Biocatalytic transformations in ionic liquids

ENZYMATIC POLYMERIZATION OF PHENOLS IN ROOM TEMPERATURE IONIC LIQUIDS

Soybean peroxidase (SBP) was used to catalyze the polymerization of phenols in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). Phenolic polymers with number average molecular weights ranging from 1200 to 4100 D were obtained depending on the composition of the reaction medium and the nature of the phenol. Specifically, SBP was highly active in methylimidazolium-containing RTILs, including 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM(BF(4))), and 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (BMPy(BF(4))) with the ionic liquid content as high as 90% (v/v); the balance being aqueous buffer. Gel permeation chromatography and MALDI-TOF analysis indicated that higher molecular weight polymers can be synthesized in the presence of higher RTIL concentrations, with selective control over polymer size achieved by varying the RTIL concentration. The resulting polyphenols exhibited high thermostability and possessed thermosetting properties.

Enzymatic synthesis of esculin ester in ionic liquids buffered with organic solvents

The enzymatic esterification of esculin catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) was carried out in ionic liquid (IL)-organic solvent mixed systems in comparison with individual systems. The reaction behaviors in IL-organic solvents were systemically evaluated using acetone as a model solvent. With organic solvents as media, the esterification rates of esculin depended mainly on its solubility in solvents; for the reactions in ILs, the reaction rates were generally low, and the anion part of the IL played a critical role in enzyme activity. Therefore, the esterification of esculin in IL-acetone mixtures made it possible to improve the solubility of esculin while the effects of ILs on lipase activity were minimized. Following the benignity of ILs to lipase activity, the anions of ILs were ranked in the order as [Tf(2)N](-) > [PF(6)](-) > [BF(4)](-) > [CF(3)SO(3)](-) > [C(4)F(9)SO(3)](-) > [TAF](-) > [MDEGSO(4)](-) > [OctSO(4)](-) > [ES](-) = [DMP](-) = [OTs](- )= Cl(-). The reaction behaviors differed in different systems and largely depended on the properties of the ILs and organic solvents. In general, improvements were observed in terms of both solubility and reaction efficiency. The knowledge acquired in this work gives a better understanding of multiple interactions in IL-organic solvent systems, which provide guidance for system design and optimization.

Choline dihydrogen phosphate

In the cystal structure of the title compound, (2-hy­droxy­ethyl)trimethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate, C₅H₁₄NO⁺·H₂PO₄⁻, two anions create dimeric structures via two O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen-bonded dimers are connected by another O—H⋯O hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl groups of the cations, constructing a columner structure along the a axis. A number of C—H⋯O interactions are also present.

Improvement of steroid biotransformation with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin induced complexation

The inclusion complexes induced by cyclodextrins and its derivates have been shown previously to enhance the biotransformation of hydrophobic compounds. Using hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD; 20% w/v), the water solubility of cortisone acetate increased from 0.039 to 7.382 g L(-1) at 32 degrees C. The solubilization effect of HP-beta-CD was far superior to dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol. The dissolution rate also significantly increased in the presence of HP-beta-CD. The enzymatic stability of Delta(1)-dehydrogenase from Arthrobacter simplex TCCC 11037 was not influenced by the increasing concentrations of HP-beta-CD contrary to the organic cosolvents which negatively influenced in the order DMF > ethanol. The activity inhibition effect caused by HP-beta-CD was not so conspicuous as ethanol and DMF. Inactivation constants of ethanol, DMF, and HP-beta-CD were 5.832, 4.541, and 1.216, respectively. The inactivation energy (E (a)) was in the order of HP-beta-CD (55.1 kJ mol(-1)) > ethanol (39.9 kJ mol(-1)) > DMF (37.1 kJ mol(-1)).

Toxic effects of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide on the early embryonic development of the frog Rana nigromaculata

Toxic effects of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide ([C8mim]Br) on the early embryonic development of the frog Rana nigromaculata were evaluated. Frog embryos in different developmental stages (early cleavage, early gastrula, or neural plate) were exposed to 0, 45, 63, or 88.2 mg/L of the ionic liquid [C8mim]Br for 96 h. The 96-h median lethal concentration values at the early cleavage, early gastrula, and neural plate stages of development were 85.1, 43.4, and 42.4 mg/L, respectively. In embryos exposed to [C8mim]Br, the duration of embryo dechorionation was prolonged in the early cleavage and neural plate, but not the early gastrula, stages of development compared with control embryos. Embryos in the neural plate developmental stage were found to have the highest mortality rate following [C8mim]Br exposure. These results suggest that [C8mim]Br has toxic effects on the early embryonic development of the frog.

Biocatalysis in water-in-ionic liquid microemulsions: a case study with horseradish peroxidase

In this article we report the first results on the enzymatic activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) microencapsulated in water-in-ionic liquid (w/IL) microemulsions using pyrogallol as the substrate. Toward this goal, the system used in this study was composed of anionic surfactant AOT (sodium bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)sulfosuccinate)/hydrophobic IL [C(8)mim][Tf(2)N] (1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide)/water/1-hexanol. In this system, the catalytic activity of HRP was measured as a function of substrate concentrations, W(0) (molar ratio of water to surfactant), pH, and 1-hexanol content. The curve of the activity-W(0) profile was found to be hyperbolic for the new microemulsion. The apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (k(cat) and K(m)) were estimated and compared to those obtained from a conventional microemulsion. Apparently, it was found that HRP-catalyzed oxidation of pyrogallol by hydrogen peroxide in IL microemulsuions is much more effective than in a conventional AOT/water/isooctane microemulsion. The stability of HRP solubilized in the newly developed w/IL microemulsions was examined, and it was found that HRP retained almost 70% of its initial activity after incubation at 28 degrees C for 30 h.

