A comparison of the solvation power of the green solvent 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane versus toluene via partition coefficients

JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

卷:240

Article

Byrne, Fergal P.¹  Hodds, William M.¹  Shimizu, Seishi²  Farmer, Thomas J.¹  Hunt, Andrew J.^1,3,4 

[1] Univ York, Dept Chem, Green Chem Ctr Excellence, York YO10 5DD, N Yorkshire, England

[2] Univ York, Dept Chem, York Struct Biol Lab, York YO10 5DD, N Yorkshire, England

[3] Khon Kaen Univ, Dept Chem, Mat Chem Res Ctr, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

[4] Khon Kaen Univ, Ctr Excellence Innovat Chem, Fac Sci, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

关键词: 2,2,5,5-Tetramethyltetrahydrofuran;    Extraction;    Solvent properties;    Non-polar;    Abraham model;    Green;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118175

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane [previously published as 2,2,5,5-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran (TMTHF)] has recently been demonstrated as a greener and cleaner alternative to toluene in several applications. Assessing similarities in properties of toluene and 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane is crucial for establishing this molecules potential to replace traditional non-polar organic solvents in the cleaner production of chemicals and materials. However, the Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) and Kamlet-Taft parameters (KT) give conflicting views on their similarities and differences, which necessitates a full comparative characterisation of the solvation environment of these two solvents. Such comparisons have been achieved through a direct and extensive determination of partition coefficients between each of the two solvents and water. The partition coefficients and Abraham's solvation parameter model have quantitatively clarified the similarities and differences in properties of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane and toluene. Solutes of high dipolarity and hydrogen-bond accepting ability tended to favour the aqueous phase in both systems, while large molar volume and high refractive indices favoured the organic phase. A significant difference between 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane and toluene was observed for hydrogen-bond donating solutes. In general, such solutes strongly preferred the aqueous phase in the toluene/water system but preferred the organic phase in the 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane/water system. This was due to the interaction of the protic solutes with the lone pairs of electrons on the ethereal oxygen of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane, a feature that is not present on toluene, and opens up new possibilities for applications of this sustainable solvent in liquid-liquid extraction, particularly in the isolation of natural products. As toluene is such an important solvent in the chemical industry, its replacement with a greener alternative such as 2,2,5,5-tetramethyloxolane would be hugely significant for cleaner synthesis, extractions and separations. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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