Main Group Catalysis in Ionic Liquids
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry and Chemical Eng
Abstract
This project combines two topical areas: Main Group catalysis and ionic liquids, based on previous work by the group on the development of borenium ionic liquids. This research will involve designing and synthesising ionic liquids displaying FLP activity, characterising them and exploring their catalytic applications. The aim is to further the development of new ionic liquids with highly Lewis acidic borenium cations, for applications in catalysis, in particular as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLP). A study into the design of ionic liquids FLP systems that can activate hydrogen will be undertaken and applied to the reduction of organic substrates. Ionic liquid FLPs have many advantages over FLP chemistry in organic solvents, in particular high concentration of active species and negligible volatility. Initial studies will be carried out homogenously, at NMR scale, followed by immobilisation of the IL-FLPs on solid supports and moving onto heterogenous catalysis. Activation of other small molecules, in particular CO2 and methane, will be investigated.
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509541/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 2279778 | Studentship | EP/N509541/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/09/2023 | Anne McGrogan |
| EP/R513118/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2023 | |||
| 2279778 | Studentship | EP/R513118/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/09/2023 | Anne McGrogan |
| Description | I am working on Lewis acids and acidic ionic liquids, which can be used as inexpensive, metal-free catalysts. I am trying to understand what makes a strong or weak Lewis acid, and I am trying to corelate liquid structure of ionic liquids with their performance in catalytic rections. The first significant outcome of my research was to apply a new software, DISSOLVE, to interpret the structure of acidic ionic liquids from neutron scattering data. This is the first time this software was used to understand the structure of ionic liquids. I have helped to further develop the software by close collaboration with its creators at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. I have used it to understand how water and protons behave in an acidic ionic liquids, and how this affects their performance as catalysts. The second significant finding was a new method of quantifying Lewis acidity by liquid jet XPS, developed with Dr Lovelock's group at Reading University. This is the first time this technique has been used to investigate the electronic environment of boron Lewis acids. By understanding how the electronic structure relates to chemical reactivity, we aim to elucidate different factors that influence Lewis acidity, and understand how each impacts the catalytic performance of boron Lewis acids. I have also learned how to analyse XPS data using Igor and CasaXPS software. The third significant finding was the evidence of pressure-induced liquid-liquid transition in a family of ionic materials, in collaboration with Dr. Zaneta Wojnarowska at University of Silesia in Katowice. This work has led to a publication in nature communications. |
| Exploitation Route | This line of research will be taken forward by PhD members in the research group. Further opportunities, ideas and questions that have come from this work should be further explored. The outcomes and knowledge gained from this work will be of benefit to the science community. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | Electronic structure of boron based compounds in solution measured by liquid jet photoelectron spectroscopy |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | expertise in boron based Lewis acids (synthesis, discovery, catalytic applications, Lewis acidity measurements). |
| Collaborator Contribution | expertise in X-ray spectroscopy of liquids |
| Impact | Liquid microjet X-ray spectroscopy measurements were performed on boron compounds as a novel method to investigate the Lewis acidity of boron compounds and relate to their chemical reactivity. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Pressure-induced liquid-liquid transition in a family of ionic materials |
| Organisation | University of Silesia |
| Country | Poland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | synthesis and characterisation of ionic liquids |
| Collaborator Contribution | planned and carried out the experimental work and analysed the data |
| Impact | publication 10.1038/s41467-022-29021-0 |
| Start Year | 2019 |