Excited-state proton transfer reaction of a pyrenylurea derivative in the ionic liquid

What is it about?

Ionic liquids are a class of solvents with unique properties that make them attractive for a variety of applications, including catalysis, energy storage, and sensor development. One of the key properties of ionic liquids is their ability to solvate ions, which can lead to interesting and unexpected phenomena. For example, ionic liquids can affect the rates of chemical reactions, including proton transfer reactions. The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIMAc) was found to promote tautomer formation in the ESPT reaction of CF3-1PUP, but also slowed down the reaction rate. This suggests that the ESPT reaction in EMIMAc is governed by slow solvent reorientation.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

EMIMAc promotes tautomer formation in the ESPT reaction of CF3-1PUP, but also slows down the reaction rate. As the amount of EMIMAc in the solvent mixture increases, the reaction rate decreases. This finding suggests that the ESPT reaction in EMIMAc is governed by the slow reorientation of the solvent molecules. In this sense, the EMIMAc ions form a solvation shell around the CF3-1PUP molecule, which hinders the reorientation of the molecule and thus slows down the ESPT reaction.

Perspectives