Acid-base property of N-methylimidazolium-based protic ionic liquids depending on anion.

Proton-donating and ionization properties of several protic ionic liquids (PILs) made from N-methylimidazole (Mim) and a series of acids (HA) have been assessed by means of potentiometric and calorimetric titrations. With regard to strong acids, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (Tf(2)NH) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH), it was elucidated that the two equimolar mixtures with Mim almost consist of ionic species, HMim(+) and A(-), and the proton transfer equilibrium corresponding to autoprotolysis in ordinary molecular liquids was established. The respective autoprotolysis constants were successfully evaluated, which indicate the proton-donating abilities of TfOH and Tf(2)NH in the respective PILs are similar. In the case of trifluoroacetic acid, the proton-donating ability of CF(3)COOH is much weaker than those of TfOH and Tf(2)NH, while ions are predominant species. On the other hand, with regard to formic acid and acetic acid, protons of these acids are suggested not to transfer to Mim sufficiently. From calorimetric titrations, about half of Mim is estimated to be proton-attached at most in the CH(3)COOH-Mim equimolar mixture. In such a mixture, hydrogen-bonding adducts formation has been suggested. The autoprotolysis constants of the present PILs show a good linear correlation with dissociation constants of the constituent acids in an aqueous phase.

Surface analysis of ionic liquids with and without lithium salt using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was applied to a neat ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [EMI(+)][Tf(2)N(-)] and its lithium salt solution at room temperature to clarify the composition and structure of its near-surface region. Core level peaks were recorded for Li 1s, N 1s, C 1s, F 1s, O 1s, S 2s, and S 2p. Valence band XPS spectra (0-40 eV binding energy) were also studied. The XPS spectra were analyzed using DV-Xα calculations. Results show that the planar type isomer of the EMI(+) cation is dominant at the near-surface region of EMI-Tf(2)N. Results of XPS measurements show a spectrum of Li 1s in Li/EMI-Tf(2)N. The proposed models for the preferred orientation of the ions exhibit good agreement with results obtained from the DV-Xα calculations.

Physicochemical and acid-base properties of a series of 2-hydroxyethylammonium-based protic ionic liquids.

Physicochemical properties such as a thermal behavior, ionic conductivity, viscosity and density, and acid-base properties of a new class of 2-hydroxyethylammonium-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) have been investigated. Thirty-six potential PILs were surveyed to find 32 salts with a melting point below 373 K. Among them, [(EtOH)(n)Et((3-n))NH(+)][TFS(-)] (Et, C(2)H(5); n = 0 - 3) and [(EtOH)(2)EtNH(+)][X(-)] (X = TFS, trifluoromethanesulfonate; TFSA, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide; NO(3)) were studied in terms of the Walden plots, molar volume and auto-protolysis reaction for effect of the number of 2-hydroxyethyl groups introduced in the cations and for dependence of the anion nature, respectively. With regard to [(EtOH)(n)Et((3-n))NH(+)][TFS(-)] (n = 0 - 3), the ion-ion interactions between cation-anion and cation-cation were enhanced with increasing the number of the 2-hydroxyethyl groups. In addition, the auto-protolysis constant K(s) value for [(EtOH)(2)EtNH(+)][TFSA(-)] is smaller than that for TFS(-) based PIL, indicating that HTFSA behaves as a stronger acid than HTFS in the respective PIL. On the other hand, in [(EtOH)(2)EtNH(+)][NO(3)(-)], the emf jump was rather small, which suggests that the proton of HNO(3) does not easily transfer to (EtOH)(2)EtN in the liquid state.

Free-energy and structural analysis of ion solvation and contact ion-pair formation of Li(+) with BF4(-) and PF6(-) in water and carbonate solvents.

