Self-associated, "distillable" ionic media

Silver-Catalyzed Carbon Dioxide Fixation on Alkynylindoles

A silver-catalyzed carbon dioxide fixation reaction into 2-alkynylindole derivatives was developed to afford tricyclic indoles. Carbon dioxide was selectively fixed on the N atom of the indole, and only 6-endo-dig cyclization proceeded under mild reaction conditions. Carboxylation on C3 of the indole was not observed. This method was applicable for a variety of 2-alkynylindoles, and the corresponding products were obtained in high yields without the production of side products.

The green solvent: a critical perspective

Solvents are important in most industrial and domestic applications. The impact of solvent losses and emissions drives efforts to minimise them or to avoid them completely. Since the 1990s, this has become a major focus of green chemistry, giving rise to the idea of the 'green' solvent. This concept has generated a substantial chemical literature and has led to the development of so-called neoteric solvents. A critical overview of published material establishes that few new materials have yet found widespread use as solvents. The search for less-impacting solvents is inefficient if carried out without due regard, even at the research stage, to the particular circumstances under which solvents are to be used on the industrial scale. Wider sustainability questions, particularly the use of non-fossil sources of organic carbon in solvent manufacture, are more important than intrinsic 'greenness'. While solvency is universal, a universal solvent, an alkahest, is an unattainable ideal.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10098-021-02188-8.

Stereoselective amination via vinyl-silver intermediates derived from silver-catalyzed carboxylative cyclization of propargylamine

The stereoselective synthesis of aminovinyloxazolidinones based on the electrophilic amination of a vinyl-silver intermediate, generated by silver-catalyzed carbon dioxide incorporation on a propargylamine, was achieved.

Purification of the Recombinant Green Fluorescent Protein Using Aqueous Two-Phase System Composed of Recyclable CO2-Based Alkyl Carbamate Ionic Liquid

The formation of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) with the environmentally friendly and recyclable ionic liquid has been gaining popularity in the field of protein separation. In this study, the ATPSs comprising N,N-dimethylammonium N′,N′-dimethylcarbamate (DIMCARB) and thermo-responsive poly(propylene) glycol (PPG) were applied for the recovery of recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) derived from Escherichia coli. The partition behavior of GFP in the PPG + DIMCARB + water system was investigated systematically by varying the molecular weight of PPG and the total composition of ATPS. Overall, GFP was found to be preferentially partitioned to the hydrophilic DIMCARB-rich phase. An ATPS composed of 42% (w/w) PPG 1000 and 4.4% (w/w) DIMCARB gave the optimum performance in terms of GFP selectivity (1,237) and yield (98.8%). The optimal system was also successfully scaled up by 50 times without compromising the purification performance. The bottom phase containing GFP was subjected to rotary evaporation of DIMCARB. The stability of GFP was not affected by the distillation of DIMCARB, and the DIMCARB was successfully recycled in three successive rounds of GFP purification. The potential of PPG + DIMCARB + water system as a sustainable protein purification tool is promising.

Recovery and purification of ionic liquids from solutions: a review

With low melting point, extremely low vapor pressure and non-flammability, ionic liquids have been attracting much attention from academic and industrial fields. Great efforts have been made to facilitate their applications in catalytic processes, extraction, desulfurization, gas separation, hydrogenation, electronic manufacturing, etc. To reduce the cost and environmental effects, different technologies have been proposed to recover the ionic liquids from different solutions after their application. This review is mainly focused on the recent advances of the recovery and purification of ionic liquids from solutions. Several methods for recovery of ionic liquids including distillation, extraction, adsorption, membrane separation, aqueous two-phase extraction, crystallization and external force field separation, are introduced and discussed systematically. Some industrial applications of ionic liquid recovery and purification methods are selected for discussion. Additionally, considerations on the combined design of different methods and process optimization have also been touched on to provide potential insights for future development of ionic liquid recovery and purification.

