Fluorescence Anisotropy of a Nonpolar Solute in 1-Alkyl-3-Methylimidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids: Does the Organized Structure of the Ionic Liquid Influence Solute Rotation?

Abstract

Temperature-dependent fluorescence anisotropies of a nonpolar solute 9-phenylanthracene (9-PA) have been measured in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids with anions such as bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Tf2N–]), tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([FAP–]), tetrafluoroborate ([BF4(–)]), and hexafluorophosphate ([PF6(–)]) to find out if the organized structure of the ionic liquid has a bearing on solute rotation. Analysis of the experimental data using the Stokes–Einstein–Debye hydrodynamic theory indicates that there is no significant variation in the solute–solvent coupling constants (Cobs) with an increase in the length of the alkyl chain on the imidazolium cation for the ionic liquids with [Tf2N–] and [FAP–] anions. However, in the case of ionic liquids with [BF4(–)] and [PF6(–)] anions, the rotation of 9-PA for a given viscosity at constant temperature becomes progressively faster and C(obs) decreases by a factor of 2.4 from ethyl to octyl derivatives. Quasihydrodynamic theories of Gierer–Wirtz and Dote–Kivelson–Schwartz could not account for the significant decrease in the C(obs) values. The observed behavior has been rationalized in terms of the organized structure of the ionic liquids having [BF4(–)] and [PF6(–)] anions, which results as a consequence of the high charge-to-size ratio of these anions compared to [Tf2N–] and [FAP–].