Free energy of contact ion-pair (CIP) formation of lithium ion with BF(4)(-) and PF(6)(-) in water, propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) are quantitatively analyzed using MD simulations combined with the energy representation method. The relative stabilities of the mono-, bi-, and tridentate coordination structures are assessed with and without solvent, and water, PC, and DMC are found to favor the CIP-solvent contact. The monodentate structure is typically most stable in these solvents, whereas the configuration is multidentate in vacuum. The free energy of CIP formation is not simply governed by the solvent dielectric constant, and microscopic analyses of solute-solvent interaction at a molecular level are then performed from energetic and structural viewpoints. Vacant sites of Li(+) cation in CIP are solvated with three carbonyl oxygen atoms of PC and DMC solvent molecules, and the solvation is stronger for the monodentate CIP than for the multidentate. Energetically favorable solute-solvent configurations are shown to be spatially more restricted for the multidentate CIP, leading to the observation that the solvent favors the monodentate coordination structure.

Structural heterogeneity and unique distorted hydrogen bonding in primary ammonium nitrate ionic liquids studied by high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments and MD simulations.

Liquid structure and the closest ion-ion interactions in a series of primary alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids [C(n)Am(+)][NO(3)(-)] (n = 2, 3, and 4) were studied by means of high-energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) experiments with the aid of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Experimental density and X-ray structure factors are in good accordance with those evaluated with MD simulations. With regard to liquid structure, characteristic peaks appeared in the low Q (Q: a scattering vector) region of X-ray structure factors S(Q)'s for all ionic liquids studied here, and they increased in intensity with a peak position shift toward the lower Q side by increasing the alkyl chain length. Experimentally evaluated S(Q(peak))(r(max)) functions, which represent the S(Q) intensity at a peak position of maximum intensity Q(peak) as a function of distance (actually a integration range r(max)), revealed that characteristic peaks in the low Q region are related to the intermolecular anion-anion correlation decrease in the r range of 10-12 Å. Appearance of the peak in the low Q region is probably related to the exclusion of the correlations among ions of the same sign in this r range by the alkyl chain aggregation. From MD simulations, we found unique and rather distorted NH···O hydrogen bonding between C(n)Am(+) (n = 2, 3, and 4) and NO(3)(-) in these ionic liquids regardless of the alkyl chain length. Subsequent ab initio calculations for both a molecular complex C(2)H(5)NH(2)···HONO(2) and an ion pair C(2)H(5)NH(3)(+)···ONO(2)(-) revealed that such distorted hydrogen bonding is specific in a liquid state of this family of ionic liquids, though the linear orientation is preferred for both the N···HO hydrogen bonding in a molecular complex and the NH···O one in an ion pair. Finally, we propose our interpretation of structural heterogeneity in PILs and also in APILs.

Experimental evidences for molecular origin of low-Q peak in neutron/x-ray scattering of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ionic liquids.

Short- and long-range liquid structures of [C(n)mIm(+)][TFSA(-)] with n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 have been studied by high-energy x-ray diffraction (HEXRD) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments with the aid of MD simulations. Observed x-ray structure factor, S(Q), for the ionic liquids with the alkyl-chain length n > 6 exhibited a characteristic peak in the low-Q range of 0.2-0.4 Å(-1), indicating the heterogeneity of their ionic liquids. SANS profiles I(H)(Q) and I(D)(Q) for the normal and the alkyl group deuterated ionic liquids, respectively, showed significant peaks for n = 10 and 12 without no form factor component for large spherical or spheroidal aggregates like micelles in solution. The peaks for n = 10 and 12 evidently disappeared in the difference SANS profiles ΔI(Q) [=I(D)(Q) - I(H)(Q)], although that for n = 12 slightly remained. This suggests that the long-range correlations originated from the alkyl groups hardly contribute to the low-Q peak intensity in SANS. To reveal molecular origin of the low-Q peak, we introduce here a new function; x-ray structure factor intensity at a given Q as a function of r, S(Q) (peak)(r). The S(Q) (peak)(r) function suggests that the observed low-Q peak intensity depending on n is originated from liquid structures at two r-region of 5-8 and 8-15 Å for all ionic liquids examined except for n = 12. Atomistic MD simulations are consistent with the HEXRD and SANS experiments, and then we discussed the relationship between both variations of low-Q peak and real-space structure with lengthening the alkyl group of the C(n)mIm.