Theoretical and Experimental Insights into the Dissociation of 2-Hydroxyethylhydrazinium Nitrate Clusters Formed via Electrospray

Ionic liquids are used for myriad applications, including as catalysts, solvents, and propellants. Specifically, 2-hydroxyethylhydrazinium nitrate (HEHN) has been developed as a chemical propellant for space applications. The gas-phase behavior of HEHN ions and clusters is important in understanding its potential as an electrospray thruster propellant. Here, the unimolecular dissociation pathways of two clusters are experimentally observed, and theoretical modeling of hydrogen bonding and dissociation pathways is used to help rationalize those observations. The cation/deprotonated cation cluster [HEH₂ - H]⁺, which is observed from electrospray ionization, is calculated to be considerably more stable than the complementary cation/protonated anion adduct, [HEH + HNO₃]⁺, which is not observed experimentally. Upon collisional activation, a larger cluster [(HEHN)₂HEH]⁺ undergoes dissociation via loss of nitric acid at lower collision energies, as predicted theoretically. At higher collision energies, additional primary and secondary loss pathways open, including deprotonated cation loss, ion-pair loss, and double-nitric-acid loss. Taken together, these experimental and theoretical results contribute to a foundational understanding of the dissociation of protic ionic liquid clusters in the gas phase.

Quantitative Determination of Alkaloids in Lotus Flower (Flower Buds of Nelumbo nucifera) and Their Melanogenesis Inhibitory Activity

A quantitative analytical method for five aporphine alkaloids, nuciferine (1), nornuciferine (2), N-methylasimilobine (3), asimilobine (4), and pronuciferine (5), and five benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, armepavine (6), norarmepavine (7), N-methylcoclaurine (8), coclaurine (9), and norjuziphine (10), identified as the constituents responsible for the melanogenesis inhibitory activity of the extracts of lotus flowers (the flower buds of Nelumbo nucifera), has been developed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The optimum conditions for separation and detection of these 10 alkaloids were achieved on a πNAP column, a reversed-phase column with naphthylethyl group-bonded silica packing material, with CH₃CN–0.2% aqueous acetic acid as the mobile phase and using mass spectrometry equipped with a positive-mode electrospray ionization source. According to the protocol established, distributions of these 10 alkaloids in the petal, receptacle, and stamen parts, which were separated from the whole flower, were examined. As expected, excellent correlations were observed between the total alkaloid content and melanogenesis inhibitory activity. Among the active alkaloids, nornuciferine (2) was found to give a carbamate salt (2′′) via formation of an unstable carbamic acid (2′) by absorption of carbon dioxide from the air.

Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 at Metal Electrodes in a Distillable Ionic Liquid

The electroreduction of CO2 in the distillable ionic liquid dimethylammonium dimethylcarbamate (dimcarb) has been investigated with 17 metal electrodes. Analysis of the electrolysis products reveals that aluminum, bismuth, lead, copper, nickel, palladium, platinum, iron, molybdenum, titanium and zirconium electroreduce the available protons in dimcarb to hydrogen rather than reducing CO2 . Conversely, indium, tin, zinc, silver and gold are able to catalyze the reduction of CO2 to predominantly carbon monoxide (CO) and to a lesser extent, formate ([HCOO](-) ). In all cases, the applied potential was found to have a minimal influence on the distribution of the reduction products. Overall, indium was found to be the best electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction in dimcarb, with faradaic efficiencies of approximately 45 % and 40 % for the generation of CO and [HCOO](-) , respectively, at a potential of -1.34 V versus Cc(+/0) (Cc(+) =cobaltocenium) employing a dimethylamine to CO2 ratio of less than 1.8:1.

Sustainable Chemistry: Reversible reaction of CO2 with amines

The reaction of primary and secondary amines with CO2 has been successfully leveraged to develop sustainable processes. In this article, we review specific examples that use the reversible reaction of CO2 with amines to synergistically enhance reaction and recovery of the products. The three cases of interest highlighted herein are: (i) reversible protection of amines, (ii) reversible ionic liquids for CO2 capture and chemical transformations, and (iii) reversible gels of ethylene diamine. These examples demonstrate that the reversible reaction of amines with CO2 is one of the tools in the sustainable technology’s toolbox.

Silver(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of β-Oxopropylcarbamates from Propargylic Alcohols and CO2 Surrogate: A Gas-Free Process

The utilization of carbon dioxide poses major challenges owing to its high thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness. To circumvent these problems, a simple reaction system is reported comprising ammonium carbamates as carbon dioxide surrogates, propargylic alcohols, and a silver(I) catalyst, for the effective conversion of a wide range of alcohols and secondary amines into the corresponding β-oxopropylcarbamates. A key feature of this strategy includes quantitative use of a carbon resource with high product yields under gas-free and mild reaction conditions. Notably, this catalytic protocol also works well for the carboxylative cyclization of propargylic amines and carbon dioxide surrogates to afford 2-oxazolidinones.

