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CHEM01200604012 Dibakar Goswami - Homi Bhabha National ...

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The acceleration of the reaction in [bmim][Br] suggested activation of In metal by<br />

the RTIL so that its subsequent conversion to the species II is triggered. For investigating<br />

this aspect, the 1 H NMR spectrum of the RTIL (5 mL) was recorded after incubating with<br />

In (1.0 mmol) for 0.5 h. This led to upfield shifts of its imidazole protons. The shift<br />

followed the expected trend, and was maximum (4.2 Hz) for H-2, and less (3.8 Hz) for H-4<br />

and H-5. The same trend could also been seen for the imidazole carbons, where an upfield<br />

shift of 10 Hz for C-2 and 6 Hz for both C-4 and C-5 were noticed. Addition of allyl<br />

bromide to the above mixture restored the 1 H and 13 C NMR resonances of the imidazole<br />

moiety of the RTIL. The upfield shifts of the 1 H and 13 C NMR resonances suggested<br />

electron transfer from In to [bmim][Br], activating the In-metal surface. Earlier surface<br />

reaction with In metal has been reported. 79 The metal-mediated Barbier reaction is<br />

proposed to be mediated through radicals on metal surface 80a,b as well as metal surface<br />

activation especially in aqueous acidic media. 80c The occurrence of charge transfer (CT) in<br />

RTILs is not also unprecedented. 79b,c Although, The possibility of having free cations in<br />

ILs is quite remote, 81a the imidazolium-based ILs have remarkable ability to promote<br />

electron transfer reactions. 79b,81b-c However, the direct involvement of a metal in this<br />

process is unprecedented. Possibly the combination of In and [bmim][Br] forms ion pairs<br />

or more complex ion-aggregates such as 61 with a partially charged activated In as shown<br />

in Scheme II.3.3.<br />

H H<br />

H H<br />

Br -<br />

N + N<br />

+ In<br />

N +δ<br />

In +δ<br />

N Br -<br />

C4 H 9 C4 H 9<br />

H<br />

H<br />

61<br />

Scheme II.3.3<br />

49

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