Ionic liquids: Solvation ability and polarity

The role of ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents in chemistry is limited by the poor understanding of the solvation phenomenon in these media. The usual classification criteria used for molecular solvents through various experimental measurements fail to insert ILs into a univocal classification for ILs. Here, we first discuss the unsuitability of the usual interpretative scheme for molecular liquids and elucidate schematically the mechanism of solvation in ILs, pointing out the peculiarities that differentiate them with respect to molecular liquids. Second, we focus on reactivity and reaction kinetics in ILs, underlining the many problems that the complexity of these media reflects on the interpretation of kinetic data and some possible approaches to understand qualitatively the (often not trivial) kinetic problems for reactions performed in ILs.

Ion-responsive behavior of ionic-liquid surfactant aggregates with applications in controlled release and emulsification

We propose a simple but efficient, rapid, and quantitative ion-responsive micelle system based on counter-anion exchange of a surfactant with an imidazolium unit. The ion-exchange reaction results in the amphiphilic-to-hydrophobic transition of the imidazolium salt, leading to the destruction of the micelles, which has been successfully applied to controlled release and emulsification. The proposed design offers a novel alternative stimulus to control these smart physical aggregates besides pH, temperature and light-with extra advantages. Our finding greatly benefits both fundamental research and industry.

Acute effects of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid on the antioxidant enzyme system of mouse liver

The effects of acute exposure of intraperitoneal injection of aqueous 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide on the antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation of the treated mouse liver were investigated in the present paper. Thirty mice were treated with 17.9 (0.5 median lethal dose, LD(50)) and 35.7 mg/kg (1 LD(50)) of the ionic liquid or saline solution by intraperitoneal injection for 10h. Significant increase in hepatosomatic index and decrease in liver protein content were found in 1 LD(50) group. No statistically significant change was observed in the activity of superoxide dismutase in both treated groups compared to the control group. In the case of catalase activity, the decrease was recorded only at dose of 1 LD(50). As for the activity of glutathione peroxidase, increase in 0.5 LD(50) group while significant decrease at dose of 1 LD(50) was noted. There was an increase in the activity of glutathione-S-transferase in these two treated groups in comparison to the control. However, no effect on the level of lipid peroxidation was found in the treated groups. These results showed that the acute exposure of aqueous ionic liquid could cause damage to mouse, leading to antioxidant responses in livers of the treated mice.

"Nonsolvent" applications of ionic liquids in biotransformations and organocatalysis

The application of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as (co)solvents and/or reagents is well documented. However, RTILS also have "nonsolvent" applications in biotransformations and organocatalysis. Examples are the anchoring of substrates to RTILs; ionic-liquid-coated enzymes (ILCE) and enzyme-IL colyophilization; the construction of biocatalytic ternary reaction systems; the combination of enzymes, RTILs, membranes, and (bio)electrochemistry; and ionic-liquid-supported organocatalysts. These strategies provide more robust, more efficient, and more enantioselective bio- and organocatalysts with many practical applications. As shown herein, RTILs offer a wide range of promising alternatives to conventional chemistry.

Ionic liquids and proteases: a clean alliance for semisynthesis

Herein we present the first report on protease-catalysed ligation of cleavage-sensitive peptide and protein fragments in ionic-liquid-containing solvent systems. By applying the newly established [MMIM][Me2PO4]/buffer mixture as a reaction medium, significant advantages over purely aqueous or conventional organic solvent-containing media could be identified, including in particular the use of active wild-type proteases as biocatalysts, the suppression of any competitive proteolytic side reactions, the high turnover rates compared to classical organic solvents and the high stability of chemically labile reactants.

Catalytic activities of fungal oxidases in hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate-based microemulsion

For hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF(6)]), an H(2)O-in-[BMIM][PF(6)] microemulsion could be formed in the presence of nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100). In such a medium, both lignin peroxidase (LiP) and laccase could express their catalytic activity with the optimum molar ratio of H(2)O to TX-100 at 8.0 for LiP and >20 for laccase, and the optimum pH values at 3.2 for LiP and 4.2 for laccase, respectively. As compared with pure or water saturated [BMIM][PF(6)], in which the two oxidases had negligible catalytic activity due to the strong inactivating effect of [BMIM][PF(6)] on both enzymes, the use of the [BMIM][PF(6)]-based microemulsion had some advantages. Not only the catalytic activities of both fungal oxidases greatly enhanced, but also the apparent viscosity of the medium decreased.

Supported phospholipid bilayer interaction with components found in typical room-temperature ionic liquids - a QCM-D and AFM Study

Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were combined to evaluate the defects created by an ionic liquid anion and a cation in a supported phospholipid bilayer composed of zwitterionic lipids on a silica surface. The cation 1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium (OMIM(+)) was shown to remove lipids from the bilayer, increase the roughness to approximately 2.8 nm (~0.2 for stable supported bilayer) and possibly redeposit lipids with entrapped water. The anion bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf(2)N(-)) was found to leave distinct defects within the bilayer that had large pore-like interiors which left the surrounding bilayer intact. However, the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methyl pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMP-Tf(2)N) formed a film over the supported bilayer. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the direct effects common components of ionic liquids have on a supported phospholipids bilayer.