Dependence of the conformational isomerism in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids on the nature of the halide anion.

The conformational isomerism of the 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation, [C(4)mim](+), in halide-based ionic liquids--[C(4)mim]Cl, [C(4)mim]Br, and [C(4)mim]I--was explored by Raman spectroscopy. The [C(4)mim](+) cation exhibits trans-gauche conformational isomerism with respect to the N1-C7-C8-C9 dihedral angle of its butyl chain. The thermodynamics of trans-gauche conversion were analyzed through the successful evaluation of the corresponding Gibbs free energy, Δ(iso)G°, enthalpy, Δ(iso)H°, and entropy, Δ(iso)S°, of conformational isomerization. The values of Δ(iso)G° obtained are small (a few units of kJ/mol) and show a slight negative variation with the decrease of the size of the halide anion. On the other hand, Δ(iso)H° and Δ(iso)S° values are positive for [C(4)mim]I and decrease with the anion size to yield negative values for [C(4)mim]Cl and [C(4)mim]Br. This suggests that the negative electrostatic field around the halide anions stabilizes the gauche isomer from an enthalpic point of view. In order to study the structure and ion-ion interactions in this type of ionic liquids, high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments were performed for [C(4)mim]Cl at different temperatures and for supercooled [C(4)mim][Br] at ambient temperature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for these systems were also carried out at several temperatures. Δ(iso)G° and Δ(iso)H° values derived from the simulations qualitatively agree with the experimental ones. Experimental X-ray structure factors are also well reproduced by the simulations. The MD results also allowed the calculation of different spatial distribution functions (SDFs) for the three ionic liquids. Although all SDFs exhibit similar trends, [C(4)mim]I shows a reduced anion density facing the C(2)-H atoms of the cation and enhanced anion densities above and below the imidazolium ring plane. This indicates that anions localized near the C(2)-H atoms of the cation can stabilize their gauche conformer, an effect that is stronger with smaller anions. This conclusion is also supported by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level for isolated ion pairs.

Raman spectroscopic studies and ab initio calculations on conformational isomerism of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide solvated to a lithium ion in ionic liquids: effects of the second solvation sphere of the lithium ion.

Raman spectra of the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide [C(4)mIm][TFSA] containing a LiTFSA salt were measured for the lithium salt mole fractions x(Li) = 0.000, 0.053, 0.106, and 0.171 in the temperature range of 273-350 K. The lithium ion solvation number of 2 at ambient temperature is kept constant in higher temperatures examined in this study. Thermodynamic quantities, such as Gibbs free energy, Delta(iso)G(0); enthalpy, Delta(iso)H(0); and entropy, Delta(iso)S(0), for conformational isomerism of TFSA(-) from trans to cis isomers in the neat ionic liquid and also in the first solvation sphere of the lithium ion were successfully evaluated for the first time. In the neat ionic liquid, the thermodynamics quantities indicates that the trans isomer is slightly stabilized by enthalpy, though the enthalpic advantage is reduced by entropy to yield nearly equal Gibbs free energy. For the TFSA(-) in the first solvation sphere of the lithium ion, the Delta(iso)G(0), Delta(iso)H(0), and TDelta(iso)S(0) were obtained at 298 K to be -4, -9.4, and -5 kJ mol(-1), respectively, and the cis isomer is clearly more favored due to the larger enthalpy relative to that for the neat ionic liquid. However, gas phase quantum calculations for the lithium ion solvated clusters of [Li(TFSA)(2)](-) were reported to be opposite to the experimental isomerization enthalpy. In this study, additional MP2 level ab initio calculations were carried out for the lithium ion solvated clusters with a countercation of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium [C(2)mIm] in gas phase to yield the energy difference of -8.8 kJ mol(-1) from [C(2)mIm][Li(trans-TFSA)(2)] to [C(2)mIm][Li(cis-TFSA)(2)]. The ab initio calculations revealed the important roles of the surrounding imidazolium cation as the second solvation sphere of the lithium ion and agree with the Raman experimental fact that the cis-TFSA(-) solvated to the lithium ion is more stabilized relative to the trans with relatively large enthalpy.

