The utilization of ionic liquids as versatile reaction media and catalysts has garnered significant attention in the field of green and sustainable chemistry. In this study, sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) is employed to investigate the interactions between l-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF4]) and styrene oxide (SO) at the air/liquid interface. Spectral analysis in the range of 1000 cm−1 to 3700 cm−1 reveals that only vibrational modes of C–H bonds are observed. Notably, the orientation of the epoxy ring of SO is found to be towards the bulk phase, while the three C–H groups on the imidazolium ring of the cation are parallel to the surface. Consequently, there are no observed interactions between the cation and SO. However, in the vibrational spectra of C–H bonds, interactions between the anion BF4- and the CH2 group of the epoxy ring result in blue shifts in the vibrations of CH (SO) and CH3 (cation). These findings support a proposed reaction mechanism where the ionic liquid catalyzes SO first and subsequently reacts with CO2 providing valuable insights into intermolecular interactions and molecular orientations at reaction interfaces.
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June 2024
Research Article|
June 01 2024
Unraveling interactions and catalytic mechanisms of ionic liquid [Bmim][BF4] and styrene oxide using sum frequency spectroscopy†
Special Collection:
In Memory of Prof. Qihe Zhu on the occasion of his 100th Anniversary
Dujuan Meng;
Dujuan Meng
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
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Linyu Han;
Linyu Han
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
b
University of Chinese Academy Sciences
, Beijing 100049, China
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Caihe Liu;
Caihe Liu
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
b
University of Chinese Academy Sciences
, Beijing 100049, China
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Yuening Zhang;
Yuening Zhang
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
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Xujin Qin;
Xujin Qin
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
b
University of Chinese Academy Sciences
, Beijing 100049, China
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Yu Bai;
Yu Bai
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
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Yuan Guo;
Yuan Guo
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
b
University of Chinese Academy Sciences
, Beijing 100049, China
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Zhen Zhang
Zhen Zhang
*
a
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 10019 China
b
University of Chinese Academy Sciences
, Beijing 100049, China
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]
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*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]
†
Part of Special Issue “In Memory of Prof. Qihe Zhu on the occasion of his 100th Aniversary”.
Chin. J. Chem. Phys. 37, 420–428 (2024)
Article history
Received:
January 06 2024
Accepted:
February 07 2024
Citation
Dujuan Meng, Linyu Han, Caihe Liu, Yuening Zhang, Xujin Qin, Yu Bai, Yuan Guo, Zhen Zhang; Unraveling interactions and catalytic mechanisms of ionic liquid [Bmim][BF4] and styrene oxide using sum frequency spectroscopy. Chin. J. Chem. Phys. 1 June 2024; 37 (3): 420–428. https://doi.org/10.1063/1674-0068/cjcp2401001
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