Homoleptic Alkaline Earth Metal Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide Complex Compounds Obtained from an Ionic Liquid

Ready Access to Anhydrous Anionic Lanthanide Acetates by Using Imidazolium Acetate Ionic Liquids as the Reaction Medium

Access to lanthanide acetate coordination compounds is challenged by the tendency of lanthanides to coordinate water and the plethora of acetate coordination modes. A straightforward, reproducible synthetic procedure by treating lanthanide chloride hydrates with defined ratios of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2 mim][OAc]) has been developed. This reaction pathway leads to two isostructural crystalline anhydrous coordination complexes, the polymeric [C2 mim]n [{Ln2 (OAc)7 }n ] and the dimeric [C2 mim]2 [Ln2 (OAc)8 ], based on the ion size and the ratio of IL used. A reaction with an IL : Ln-salt ratio of 5 : 1, where Ln=Nd, Sm, and Gd, led exclusively to the polymer, whilst for the heaviest lanthanides (Dy-Lu) the dimer was observed. Reaction with Eu and Tb resulted in a mixture of both polymeric and dimeric forms. When the amount of IL and/or the size of the cation was increased, the reaction led to only the dimeric compound for all the lanthanide series. Crystallographic analyses of the resulting salts revealed three different types of metal-acetate coordination modes where η2 μκ2 is the most represented in both structure types.

Benchtop access to anhydrous actinide N-donor coordination complexes using ionic liquids

By dehydrating actinide salts with an ionic liquid containing a common anion and subsequent reaction with N-heterocyclic ligands, we challenge the concept that actinides prefer O- over N-donors; rather the acidic hydrogen atoms of protic solvents hinder the formation of more elusive f-element N-donor coordination complexes.

Synthesis, structural characterization and luminescence properties of 1-carboxymethyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride

A microcrystalline carboxyl-functionalized imidazolium chloride, namely 1-carboxymethyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride, C₇H₁₁N₂O₂⁺·Cl^-, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis (TGA/DSC), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In the crystal structure, cations and anions are linked by C-H...Cl and C-H...O hydrogen bonds to create a helix along the [010] direction. Adjacent helical chains are further interconnected through O-H...Cl and C-H...O hydrogen bonds to form a (10-1) layer. Finally, neighboring layers are joined together via C-H...Cl contacts to generate a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture. Thermal analyses reveal that the compound melts at 449.7 K and is stable up to 560.0 K under a dynamic air atmosphere. Photoluminescence measurements show that the compound exhibits a blue fluorescence and a green phosphorescence associated with spin-allowed (¹π←¹π*) and spin-forbidden (¹π←³π*) transitions, respectively. The average luminescence lifetime was determined to be 1.40 ns for the short-lived (¹π←¹π*) transition and 105 ms for the long-lived (¹π←³π*) transition.

Isolation of Uranyl Dicyanamide Complexes from N-Donor Ionic Liquids

An ionic liquid (IL) approach for soft-donor f-element chemistry has been demonstrated by the isolation of several new uranyl dicyanamide complexes through reactions of UO2(NO3)2·6H2O with dicyanamide ([N(CN)2](-))-containing ILs. The [N(CN)2](-) ions are able to rapidly substitute uranium's O-donor ligands, as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on two anhydrous adducts of UO2(NO3)2 with [N(CN)2](-) ILs as well as by IR and NMR spectroscopic studies on solutions of UO2(NO3)2 in these ILs. By contrast, the slow reaction of UO2(OAc)2·2H2O with a nitrile-functionalized imidazolium dicyanamide IL in solvent and the reaction of UO2(NO3)2·6H2O with NaN(CN)2 at elevated temperature resulted in irreversible hydrolysis. The reaction of UO2SO4 with [N(CN)2](-) ions in an acidified aqueous solution resulted in the crystallization of a [UO2](2+) complex with biuret, a N(CN)2](-) hydrolysis product. [N(CN)2](-) ions in the form of ILs react rapidly with [UO2](2+) at room temperature, allowing ligand substitution with [N(CN)2](-) to out-compete the slower hydrolysis reaction, enabling the isolation of uranyl dicyanamide complexes and challenging assumptions regarding the affinity of uranium for O-donors.

Elucidation of inorganic reaction mechanisms in ionic liquids: the important role of solvent donor and acceptor properties

In this article, we focus on the important role of solvent donor and acceptor properties of ionic liquids in the elucidation of inorganic reaction mechanisms. For this purpose, mechanistic and structural studies on typical inorganic reactions, performed in ionic liquids, have been conducted. The presented systems range from simple complex-formation and ligand-substitution reactions to the activation of small molecules by catalytically active complexes. The data obtained for the reactions in ionic liquids are compared with those for the same reactions carried out in conventional solvents, and are discussed with respect to the donor and acceptor properties of the applied ionic liquids. The intention of this perspective is to gain more insight into the role of ILs as solvents and their interaction with metal ions and complexes in solution.

Novel luminescent soft materials of terpyridine-containing ionic liquids and europium(III)

Herein, we describe novel luminescent soft materials via reaction of Eu(3+)-coordinated carboxyl functionalized ionic liquids with terpyridine-functionalized imidazolium salts that are built from an imidazolium ring substituted on one side with a terpyridine derivative and, on the opposite side, a paraffin chain of various lengths. The obtained materials are either pastelike substances or viscous fluids, depending on the anions of the carboxyl functionalized ionic liquids. The soft luminescent materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), and luminescence spectroscopy. The soft materials show bright red emission irradiated with UV light, because of the energy transfer from terpyridine-functionalized imidazolium salts to the Eu(3+) ions. The absolute quantum yields of the materials were determined and the energy transfer efficiency was estimated according to the reported method.

Ionic liquids: new perspectives for inorganic synthesis?

Ionic liquids are credited with a number of unusual properties. These include a low vapor pressure, a wide liquid-phase range, weakly coordinating properties, and a high thermal/chemical stability. These properties are certainly of great interest for inorganic synthesis and the creation of novel inorganic compounds. On the other hand, the synthesis repertoire for preparing inorganic compounds has always been broad, ranging from syntheses in solutions and melts to solid-state reactions, and from crystal growth in the gas phase to high-pressure syntheses. What new aspects can ionic liquids then add to the synthesis of inorganic compounds? This Minireview uses some early examples to show that the use of ionic liquids indeed provides access to unusual inorganic compounds.