Comparison of dansylated aminopropyl controlled pore glass solvated by molecular and ionic liquids

We compare how (i) four ionic liquids (ILs) (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄mim][BF₄]), 1-butyl-3- methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C₄mim][Tf ₂N]), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C₄mpy][Tf₂N]), and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([P(C₆)₃C ₁₄][Tf₂N])) and (ii) two conventional molecular liquids (methanol and 1-octanol) solvate/wet luminescent organic moieties that are covalently attached to the surface of silica controlled pore glass (CPG). A series of aminopropyl CPG particles that have been covalently tagged with the solvatochromic fluorescent probe group dansyl were used in this study. The results demonstrate that ILs solvate/wet the silica surface differently in comparison to molecular liquids (MLs). Specifically, when comparing ILs and MLs that appear to solvate the free probe, dansylpropylsulfonamide (DPSA), equally in solution, we find that ILs do not solvate/wet the silica surfaces as well as the corresponding MLs. The cation component in these ILs is the significant factor in how the ILs solvate/wet silica surfaces. Solvation/wetting of surface-bound species at a silica surface depends on the cation size. Chlorosilane end-capping of the surface silanol and amine residues attenuates the cation's affects.