Tunable thermomorphism and applications of ionic liquid analogues of Girard's reagents

A series of ionic liquids based on Girard's reagents was synthesised. Their tunable thermomorphic behaviour with water was demonstrated, and slight modifications in the cationic structure led to drastic changes in their water miscibility. Their phase behaviour, involving monophasic–biphasic transitions, drove a number of practical applications, including scavenging water-soluble dyes and the extraction of metals from water.

Ionic liquids for efficient hydrogen sulfide and thiol scavenging

Functionalised pyridinium and ammonium ionic liquids bearing a Michael acceptor are shown to scavenge H₂S gas and various thiols, in most cases, without the aid of any added bases. Utilising the effective non-volatility of ionic liquids and ‘tagging’ malodourous substances to an ionic matrix renders them odourless.

Cationic palladium(II) complexes as catalysts for the oxidation of terminal olefins to methyl ketones using hydrogen peroxide.

Ligated Pd(II) complexes have been studied for the catalytic oxidation of terminal olefins to their corresponding methyl ketones. The method uses aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant; a sustainable and readily accessible oxidant. The choice of ligand, counterion and solvent all have a significant effect on catalytic performance and we were able to develop systems which perform well for these challenging oxidations.

A novel recovery process for lipids from microalgæ for biodiesel production using a hydrated phosphonium ionic liquid

The use of a hydrated phosphonium ionic liquid, [P(CH<inf>2</inf>OH)<inf>4</inf>]Cl, for the extraction of microalgæ lipids for biodiesel production, was evaluated using two microalgæ species, Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis oculata. The ionic liquid extraction was compared to the conventional Soxhlet, and Bligh & Dyer, methods, giving the highest extraction efficiency in the case of C. vulgaris, at 8.1%. The extraction from N. oculata achieved the highest lipid yield for Bligh & Dyer (17.3%), while the ionic liquid extracted 12.8%. Nevertheless, the ionic liquid extraction showed high affinity to neutral/saponifiable lipids, resulting in the highest fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs)-biodiesel yield (4.5%) for C. vulgaris. For N. oculata, the FAMEs yield of the ionic liquid and Bligh & Dyer extraction methods were similar (>8%), and much higher than for Soxhlet (<5%). The ionic liquid extraction proved especially suitable for lipid extraction from wet biomass, giving even higher extraction yields than from dry biomass, 14.9% and 12.8%, respectively (N. oculata). Remarkably, the overall yield of FAMEs was almost unchanged, 8.1% and 8.0%, for dry and wet biomass. The ionic liquid extraction process was also studied at ambient temperature, varying the extraction time, giving 75% of lipid and 93% of FAMEs recovery after thirty minutes, as compared to the extraction at 100 °C for one day. The recyclability study demonstrated that the ionic liquid was unchanged after treatment, and was successfully reused. The ionic liquid used is best described as [P(CH<inf>2</inf>OH)<inf>4</inf>]Cl·2H<inf>2</inf>O, where the water is not free, but strongly bound to the ions.

Efficient and selective hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidation of sulfides in batch and segmented and continuous flow using a peroxometalate-based polymer immobilised ionic liquid phase catalyst

The peroxometalate-based polymer immobilized ionic liquid phase catalyst [PO4{WO(O-2)(2)}(4)]@PIILP has been prepared by anion exchange of ring opening metathesis-derived pyrrolidinium-decorated norbornene/ cyclooctene copolymer and shown to be a remarkably efficient system for the selective oxidation of sulfides under mild conditions. A cartridge packed with a mixture of [PO4{WO(O-2)(2)}(4)]@PIILP and silica operated as a segmented or continuous flow process and gave good conversions and high selectivity for either sulfoxide (92% in methanol at 96% conversion for a residence time of 4 min) or sulfone (96% in acetonitrile at 96% conversion for a residence time of 15 min). The immobilized catalyst remained active for 8 h under continuous flow operation with a stable activity/selectivity profile that allowed 6.5 g of reactant to be processed (TON = 46 428) while a single catalyst cartridge could be used for the consecutive oxidation of multiple substrates giving activity-selectivity profiles that matched those obtained with fresh catalyst.

Liquid coordination complexes: a new class of Lewis acids as safer alternatives to BF3 in synthesis of polyalphaolefins

Liquid coordination complexes (LCCs) are a new class of liquid Lewis acids, prepared by combining an excess of a metal halide (e.g. GaCl3) with a basic donor molecule (e.g. amides, amines or phosphines). LCCs were used to catalyse oligomerisation of 1-decene to polyalphaolefins (PAOs). Molecular weight distribution and physical properties of the produced oils were compliant with those required for low viscosity synthetic (Group IV) lubricant base oils. Kinematic viscosities at 100 °C of ca. 4 or 6 cSt were obtained, along with viscosity indexes above 120 and pour points below −57 °C. In industry, to achieve similar properties, BF3 gas is used as a catalyst. LCCs are proposed as a safer and economically attractive alternative to BF3 gas for the production of polyalphaolefins.

Friedel–Crafts alkylation catalysed by GaCl3-based liquid coordination complexes

Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene with 1-decene was catalysed by a new family of liquid Lewis acids: liquid coordination complexes (LCCs). LCCs are prepared by mixing a metal halide (e.g. GaCl3) and a donor molecule (e.g. N,N-dimethylacetamide, urea, or trioctylphosphine oxide), with the metal halide typically used in excess. This leads to the formation of a eutectic mixture comprised of charged and neutral species in a dynamic equilibrium. GaCl3-based LCCs were used in catalytic amounts, giving high reaction rates under ambient conditions, with selectivities to 2-phenyldecane superior to those previously reported in the literature. The influence of reaction conditions and catalyst composition on the reaction rate and selectivity was investigated. Optimised reaction conditions were suggested. This exploratory study offers promise with regard to the development of safer, LCC-based alternatives to HF in industrial alkylations.

Accounting for clean, fast and high yielding reactions under microwave conditions

Thermal reactions proceed optimally when they are rapidly heated to the highest tolerable temperature, held there for the shortest possible time and then quenched. This is explained through assessments of reaction kinetics in literature examples and models. Although presently available microwave equipment is better suited to rapid heating than resistance-heated systems, the findings do not depend upon the method of heating. Claims that microwave heated reactions proceed faster and more cleanly than their conventionally heated counterparts are valid only when comparably rapid heating and cooling cannot be obtained by conventional heating. These findings suggest that rigid adherence to the sixth principle of green chemistry, relating to the use of ambient temperature and pressure, may not always afford optimal results. © 2010 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Combining Bio- and Chemo-catalysis for the Conversion of Bio-Renewable Alcohols

The use of biomass as a source of fuel is on the sharp increase. In parallel with this expansion, new chemical processes and technologies are required to improve efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.
Biocatalytic and chemocatalytic methods can be combined to affect the conversion of bio-alcohols, and convert them to valuable chemical targets in an atom efficient and environmentally benign manor. Fermentation offers a useful first step in biomass conversion, as whole cell biocatalysts can provide sustained activity when fed with crude biomass. Coupling this with homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalysis enables the preparation of a diverse product range. The transition between biocatalytic and chemocatalytic steps can be assisted by utilising ionic liquids.
Ionic liquids have potential roles in biorefineries that generate alcohols; as an extractant, reaction medium, and catalytic reagent. Underpinning the potential of ionic liquids in this area is: 1. the ability of ionic liquids to solubilize polyols and alcohols; 2. the facility to functionalise ionic liquids and tune properties; 3. the low volatility of ionic liquids.
The FP7 project GRAIL will be highlighted; this project focusses on the utilisation of glycerol formed as a by-product in biodiesel synthesis.

Combining Bio- and Chemo-Catalysis for the Conversion of Bio-Renewable Alcohols: Homogeneous Iridium Catalysed Hydrogen Transfer Initiated Dehydration of 1,3-Propanediol to Aldehydes

Combining whole cell biocatalysis and chemocatalysis in a single reaction sequence avoids unnecessary separations, and the associated waste and energy consumption. Bacterial fermentation has been employed to convert waste glycerol from biodiesel production into 1,3-propanediol. This 1,3-propanediol can be extracted selectively from the aqueous fermentation broth using ionic liquids. 1,3-propanediol in ionic liquid solution was converted to propanal by hydrogen transfer initiated dehydration (HTID) catalysed by a Cp*IrCl2(NHC) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; NHC = carbene ligand) complex. The use of an ionic liquid solvent enabled the reaction to be performed under reduced pressure, facilitating the isolation of the product, and improving the reaction selectivity. The Ir(III) catalyst in ionic liquid was found to be highly recyclable.

A class of efficient short-chain fluorinated catanionic surfactants

There have been many attempts to find suitable replacements for fluorinated surfactants due to problems related to their bioaccumulation and resistance to biodegradation. Meeting the exceptional performances of these compounds, however, remains largely an unaccomplished challenge. Currently, a solution might be found through the synthesis of new classes of fluorinated compounds that possess reduced environmental impact by following the recommended strategies for their greener and safer design. In this article we report a novel approach by designing a family of catanionic fluorinated surfactants that shows potential for improved degradation, good water solubility, and low Krafft points. Furthermore, these surfactants exhibit excellent fluorine efficiency and effectiveness of surface tension reduction.