Design of Reversible Ionic Liquids for Controlling Reactions and Separations

许多化学过程（反应和分离）都是在溶液中进行的。最近发现的通过在分子水平上的受控操纵可逆地“切换”溶剂系统的性质（离子与共价）的可能性为基础研究和未来应用开辟了主要途径。一方面，开关可用于改变溶剂的物理性质，特别是这涉及其溶剂力（similis similibus solvuntur =像溶解一样）。另一方面，溶剂与试剂和催化剂的分子相互作用的可逆变化提供了对在这样的介质中发生的化学转化的新的控制机制。本项目的拟议研究包括详细调查潜在的物理化学原理和探索性研究新的可切换系统中的化学过程，这些系统（1）能够可逆地控制首选反应途径（中性与离子）（2）促进产品分离，以及（3）允许溶剂回收和再利用。

A large number of chemical processes (reactions and separations) are performed in solution. The recently discovered possibility to reversibly “switch” the nature of a solvent system (ionic vs covalent) by controlled manipulation on a molecular level opens to major paths for basic research and future applications. On the one hand, the switch can be used to change the physical properties of the solvent and in particular this relates to its solvent power (similis similibus solvuntur = like dissolve like). On the other hand, the reversible change of molecular interaction of solvents with reagents and catalysts provides novel control mechanisms over chemical transformations occurring in such media. The proposed research in this project comprises detailed investigations of the underlying physico-chemical principles and exploratory studies of chemical processes in new switchable systems that (1) enable reversible control over the preferred reaction pathway (neutral vs ionic) (2) facilitate product isolation, and (3) allow solvent recycle and reuse.