free topochemical modification of the nanocellulose (a process denoted as "WtF-Nano"). Acetylation was applied as a model reaction to investigate the degree of modification and scope of effective ionic liquid structures. Little difference in reactivity was observed when water was removed, after introduction of an ionic liquid or molecular co-solvent. However, the viscoelastic properties of the CNF suspended in two ionic liquids show that the more basic, but non-dissolving ionic liquid, allows for better solvation of the CNF. Vibrio fischeri bacterial tests show that all ionic liquids in this study were harmless. Scanning electron microscopy and wide-angle X-ray scattering on regenerated samples show that the acetylated CNF is still in a fibrillar form. 1 D and 2 D NMR analyses, after direct dissolution in a novel ionic liquid electrolyte solution, indicate that both cellulose and residual xylan on the surface of the nanofibrils reacts to give acetate esters.