Acid Catalysis with Alkane/Water Microdroplets in Ionic Liquids

Greco R, Lloret V, Angel Rivero-Crespo M, Hirsch A, Domenech-Carbo A, Abellan G, Leyva-Perez A (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

JACS Au American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 1

Pages Range: 786-794

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00107

Abstract

Ionic liquids are composed of an organic cation and a highly delocalized perfluorinated anion, which remain tight to each other and neutral across the extended liquid framework. Here we show that n-alkanes in millimolar amounts enable a sufficient ion charge separation to release the innate acidity of the ionic liquid and catalyze the industrially relevant alkylation of phenol, after generating homogeneous, self-stabilized, and surfactant-free microdroplets (1-5 mu m). This extremely mild and simple protocol circumvents any external additive or potential ionic liquid degradation and can be extended to water, which spontaneously generates microdroplets (ca. 3 mu m) and catalyzes Bronsted rather than Lewis acid reactions. These results open new avenues not only in the use of ionic liquids as acid catalysts/solvents but also in the preparation of surfactant-free, well-defined ionic liquid microemulsions.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andreas Hirsch Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie II

Involved external institutions

University of València / Universitat de València ES Spain (ES) Polytechnic University of Valencia / Universidad Politécnica de Valencia ES Spain (ES)

How to cite

APA:

Greco, R., Lloret, V., Angel Rivero-Crespo, M., Hirsch, A., Domenech-Carbo, A., Abellan, G., & Leyva-Perez, A. (2021). Acid Catalysis with Alkane/Water Microdroplets in Ionic Liquids. JACS Au, 1(6), 786-794. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.1c00107

MLA:

Greco, Rossella, et al. "Acid Catalysis with Alkane/Water Microdroplets in Ionic Liquids." JACS Au 1.6 (2021): 786-794.

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