Issue 44, 2007

Molecular dynamics study of dicarbollide anions in nitrobenzene solution and at its aqueous interface. Synergistic effect in the Eu(iii) assisted extraction

Abstract

We report a molecular dynamics study of chlorinated cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anions [(B9C2H8Cl3)2Co] “CCD” in nitrobenzene and at the nitrobenzene–water interface, with the main aim to understand the solution state of these hydrophobic species and why they act as strong synergists in assisted liquid–liquid extraction of metallic cations. Neat nitrobenzene is found to well solubilize CCD, Cs+ salts in the form of diluted pairs or oligomers, without displaying aggregation. In biphasic nitrobenzenewater systems, CCD anions mainly partition to the organic phase, thus attracting Cs+ or even more hydrophilic counterions like Eu3+ into that phase. The remaining CCD anions adsorb at the interface, but are less surface active than at the chloroform interface. Finally, we compare the interfacial behavior of the Eu(BTP)33+ complex in the absence and in the presence of CCD anions and extractant molecules. It is found that in the absence of CCDs, the complex is trapped at the interface, while when the CCDs are concentrated enough, the complex is extracted to the nitrobenzene phase. These results are compared to those obtained with chloroform or octanol as organic phase and discussed in the context of synergistic effect of CCDs in liquid–liquid extraction, pointing to the importance of dual solvation properties of nitrobenzene or octanol to solubilize the CCD salts as well as the extracted complex.

Graphical abstract: Molecular dynamics study of dicarbollide anions in nitrobenzene solution and at its aqueous interface. Synergistic effect in the Eu(iii) assisted extraction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Jul 2007
Accepted
11 Sep 2007
First published
28 Sep 2007

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007,9, 5928-5938

Molecular dynamics study of dicarbollide anions in nitrobenzene solution and at its aqueous interface. Synergistic effect in the Eu(III) assisted extraction

G. Chevrot, R. Schurhammer and G. Wipff, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007, 9, 5928 DOI: 10.1039/B711284J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements