Shaping micro- and macroscopic properties of ionic liquid-solute systems: multifunctional task-specific (solvent, catalyst, water scavenger) agents

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A multi-functional task-specific ionic liquid is developed to simultaneously act as a solvent, catalyst and water scavenger in a typical condensation reaction: the esterification. The research methodology includes the investigation of several homologous series of ionic liquids. Systematic calorimetric as well as physico-chemical studies (viscosity, density, electric conductivity) as functions of temperature and type and concentration of solute are performed in addition to kinetic experiments. The comprehensive data obtained is analyzed using a group contribution approach to elucidate the structure-property relationship of the ionic liquids with respect to their effects and performance in the esterification. In an iterative process, new generations of ionic liquids with optimized structural characteristics are synthesized to verify the predictions made by the group contribution approach. An interdisciplinary network between the universities of Jena and Leipzig and two groups in Freiburg is proposed in which each project in its own right contributes essentially to furthering the understanding of ionic liquid structure-property relationships. The four research groups will, however, mutually benefit from the complementary expertise of the partners in a network of chemical engineers, physicists, and chemists. New methods of generating physico-chemical data are validated with existing methodology, and the large set of data obtained from ionic liquids of known purity is shared within the network, thus enabling the partners to analyze the results from a cross-section of science: fundamental and theoretical as well as technological and experimental.