Hexadecyl-Containing Organic Salts as Novel Organogelators for Ionic, Eutectic, and Molecular Liquids

The incorporation of a hexadecyl group on imidazolium, pyridinium, and pyrrolidinium scaffolds produces low-molecular-weight ionic organogelators that can gel several types of ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents (DESs), and several molecular organic solvents. Minimum gelator concentrations fall in the 0.9-15.0% (w/v) range, with the lower end of the gelator concentrations observed in the gelation of DESs. On the basis of polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray data, crystallization of these salts appear to produce high-surface-area crystals, which generate sufficiently stable three-dimensional networks that are capable of trapping the solvent molecules. Importantly, the nature of the fluid component of the gel appears to have a profound effect on the morphology of the crystallized organogelators. On the other hand, the organogelators appeared to modulate phase transitions of the liquids.

N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Materials Chemistry

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become one of the most widely studied class of ligands in molecular chemistry and have found applications in fields as varied as catalysis, the stabilization of reactive molecular fragments, and biochemistry. More recently, NHCs have found applications in materials chemistry and have allowed for the functionalization of surfaces, polymers, nanoparticles, and discrete, well-defined clusters. In this review, we provide an in-depth look at recent advances in the use of NHCs for the development of functional materials.

Anion-controlled supramolecular crystal structures and ionic liquids from fatty acid-substituted ethyl-nicotinate ionic compounds

A series of bio-inspired fatty acid-substituted ethyl-nicotinate ionic compounds with a flexible ester group were prepared, and two crystals and four ionic liquids were obtained.

Structural diversity, physicochemical properties and application of imidazolium surfactants: Recent advances

The current review covers recent advances on development and investigation of cationic surfactants containing imidazolium headgroup, which are being extensively investigated for their self-aggregation properties and are currently being utilized in various conventional and non-conventional application areas. These surfactants are being used as: soft template for synthesis of mesoporous/microporous materials, drug and gene delivery agent, stabilizing agent for nanoparticles, dispersants for single/multi walled carbon nanotubes, antimicrobial and antifungal agent, viscosity modifiers, preparing nanocomposite materials, stabilizing microemulsions, corrosion inhibitors and catalyst for organic reactions. Recently several structural derivatives of these surfactants have been developed having many interesting physicochemical properties and they have demonstrated enormous potential in the area of nanotechnology, material science and biomedical science.

Ionic Liquid Crystals: Versatile Materials

This Review covers the recent developments (2005-2015) in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals. It was designed to give a comprehensive overview of the "state-of-the-art" in the field. The discussion is focused on low molar mass and dendrimeric thermotropic ionic mesogens, as well as selected metal-containing compounds (metallomesogens), but some references to polymeric and/or lyotropic ionic liquid crystals and particularly to ionic liquids will also be provided. Although zwitterionic and mesoionic mesogens are also treated to some extent, emphasis will be directed toward liquid-crystalline materials consisting of organic cations and organic/inorganic anions that are not covalently bound but interact via electrostatic and other noncovalent interactions.