Solvation and microscopic properties of ionic liquid/acetonitrile mixtures probed by high-pressure infrared spectroscopy.

The microscopic features of binary mixtures formed by an ionic liquid (EMI(+)TFSA(-) or EMI(+)FSA(-)) and a molecular liquid (acetonitrile or methanol) have been investigated by high-pressure infrared spectroscopy. On the basis of its responses to changes in pressure and concentration, the imidazolium C-H appears to exist at least in two different forms, i.e., isolated and associated structures. The weak band at approximately 3102 cm(-1) should be assigned to the isolated structure. CD(3)CN can be added to change the structural organization of ionic liquids. The compression of an EMI(+)TFSA(-)/CD(3)CN mixture leads to the increase in the isolated C-H band intensity. Nevertheless, the loss in intensity of the isolated structures was observed for EMI(+)FSA(-)/CD(3)CN mixtures as the pressure was elevated. In other words, the associated configuration is favored with increasing pressure by debiting the isolated form for EMI(+)FSA(-)/CD(3)CN mixtures. The stronger C-H...F interactions in EMI(+)FSA(-) may be one of the reasons for the remarkable differences in the pressure-dependent results of EMI(+)TFSA(-) and EMI(+)FSA(-).

Relationships between center atom species (N, P) and ionic conductivity, viscosity, density, self-diffusion coefficient of quaternary cation room-temperature ionic liquids.

The physicochemical properties (ionic conductivity, viscosity, density, and self-diffusion coefficient) of tri-n-ethylpentylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (TEPP-TFSA) ionic liquid were compared with those of tri-n-ethylpentylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (TEPA-TFSA). Compared with the TEPA-TFSA ionic liquid, the density and viscosity of the phosphorus ionic liquid are lower, although the ionic conductivity and self-diffusion coefficient are higher. The molar conductivities were compared for the values obtained by the electrochemical impedance method (electrochemical conductivity) and the calculated from the pulsed-gradient spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance method (diffusive conductivity). The comparison shows that active ionic ratios of the TEPP-TFSA ionic liquid were smaller than those of the TEPA-TFSA ionic liquid in the whole temperature, regardless of the lower viscosity of the TEPP-TFSA ionic liquid, and results with high precision were obtained using Walden's law.

Structural change of ionic association in ionic liquid/water mixtures: a high-pressure infrared spectroscopic study.

High-pressure infrared measurements were carried out to observe the microscopic structures of two imidazolium-based ionic liquids, i.e., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [EMI(+)(CF(3)SO(2))(2)N(-), EMI(+)TFSA(-)] and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide [EMI(+)(FSO(2))(2)N(-), EMI(+)FSA(-)]. The results obtained at ambient pressure indicate that the imidazolium C-H may exist in two different forms, i.e., isolated and network structures. As the sample of pure EMI(+)FSA(-) was compressed, the network configuration is favored with increasing pressure by debiting the isolated form. For EMI(+)TFSA(-)/H(2)O mixtures, the imidazolium C-H peaks split into four bands at high pressures. The new spectral features at approximately 3117 and 3190 cm(-1), being concentration sensitive, can be attributed to the interactions between the imidazolium C-H and water molecules. The alkyl C-H absorption exhibits a new band at approximately 3025 cm(-1) under high pressures. This observation suggests the formation of a certain water structure around the alkyl C-H groups. The O-H stretching absorption reveals two types of O-H species, i.e., free O-H and bonded O-H. For EMI(+)TFSA(-)/H(2)O mixtures, the compression leads to a loss of the free O-H band intensities, and pressure somehow stabilizes the bonded O-H configurations. The results also suggest the non-negligible roles of weak hydrogen bonds in the structure of ionic liquids.

