Ion speciation driving chirality transfer in imidazolium-based camphorsulfonate ionic liquid solutions.

The underlying principle of the chirality transfer in imidazolium-based camphorsulfonate ionic liquids is rationalized by linking catalytic results from the hydrogenation of [N-(3'-oxobutyl)-N-methylimidazolium] [(+)-camphorsulfonate] to [N-(3'-hydroxybutyl)-N-methylimidazolium] [(+)-camphorsulfonate] in tetrahydrofuran with electrolyte theory by the help of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Using this approach we are able to explain why the maximum of the enantiomeric excess of the hydrogenation reaction in tetrahydrofuran is found at a medium concentration of 0.15 mol L(-1), whereas it declines at both, lower and higher concentrations. Dielectric spectra in the concentration range between 0.05 and 1.0 mol L(-1) reveal a solute mode due to dipolar ion pairs and larger dipolar ion clusters. They verify that at very low concentrations the ionic liquid ions are fully solvated with an increasing tendency to form neutral ion pairs with increasing concentration. Already at 0.025 mol L(-1) the degree of dissociation reaches a minimum reflecting a maximum of neutral ion pair formation. With increasing ionic liquid concentration ordered ion clusters are formed by two and more ion pairs. At high concentrations these clusters collapse by dilution in the excess ionic liquid and the defined ion contact necessary for the chirality transfer is lost to a great extent.

Synthesis of room-temperature ionic liquids with the weakly coordinating [Al(ORF)4]- anion (RF=C(H)(CF3)2) and the determination of their principal physical properties.

A large series of ionic liquids (ILs) based on the weakly coordinating alkoxyaluminate [Al(hfip)(4)](-) (hfip: hexafluoroisopropoxy) with classical as well as functionalized cations were prepared, and their principal physical properties determined. Melting points are between 0 ([C(4)MMIM][Al(hfip)(4)]) and 69 °C ([C(3)MPip][Al(hfip)(4)]); three qualify as room-temperature ILs (RTILs). Crystal structures for six ILs were determined; their structural parameters and anion-cation contacts are compared here with known ILs, with a special focus on their influence on physical properties. Moreover, the biodegradability of the compounds was investigated by using the closed-bottle and the manometric respirometry test. Temperature-dependent viscosities and conductivities were measured between 0 and 80 °C, and described by either the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) or the Arrhenius equations. Moreover, conductivities and viscosities were investigated in the context of the molecular volume, V(m). Physical property-V(m) correlations were carried out for various temperatures, and the temperature dependence of the molecular volume was analyzed by using crystal structure data and DFT calculations. The IL ionicity was investigated by Walden plots; according to this analysis, [Al(hfip)(4)](-) ILs may be classified as "very good to good ILs"; while [C(2)MIM][Al(hfip)(4)] is a better IL than [C(2)MIM][NTf(2)]. The dielectric constants of ten [Al(hfip)(4)](-) ILs were determined, and are unexpectedly high (ε(r)=11.5 to 16.8). This could be rationalized by considering additional calculated dipole moments of the structures frozen in the solid state by DFT. The determination of hydrogen gas solubility in [Al(hfip)(4)](-) RTILs by high-pressure NMR spectroscopy revealed very high hydrogen solubilities at 25 °C and 1 atm. These results indicate the significant potential of this class of ILs in manifold applications.

Communication: Are hydrodynamic models suited for describing the reorientational dynamics of ions in ionic liquids? A case study of methylimidazolium tetra(hexafluoroisopropoxy)aluminates.

We report on dielectric relaxation spectra of six homologous ionic liquids (ILs) with tetra(hexafluoroisopropoxy)aluminate ([Al(hfip)(4)](-)) as a common anion. The dominating mode on the time scale of several 100 ps mainly results from cation reorientation. Because the viscosities are low and cation modification does not substantially change the viscosity, these ILs are interesting candidates for testing hydrodynamic models of rotational dynamics. The calculated hydrodynamic volumes are extraordinarily low, and roughly agree with values calculated from literature data for ILs with the same cations, but different anions. Comparison with magnetic relaxation data shows that the peculiarities are founded in the rotational dynamics and are not special to dielectric relaxation. Collectively, the observations make a strong case against the applicability of hydrodynamic approaches to the orientational dynamics of ions.