Reactions of Ions with Ionic Liquid Vapors by Selected-Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry

Room-temperature ionic liquids exert vanishingly small vapor pressures under ambient conditions. Under reduced pressure, certain ionic liquids have demonstrated volatility, and they are thought to vaporize as intact cation-anion ion pairs. However, ion pair vapors are difficult to detect because their concentration is extremely low under these conditions. In this Letter, we report the products of reacting ions such as NO(+), NH4(+), NO3(-), and O2(-) with vaporized aprotic ionic liquids in their intact ion pair form. Ion pair fragmentation to the cation or anion as well as ion exchange and ion addition processes are observed by selected-ion flow tube mass spectrometry. Free energies of the reactions involving 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-trifluoromethylsulfonylimide determined by ab initio quantum mechanical calculations indicate that ion exchange or ion addition are energetically more favorable than charge-transfer processes, whereas charge-transfer processes can be important in reactions involving 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide.

Efficient Synthesis of Ellagic Acid Salts Using Distillable Ionic Liquids

A direct, one pot synthesis of an ellagic acid salt was achieved at room temperature by dimerization of ethyl gallate using N,N-dimethylammonium N′,N′-dimethylcarbamate, a distillable ionic liquid, as solvent.

Bridging the gap between ionic liquids and molten salts: group 1 metal salts of the bistriflamide anion in the gas phase

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry experiments showed that liquid Group 1 metal salts of the bistriflamide anion undergoing reduced-pressure distillation exhibit a remarkable behavior that is in transition between that of the vapor-liquid equilibrium characteristics of aprotic ionic liquids and that of the Group 1 metal halides: the unperturbed vapors resemble those of aprotic ionic liquids, in the sense that they are essentially composed of discrete ion pairs. However, the formation of large aggregates through a succession of ion-molecule reactions is closer to what might be expected for Group 1 metal halides. Similar experiments were also carried out with bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amine to investigate the effect of H(+), which despite being the smallest Group 1 cation, is generally regarded as a nonmetal species. In this case, instead of the complex ion-molecule reaction pattern found for the vapors of Group 1 metal salts, an equilibrium similar to those observed for aprotic ionic liquids was observed.

A Strategic, 'Green' Approach to Organic Chemistry with Microwave Assistance and Predictive Yield Optimization as Core, Enabling Technologies

Since 1988, we have pursued enabling technologies and methods as tools for ‘green’ synthetic chemistry. The developed technologies comprise hardware including catalytic membranes and continuous and batch microwave reactors that have established global markets, as well as interactive, predictive software for optimization of yields and translation of conditions. New methods include ‘green’ reactions such as a catalytic symmetrical etherification, Pd-catalyzed coupling processes and a multi-component cascade for aniline derivatives. Reactions and workup were facilitated through solvent-free conditions, aqueous media at high temperature and dimethylammonium dimethylcarbamate (dimcarb) as a ‘distillable’ protic ionic liquid, as well as by non-extractive techniques for product isolation. The technologies and methods were designed for use alone or in various combinations as desired. Consolidation of individual operations or processes into unit steps was achieved through multi-tasking: media, reactants, catalysts, and conditions were selected to serve several purposes at various stages of a reaction. The tools were used to establish a technology platform comprising structurally diverse oligomers, macrocycles, and rod-like molecules supplementary to those available through phenol-formaldehyde chemistry. Dienone precursors were assembled from versatile building blocks containing complementary ‘male’ or ‘female’ fittings that were connected through inherently ‘green’ Claisen–Schmidt-type reactions. Isoaromatization afforded Horning-crowns, macrocyclic phenolic derivatives that were hybrids of calixarenes and crown ethers. Preliminary studies of organic substrates in salt water, with and without CO2, called into question proposals for disposal of anthropogenic CO2 by deep-sea dispersal.

Synthesis and properties of Zn-Mg heterobimetallic carbamates. Crystal structures of the first reported single source precursors for Zn(x)mg(1-x)O thin films

The first mixed-metal Zn-Mg carbamates have been synthesised using a novel strategy of co-reaction between zinc and magnesium alkylamido intermediates. The complexes were structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction; the nuclearity of these carbamato core subunits was found to vary from tetrameric to octameric with respect to the level of magnesium incorporated. The presence of magnesium in the predominantly zinc carbamato lattice was confirmed by refinement of the site occupancies of the metal atoms during the crystal data analysis, and it was found that displacement of up to 7.8% of zinc sites by magnesium atoms could be achieved before breakdown of the structure. Characterisation of the complexes' physicochemical properties revealed that they were suitable for use as single-source chemical vapour deposition (SSCVD) precursors in the deposition of Zn(x)Mg(1-x)O thin films, an emerging material with promising band-gap engineering prospects.

