Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
06:53
Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: June 9, 2023
2.9K
The acidity/basicity of metal-containing ionic liquids: insights from surface analysis and the Fukui function
Weihong Wu1, Yunxiang Lu, Hairong Ding
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Department of Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China. yxlu@ecust.edu.cn.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|November 27, 2014
Summary
Metal-containing ionic liquids exhibit tunable acidity and basicity, influenced by metal incorporation. This understanding aids in designing novel metal-containing ionic liquids for catalysis and extraction applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Computational Chemistry
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Metal-containing ionic liquids (ILs) are versatile materials with applications in catalysis and organic synthesis.
- Understanding their inherent properties, such as acidity and basicity, is crucial for optimizing their performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acidity and basicity of various metal-containing ILs using quantum-chemical parameters.
- To elucidate how metal incorporation into ILs affects their acid-base properties.
Main Methods:
- Quantum-chemical calculations were employed to determine surface electrostatic potential (Vs,max, Vs,min), lowest surface average local ionization energy (I̅s,min), and atomic electrostatic potential (EPnuc).
- Regional Fukui functions were utilized to assess the distribution of Lewis acidity and basicity.
Main Results:
- Chlorometallate-based ILs demonstrated enhanced acidity compared to conventional ILs due to increased electron deficiency in the imidazole ring.
- Silver-coordinated ILs showed reduced acidity and increased basicity relative to traditional ILs.
- Metal incorporation significantly influences the overall acidity/basicity of ILs.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the acid-base behavior of metal-containing ILs.
- These findings can guide the rational design of novel metal-containing ILs with tailored properties for specific applications like catalysis and extraction.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:54Ions as Acids and Bases
28.2K
Salts with Acidic Ions
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
28.2K
01:25Basicity of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines
7.2K
Heterocyclic amines, where the N atom is a part of an alicyclic system, are similar in basicity to alkylamines. Interestingly, the heterocyclic amine having a nitrogen atom as part of an aromatic ring has much less basicity than its corresponding alicyclic counterpart. For this reason, as presented in Figure 1, piperidine (pKb = 2.8) is significantly more basic than pyridine (pKb = 8.8).
7.2K
02:51Metal-Ligand Bonds
25.9K
The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
25.9K
01:21Basicity of Aliphatic Amines
7.3K
Amines can behave as Brønsted–Lowry bases by accepting a proton from the acid to form corresponding conjugate acids. Due to a lone pair of nonbonding electrons, aliphatic amines can also act as Lewis bases by forming a covalent bond with an electrophile.
To measure the basicity of amines, two conventions are generally used. The first defines Kb as the basicity constant for the deprotonation reaction of water by the amine, as presented in Figure 1. Conventionally, lower Kb indicates...
To measure the basicity of amines, two conventions are generally used. The first defines Kb as the basicity constant for the deprotonation reaction of water by the amine, as presented in Figure 1. Conventionally, lower Kb indicates...
7.3K
03:45Formation of Complex Ions
27.1K
A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
27.1K
00:56Extraction: Advanced Methods
1.3K
Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is...
1.3K