Preparation and Characterization of Zinc(II)-Based Lewis/Brønsted Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents

Area of Science:

• Green Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Lewis/Brønsted acidic deep eutectic solvents (LBDESs) offer synergistic catalytic properties.
• Discovering new LBDESs is crucial for expanding their applications.
• Zinc(II) is a diamagnetic metal, making its complexes suitable for NMR studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize novel zinc(II)-based LBDESs.
• To explore the potential of these LBDESs in catalysis and mechanistic studies.
• To evaluate the physical properties of the synthesized LBDESs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of four zinc(II)-based LBDESs using ZnCl2 and different Brønsted acids (acetic, glycolic, levulinic, formic).
• Characterization of LBDESs by measuring density, viscosity, and conductivity.
• Assessment of thermal stability for the prepared LBDESs.

Main Results:

• Three thermally stable zinc(II)-based LBDESs were successfully prepared and characterized.
• The physical properties (density, viscosity, conductivity) of the stable LBDESs were determined.
• The diamagnetic nature of zinc(II) confirmed the suitability of these LBDESs for NMR spectroscopy.

Conclusions:

• Novel zinc(II)-based LBDESs were synthesized, with three exhibiting good thermal stability.
• These LBDESs possess tunable physical properties and are amenable to NMR analysis.
• The developed LBDESs hold promise for catalytic applications and mechanistic investigations.