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Updated: Apr 29, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
A cobalt(II) bis(salicylate)-based ionic liquid that shows thermoresponsive and selective water coordination
Yuki Kohno1, Matthew G Cowan, Miyuki Masuda
1Dept. of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. nobler@colorado.edu douglas.gin@colorado.edu.
Abstract:
A metal-containing ionic liquid (MCIL) has been prepared in which the [Co(II)(salicylate)2](2-) anion is able to selectively coordinate two water molecules with a visible colour change, even in the presence of alcohols. Upon moderate heating or placement in vacuo, the hydrated MCIL undergoes reversible thermochromism by releasing the bound water molecules.
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