Catalysis, Separations and New Methodologies with Ionic Liquids

在过去的几十年里，室温离子液体（RTIL）在化学应用中的使用已经获得了显著的和不同的兴趣。除了用作新型反应介质外，它们还在材料、催化和分离等方面具有应用。RTIL具有一组独特的化学和物理性质，其中一些是可调的，使它们成为有吸引力的研究目标。这些性质包括可调液体范围、粘度、挥发性、极性和生物降解性。RTIL还可以具有高导电性、热和电化学稳定性以及上级溶剂化能力。然而，如果要使RTIL得到广泛使用，就需要解决与RTIL有关的一些问题。这些包括关注RTIL的整个生命周期、制造和处置、毒性、生物降解性和成本。RTIL在我们研究中的特定应用，如金属分离和催化，需要充分解决与RTIL浸出，水溶性和金属结合能力相关的问题。 因此，我们的研究计划的总体主题涉及RTIL的有用的化学和物理特性的开发，同时注意应用绿色化学原理和相关问题，只要可能。它们独特的性质允许化学物质、反应物、中间体（带电和不带电）和产物在离子环境中溶剂化-潜在地赋予新的溶剂效应。因此，我们的研究计划已发展成四个主要领域的兴趣：（1）新的离子有机催化剂，可以通过使用在RTIL系统中回收的发展。(2)新型离子液体的设计、合成和表征，用作有机金属方法学和生物质转化的替代溶剂和材料。(3)RTIL系统中的有机金属加成反应(4)用于金属分离或制备RTIL-金属络合物的功能化RTIL的开发，所述RTIL-金属络合物可以作为固定化均相催化剂容易地再循环。

The use of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) in chemical applications has gained significant and varied interest over the last few decades. In addition to use as novel reaction media they have enjoyed applications in materials, catalysis, and separations amongst others. RTILs possess a unique set of chemical and physical properties, some of which are tuneable, making them attractive targets for investigation. Such properties include tuneable liquid range, viscosity, volatility, polarity, and biodegradability. RTILs can also have high conductivity, thermal and electrochemical stability and superior solvating ability. However, there are a number of concerns related to RTILs that need to be addressed if they are to enjoy widespread use. These include attention being given to entire life cycle, manufacture and disposal of RTILs, toxicity, biodegradability, and cost. Specific applications of RTILs of interest to our research such as in metal separations and catalysis require that issues related to RTIL leaching, water miscibility, and metal binding ability be adequately addressed.****     Hence, the overall theme of our research program involves the exploitation of the useful chemical and physical properties of RTILs while being mindful of applying Green Chemistry principles and relevant issues whenever possible. Their unique set of properties allows the solvation of chemical species, reactants, intermediates (charged and uncharged) and products in an ionic environment - potentially imparting novel solvent effects. Consequently, our research program has evolved into four main areas of interest: (1) The development of novel ionic organocatalysts that can be recycled through their use in RTIL systems.; (2) The design, synthesis, and characterization of new ionic liquids for use as alternative solvents and materials targeted toward organometallic methodology and biomass conversion.; (3) Adaptation of bimetallic and organometallic addition reactions to RTIL systems.; (4) The development of functionalized RTILs for use in metal separations or in the preparation of RTIL-metal complexes that can be easily recycled as immobilized homogeneous catalysts.******