Raman spectroscopic study, DFT calculations and MD simulations on the conformational isomerism of N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide ionic liquids.

The conformational behaviors of N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide ionic liquids (alkyl; propyl and butyl, [P(1n)][TFSA]; n = 3 and 4) were studied by Raman spectroscopy in the frequency range of 200-1700 cm(-1) at different temperatures. Observed Raman spectra in the frequency range 870-960 cm(-1) for [P(13)][TFSA] and at 860-950 cm(-1) for [P(14)][TFSA] depend on the temperature, indicating that pseudo rotational isomerization of the pyrrolidinium ring exists in the ionic liquids. DFT calculations revealed that the pseudo rotational potential energy surfaces for P(13)(+) and P(14)(+) ions were similar to each other, i.e., the e6 isomer is the global minimum, whereas the three other isomers e1, e4, and e5 are ca. 3 kJ mol(-1) higher in energy. Optimized geometries with no imaginary frequency were successfully obtained for the e6, e1, and e4 isomers. For both cations, the theoretical Raman spectra of the e6 isomers reproduce well the observed data. To explain their observed Raman spectra in a reasonable way, it is necessary to consider one or more species as predicted by DFT calculations, i.e., the e4 isomer of P(13)(+) rather than the e1, or the e1 isomer of P(14)(+) rather than the e4. In addition, the torsion energy potentials of the alkyl chains of the cations were scanned by DFT calculations. It turns out that the alkyl chains of the cations prefer all trans conformations. It should be emphasized that the alkyl chains of the pyrrolidinium cations show remarkably different conformational behaviors comparing with those of the imidazolium. The isomerization enthalpies Delta(iso)H degrees from the e6 to the e4 isomer of P(13)(+) and to e1 of P(14)(+) were reasonably estimated from the temperature dependence of Raman spectra based on our proposed assignments to be 2.9 kJ mol(-1) for P(13)(+) and 4.2 kJ mol(-1) for P(14)(+), respectively. Thus evaluated experimental Delta(iso)H degrees values, which may contain some uncertainties, are in agreement with those predicted by DFT calculations and MD simulations suggesting that pseudo rotational isomerization equilibria are established in the examined N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium ionic liquids. The conformational behavior of TFSA(-) was also investigated. The Delta(iso)H degrees from the trans (trifluoromethyl groups on opposite sides of the S-N-S plane) to the cis isomer were evaluated to be 4.2 kJ mol(-1) for [P(13)][TFSA] and 3.5 kJ mol(-1) for [P(14)][TFSA], respectively, which are similar to that for the 1-ethyl-3methylimidazolium ionic liquid.

Phase transition and conductive acceleration of phosphonium-cation-based room-temperature ionic liquid.

An unusual ionic conduction phenomenon related to the phase transition of a novel phosphonium-cation-based room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) is reported; we found that in the phase change upon cooling, a clear increase in ionic conductivity was seen as the temperature was lowered, which differs from widely known conventional RTILs; clearly, our finding of abnormality of the correlation between temperature change and ionic conduction is the first observation in the electrolyte field.

Solvation of lithium ion in N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-amide using Raman and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.

