We demonstrate the application of in situ XPS to monitor organic, liquid-phase reactions. By covalently attaching ionic head groups to the reacting organic molecules, their volatility can be reduced such that they withstand ultra high vacuum conditions. The applied method, which is new for the investigation of organic reactions, allows for following the fate of all elements present in the reaction mixture - except for hydrogen - in a quantitative and oxidation state sensitive manner, in one experiment. This concept is demonstrated for the alkylation of a tertiary amine attached to an imidazolium or phosphonium moiety by the anion 4-chlorobutylsulfonate ([ClC4H8SO3]-). In course of the reaction, covalently bound chlorine is converted to chloride and the amine to ammonium as reflected by distinct shifts in N 1s and Cl 2p binding energies.Kolbeck et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Edition 51 (2012) 2610-2613 Niedermaier et al., ChemPhysChem (2012); DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201100965

In-situ monitoring of chemical reactions in ionic liquids

244th National Meeting (2012)

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