On the critical temperature, normal boiling point, and vapor pressure of ionic liquids

One-stage, reduced-pressure distillations at moderate temperature of 1-decyl- and 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bistriflilamide ([Ntf(2)](-)) ionic liquids (ILs) have been performed. These liquid-vapor equilibria can be understood in light of predictions for normal boiling points of ILs. The predictions are based on experimental surface tension and density data, which are used to estimate the critical points of several ILs and their corresponding normal boiling temperatures. In contrast to the situation found for relatively unstable ILs at high-temperature such as those containing [BF(4)](-) or [PF(6)](-) anions, [Ntf(2)](-)-based ILs constitute a promising class in which reliable, accurate vapor pressure measurements can in principle be performed. This property is paramount for assisting in the development and testing of accurate molecular models.

The nature of ionic liquids in the gas phase

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) experiments showed that when aprotic ionic liquids vaporize under pressure and temperature conditions similar to those of a reduced-pressure distillation, the gas phase is composed of discrete anion-cation pairs. The evolution of the mass spectrometric signals recorded during fractional distillations of binary ionic liquid mixtures allowed us to monitor the changes of the gas-phase composition and the relative volatility of the components. In addition, we have studied a protic ionic liquid, and demonstrated that it exists as separated neutral molecules in the gas phase.

Distillable ionic liquids for a new multicomponent reaction

Adducts of dimethylamine and carbon dioxide form a "distillable ionic liquid" (DIMCARB) that may used as both a reaction medium and catalyst in the direct, atom-economical synthesis of useful synthetic building blocks, such as mono-condensed α,β-unsaturated ketones. The utilization of such building blocks in the synthesis of two new classes of versatile macrocycles, by a sequence of condensation reactions (H2O by-product), is described. Investigation into the mechanism of action of DIMCARB catalysis and observation of an aniline impurity arising from a competing reaction sequence led to development of a new multicomponent reaction for the direct preparation of 2- or 4-substituted anilines. Some of the macrocycles and anilines are, respectively, supramolecular host compounds and ligands for the preparation of metal complexes.

RAFT mediated polymerisation in heterogeneous media

Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mediated polymerisation is one of a number of living radical polymerisation processes that were developed over the last decade. The RAFT process is facilitating the synthesis of controlled macromolecular architectures radical polymerisation in homogeneous and heterogeneous media. Here we discuss the progress in the use of the RAFT process, the past, the state of the art and potential directions for the future with specific emphasis on heterogeneous reactions.

Lewis base ionic liquids

Ionic liquids which are (weak) Lewis bases have a number of interesting and useful properties different to those of traditional ionic liquids, including volatility and the possibility of being distillable in some cases, a base catalysis effect in others and enhancement of the acidity of dissolved acids.

The distillation and volatility of ionic liquids

It is widely believed that a defining characteristic of ionic liquids (or low-temperature molten salts) is that they exert no measurable vapour pressure, and hence cannot be distilled. Here we demonstrate that this is unfounded, and that many ionic liquids can be distilled at low pressure without decomposition. Ionic liquids represent matter solely composed of ions, and so are perceived as non-volatile substances. During the last decade, interest in the field of ionic liquids has burgeoned, producing a wealth of intellectual and technological challenges and opportunities for the production of new chemical and extractive processes, fuel cells and batteries, and new composite materials. Much of this potential is underpinned by their presumed involatility. This characteristic, however, can severely restrict the attainability of high purity levels for ionic liquids (when they contain poorly volatile components) in recycling schemes, as well as excluding their use in gas-phase processes. We anticipate that our demonstration that some selected families of commonly used aprotic ionic liquids can be distilled at 200-300 degrees C and low pressure, with concomitant recovery of significant amounts of pure substance, will permit these currently excluded applications to be realized.

Diels - Alder Reactions of 3-Furylamines in Organic and Aqueous Solvents

Various 5-methyl-3-aminofurans have been shown to undergo facile Diels–Alder reactions with methyl acrylate in aqueous media. Reactions proceeded with exclusive regiochemistry, and enamine cycloadducts were readily hydrolyzed to afford 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanones in high yields.