Ionic Liquids in Metal, Photo-, Electro-, and (Bio) Catalysis

Ionic liquids (ILs) have unique physicochemical properties that make them advantageous for catalysis, such as low vapor pressure, non-flammability, high thermal and chemical stabilities, and the ability to enhance the activity and stability of (bio)catalysts. ILs can improve the efficiency, selectivity, and sustainability of bio(transformations) by acting as activators of enzymes, selectively dissolving substrates and products, and reducing toxicity. They can also be recycled and reused multiple times without losing their effectiveness. ILs based on imidazolium cation are preferred for structural organization aspects, with a semiorganized layer surrounding the catalyst. ILs act as a container, providing a confined space that allows modulation of electronic and geometric effects, miscibility of reactants and products, and residence time of species. ILs can stabilize ionic and radical species and control the catalytic activity of dynamic processes. Supported IL phase (SILP) derivatives and polymeric ILs (PILs) are good options for molecular engineering of greener catalytic processes. The major factors governing metal, photo-, electro-, and biocatalysts in ILs are discussed in detail based on the vast literature available over the past two and a half decades. Catalytic reactions, ranging from hydrogenation and cross-coupling to oxidations, promoted by homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in both single and multiphase conditions, are extensively reviewed and discussed considering the knowledge accumulated until now.

Building-up host-guest helicate motifs and chains: a magneto-structural study of new field-induced cobalt-based single-ion magnets

In this work, we present the synthetic pathway, a refined structural description, complete solid-state characterization and the magnetic properties of four new cobalt(ii) compounds of formulas [Co(H₂O)₆][Co₂(H₂mpba)₃]·2H₂O·0.5dmso (1), [Co(H₂O)₆][Co₂(H₂mpba)₃]·3H₂O·0.5dpss (2), [Co₂(H₂mpba)₂(H₂O)₄]_n·4nH₂O (3), and [Co₂(H₂mpba)₂(CH₃OH)₂(H₂O)₂]_n·0.5nH₂O·2ndpss (4) [dpss = 2,2'-dipyridyldisulfide and H₄mpba = 1,3-phenylenebis(oxamic) acid], where 2 and 4 were obtained from [Co(dpss)Cl₂] (Pre-I) as the source of cobalt(ii). All four compounds are air-stable and were prepared under ambient conditions. 1 and 2 were obtained from a slow diffusion method [cobalt(ii) : H₂mpba^2- molar ratio used 1 : 1] and their structures are made up of [Co₂(H₂mpba)₃]^2- anionic helicate units and [Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations, exhibiting supramolecular three-dimensional structures. Interestingly, a supramolecular honeycomb network between the helicate units interacting with each other through R₂²(10) type hydrogen bonds occurs in 2 hosting one co-crystallized dpss molecule. On the other hand, for the first time, linear (3) and zigzag (4) cobalt(ii) chains were isolated by slow evaporation of stirred solutions of mixed solvents with cobalt(ii) : H₂mpba^2- in 1 : 2 molar ratio at room temperature. Magnetic measurements of Pre-I revealed a quasi magnetically isolated S = 3/2 spin state with a significant second-order spin-orbit contribution as expected for tetrahedrally coordinated cobalt(ii) ions. The analysis of the variable temperature static (dc) magnetic susceptibility data through first- (1 and 3) and second-order spin-orbit coupling models (2 and 4) reveals the presence of magnetically non-interacting high-spin cobalt(ii) ions with easy-axis (1 and 4)/easy-plane magnetic anisotropies (2 and 4) with low rhombic distortions. Dynamic (ac) magnetic measurements for Pre-I and 1-4 below 8.0 K show that they are examples of field-induced Single-Ion Magnets (SIMs).

Ferromagnetic coupling in a dicopper(ii) oxamate complex bridged by carboxylate groups

The self-assembly of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)oxamate ligands and copper(ii) ions result in a dinuclear copper complex bridged by carboxylate moieties of the oxamate ligands exhibiting a ferromagnetic coupling.

Dinuclear copper(ii) complexes containing oxamate and blocking ligands: crystal structure, magnetic properties, and DFT calculations

Dicopper(ii) complexes were prepared as promising platforms for the design of polynuclear systems providing an avenue toward new molecule-based materials.

Mononuclear lanthanide(iii)-oxamate complexes as new photoluminescent field-induced single-molecule magnets: solid-state photophysical and magnetic properties

Lanthanide(iii)-oxamate complexes can switch into Light Conversion Molecular Devices (LCMDs) or field-induced Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) depending on the external stimulus.

Structurally characterized dipalladium(ii)-oxamate metallacyclophanes as efficient catalysts for sustainable Heck and Suzuki reactions in ionic liquids

Dipalladium-oxamate metallacyclophanes were synthesised, structurally characterized and applied in carbon–carbon cross couplings in ionic liquids.

Intermolecular interactions in dictating the self-assembly of halogen derivatives of bis-(N-substituted oxamato)palladate(ii) complexes

The reaction of aqueous [PdCl₄]²⁻withN-4-Xphenyloxamate ligands (X = F, Cl, Br) afforded three non-isostructural compounds exhibiting intriguing diverse supramolecular assemblies driven by hydrogen bonds and/or halogen⋯halogen interactions.