Azolate Anions in Ionic Liquids: Promising and Under-Utilized Components of the Ionic Liquid Toolbox.

Owing to their ease of synthesis, diffuse positive charge, and chemical stability, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations (i.e., [Cn mim]+ ) are one of the most routinely utilized and historically important components in ionic liquid (IL) chemistry. However, while this is a routinely encountered member of the IL family as cations, relatively few workers have explored the versatile chemistry of azoles to allow their use as an anionic component in ILs, as azolates. Azolate anions possess many of the desired properties for IL formation, including a diffuse ionic charge, tailorable asymmetry, and synthetic flexibility, with the added advantages of not relying on halogen atoms for electron-withdrawing effects, as is commonly encountered with IL anions such as hexafluorophosphate. This review explores the 122 azolate-containing ILs known in the literature (prepared from only 39 disparate azolate anions), with a view to highlighting not only their demonstrated utility as an IL component, but the ways in which the larger scientific community may utilize their advantageous properties for new tailored materials.

Formation of ionic co-crystals of amphoteric azoles directed by the ionic liquid co-former 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate.

The ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate was utilized as a liquid-state crystallization agent to form ionic co-crystals using amphoteric azoles selected as model compounds for active pharmaceutical ingredients. Weakly acidic azoles crystallize the IL relatively quickly, while stronger acidic azoles undergo slower ion exchange with the IL to form salts.

Beyond the Halogen Bond: Examining the Limits of Extended Polybromide Networks through Quantum-Chemical Investigations.

The bonding environments of some polybromide monoanions and networks were examined by quantum-chemical methods to investigate electronic interactions between dibromine-dibromine contacts. Examination of thermodynamic parameters and a bond critical point analysis give strong evidence for such bonding modes, which have been previously treated disparately in the literature. The thermodynamic stability of large polybromides up to [Br37 ](-) was also predicted by these methods.

Factors influencing the formation of polybromide monoanions in solutions of ionic liquid bromide salts.

Six different bromide salts - tetraethylammonium bromide ([N2,2,2,2]Br, Br), 1-ethyl-1-methylpiperidinium bromide ([C2MPip]Br, Br), 1-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide ([C2MPyrr]Br, Br), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C2MIm]Br, Br), 1-ethylpyridinium bromide ([C2Py]Br, Br), and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridinium bromide ([C2OHPy]Br, Br) - were studied in regards to their capacity to form polybromide monoanion products on addition of molecular bromine in acetonitrile solutions. Using complementary spectroscopic and computational methods for the examination of tribromide and pentabromide anion formation, key factors influencing polybromide sequestration were identified. Here, we present criteria for the targeted synthesis of highly efficient bromine sequestration agents.

Changing the Action of Iron from Stoichiometric to Electrocatalytic in the Hydrogenation of Ketones in Aqueous Acidic Media.

Cyclohexanone, a model compound chosen to conveniently represent small oxygenates present in the aqueous phase of biomass hydrothermal upgrading streams, was hydrogenated in the presence of electrodeposited iron(0) using aqueous formic or sulfuric acid as a hydrogen donor. Under these conditions, zero-valent iron is consumed stoichiometrically and serves as both a formic acid decomposition site and a hydrogen transfer agent. However, the resulting iron(II) can be used to continuously regenerate iron(0) when a potential is applied to the glassy carbon working electrode. Controlled potential electrolysis experiments show a 17% conversion of cyclohexanone (over 1000 seconds) to cyclohexanol with >80% efficiency of iron deposition from an iron(II) sulfate solution containing formic or sulfuric acid. In the absence of electrodeposited iron, formation of cyclohexanol could not be detected.

The formation of high-order polybromides in a room-temperature ionic liquid: from monoanions ([Br5 ](-) to [Br11 ](-) ) to the isolation of [PC16 H36 ]2 [Br24 ] as determined by van der Waals Bonding Radii.

An unprecedented diversity of high-order bromine catenates (anionic polybromides) was generated in a tetraalkylphosphonium-based room temperature ionic liquid system. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify polybromide monoanions ranging from [Br5 ](-) to [Br11 ](-) in the bulk solution, while single-crystal X-ray diffraction identified extended networks of linked [Br11 ](-) units, forming a previously unknown polymeric [Br24 ](2-) dianion. This represents the largest polybromide species identified to date. In combination with recent work, this suggests that other, higher order molecular polybromide ions might be isolated.