The solvation structure of the Li(I) species in N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl) amide (DEMETFSA) was studied by measuring the Raman and multinuclear NMR spectra of DEMETFSA solutions containing LiTFSA of various concentrations (0.12-1.92 mol kg(-1), [TFSA(-)]/[Li(I)] = 20.0-2.22). It was found from Raman spectra that an intense band due to the free TFSA(-) anion at around 741 cm(-1) becomes weak, and a new band appears at around 747 cm(-1) with an increase in the concentrations of LiTFSA, and that the pseudoisosbestic point is observed at around 744 cm(-1) in the range of [TFSA(-)]/[Li(I)] = 20.0-5.00. From analyses of these Raman bands, the number of TFSA(-) anions bound to the Li(+) ion was evaluated to be 1.85 +/- 0.08, and hence, the Li(I) in DEMETFSA solutions was proposed to exist as [Li(TFSA)(2)](-) in the range of [TFSA(-)]/[Li(I)] = 20.0-5.00. Furthermore, in the range of [TFSA(-)]/[Li(I)] = 2.86-2.22, the band observed at around 747 cm(-1) became more strong, and the pseudoisosbestic point disappeared. From these phenomena, it seems that the Li(I) oligomer species are formed in the higher concentration region of LiTFSA. The (19)F NMR signal of the TFSA(-) anion observed at 42.31 ppm in neat DEMETFSA was found to shift to a higher field linearly with an increase in the concentrations of LiTFSA ([LiTFSA] = 0.00-0.99 mol kg(-1), [TFSA(-)]/[Li(+)] = 20.0-3.33), while in a higher concentration range ([LiTFSA] > or = 1.26 mol kg(-1), [TFSA(-)]/[Li(+)] < or = 2.86), a slight deviation from linearity was observed. On the other hand, the (7)Li NMR signal did not show an appreciable shift with increasing LiTFSA concentrations. These results support that the Li(I) species in DEMETFSA solutions exist as [Li(TFSA)(2)](-) and the Li(I) oligomer species in the low and high concentration regions of LiTFSA, respectively.

Raman spectroscopic study on alkaline metal ion solvation in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ionic liquid.

The Raman spectra for 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide [BMI][TFSA] containing alkaline metal salts of TFSA(-), MTFSA (M = Li, Na, K and Cs), were recorded in the frequency range of 200-1800 cm(-1), with varying salt concentrations at 298 K. With Li(+) and Na(+) ions, at the frequency range of 730-760 cm(-1), new Raman bands ascribable to the anion bound to the ions appeared at higher frequency relative to that found in the neat ionic liquid. On the other hand, with K(+) and Cs(+) ions, single Raman bands were solely observed. According to the difference Raman spectra for the ionic liquids containing K(+) and Cs(+), evaluated by subtracting Raman spectra for the neat ionic liquid, it turned out that two-state approximation, i.e., bulk TFSA(-) and TFSA(-) bound to K(+) and Cs(+) ions, could hold, as Li(+) and Na(+) ions. By careful analyses of Raman band intensity arising from bulk TFSA(-) as a function of the salt concentration, the solvation numbers for the respective ions were successfully evaluated to be 1.95 for Li(+), 2.88 for Na(+), 3.2 for K(+) and 3.9 for Cs(+), respectively. By taking into account that TFSA(-) acts as a bidentate ligand, the atomic coordination numbers are proposed to be 4, 6, 6 and 8 for Li(+), Na(+), K(+) and Cs(+), respectively. Raman shifts for the TFSA(-) bound to the metal ions relative to that of the bulk TFSA(-) were plotted against the ionic radii for the solvated alkaline metal ions estimated via Shannon's ionic radii, to yield a straight line with a slope of almost unity, suggesting that the electrostatic interaction predominantly operates in the ion-ion interaction between the alkaline metal ions and TFSA(-), as expected. Moreover, the Raman spectra in the frequency range of 370-450 cm(-1) strongly depend on the alkaline metal ions, indicating that cis TFSA(-) is favored in the first solvation sphere of the Li(+) ion of a relatively small ionic radius, and that such a preferred conformational isomerism of TFSA(-) diminishes with an increase of the ionic radii of the central metal ions.

Acidity and basicity of aqueous mixtures of a protic ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate.

Ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) is composed of C(2)H(5)NH(3)(+) and NO(3)(-) ions, which behave as an acid and a base, respectively. The ionic liquid thus involves small amounts of C(2)H(5)NH(2) and HNO(3) molecules owing to proton transfer from C(2)H(5)NH(3)(+) to NO(3)(-). The equilibrium constant K(s) (= [C(2)H(5)NH(2)][HNO(3)]), which corresponds to the autoprotolysis constant of water, was obtained to be ca. 10(-10) mol(2) dm(-6) by potentiometry using an ion-selective field-effect transistor and hydrogen electrodes at 298 K. The value indicates that C(2)H(5)NH(2) and HNO(3) molecules of ca. 10(-5) mol dm(-3) are involved in neat EAN. On the other hand, in an EAN-water mixture, a water molecule behaves as a base. The apparent pK(s) value was determined in EAN-water mixtures of various solvent compositions. Interestingly, the pK(s) value is remained at 10.5 in mixtures over the range of an EAN mole fraction of 0.05-0.9. The value is close to the pK(a) of C(2)H(5)NH(2), or the acid-dissociation constant of C(2)H(5)NH(3)(+), in aqueous solution. This implies that the reaction C(2)H(5)NH(3)(+) + H(2)O --> C(2)H(5)NH(2) + H(3)O(+) is responsible for the pK(s) over a wide range of solvent composition. The pK(s) value in neat EAN is thus slightly smaller than that in the mixtures, implying that H(3)O(+) is a stronger acid than HNO(3) in an EAN solution, unlike water.

Solvation structures of some transition metal(II) ions in a room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide.

Solvation structures of manganese(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) ions in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoro-methanesulfonyl) amide (EMI(+)TFSA(-)) have been studied by UV-Vis, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra. The ionic liquid involves TFSA(-) conformers with C(1) (cis) and C(2) (trans) symmetries, and both conformers coexist in equilibrium in the liquid state. The results showed that these metal(II) ions are all six-coordinated with three TFSA(-) ions, i.e., TFSA(-) ligates as a bidentate O-donor in the ionic liquid. Although the metal ion strongly prefers the C(1) conformer in crystals, the metal ion coordinates both the C(1) and C(2) conformers in the liquid state, and the conformational equilibrium in the bulk only slightly shifts to the C(1) conformer in the coordination sphere. We concluded that the conformational equilibrium in the coordination sphere is strongly temperature-sensitive.

Potential energy landscape of bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide.

The conformational landscape of the bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide, [FSI]-, anion was analyzed using data obtained from Raman spectroscopy, molecular dynamics (MD), and ab initio studies. The plotting of three-dimensional potential energy surfaces and the corresponding MD simulation conformer-population histograms show the existence of two stable isomers, C2 (trans) and C1 (cis) conformers, and confirm the nature of the anion as a flexible molecule capable of interconversion between conformers in the liquid state. In ionic liquids, the two [FSI]- conformers coexist in equilibrium, a result confirmed by the Raman data. The implications of the conformational behavior of the ion [FSI]- are discussed in terms of the solvation properties of the corresponding ionic liquids.

Liquid structure of room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide.

The liquid structure of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (EMI(+)TFSI(-)) has been studied by means of large-angle X-ray scattering (LAXS), (1)H, (13)C, and (19)F NMR, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. LAXS measurements show that the ionic liquid is highly structured with intermolecular interactions at around 6, 9, and 15 A. The intermolecular interactions at around 6, 9, and 15 A are ascribed, on the basis of the MD simulation, to the nearest neighbor EMI(+)...TFSI(-) interaction, the EMI(+)...EMI(+) and TFSI(-)...TFSI(-) interactions, and the second neighbor EMI+...TFSI(-) interaction, respectively. The ionic liquid involves two conformers, C(1) (cis) and C(2) (trans), for TFSI(-), and two conformers, planar cis and nonplanar staggered, for EMI(+), and thus the system involves four types of the EMI(+)...TFSI(-) interactions in the liquid state by taking into account the conformers. However, the EMI(+)...TFSI(-) interaction is not largely different for all combinations of the conformers. The same applies alsoto the EMI(+)...EMI(+) and TFSI(-)...TFSI(-) interactions. It is suggested from the 13C NMR that the imidazolium C(2) proton of EMI(+) strongly interacts with the O atom of the -SO(2)(CF(3)) group of TFSI(-). The interaction is not ascribed to hydrogen-bonding, according to the MD simulation. It is shown that the liquid structure is significantly different from the layered crystal structure that involves only the nonplanar staggered EMI(+) and C(1) TFSI(-) conformers.