Design of Catalytic Ionic Liquids for Oxidation Catalysis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jörg Sundermeyer
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2006 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 29447570

The project focuses on the design of novel catalytic ionic liquids (CIL) for the use in oxidation catalysis. Catalytic ionic liquids are not just a solvent with inert cation and anion, but they contain either a catalytically active cation or a catalytically active anion. This approach implies that the ionic liquid ion pair changes its chemical nature in a reproducible periodic manner, namely within one turnover of the catalytic cycle. As water, the typical byproduct of many oxidation processes, is inhibiting the catalyst or lowering its selectivity and turn over number, strategies will be followed to design new corresponding highly hydrophobic non-catalytic long-chain pentaalkyl-guanidinium cations or novel perfluoramide and -imide onions for biphasic catalysis. Novel ionic liquids containing the catalytic oxocuprate anion [Cu4OCl10]- will be applied in the aerobic oxidation of 2,3,5-trimethylphenol to 2,3,5-trimethylquinone, a key intermediate of industrial vitamin E synthesis, others with a mixture of [Br]-, [Br3]-and [peroxometallate]- will be tested in the bromination of olefins and aromatics by bromide / ROOH. Finally novel CIL with cupronium, argentonium and auronium cations [L-M-L]+ will be investigated for their liquid crystalline phase behavior and catalytic activity in the biphasic oxidative carbonylation of methanol and phenol to organocarbonates.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1191: Ionic Liquids