The speciation of metals in solution controls their reactivity, and this is extremely pertinent in the area of metal salts dissolved in ionic liquids. In the current study, the speciation of 25 metal salts is investigated in four deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and five imidazolium-based ionic liquids using extended X-ray absorption fine structure. It is shown that in diol-based DESs M(I) ions form [MCl2](-) and [MCl3](2-) complexes, while all M(II) ions form [MCl4](2-) complexes, with the exception of Ni(II), which exhibits a very unusual coordination by glycol molecules. This was also found in the X-ray crystal structure of the compound [Ni(phen)2(eg)]Cl2·2eg (eg = ethylene glycol). In a urea-based DES, either pure chloro or chloro-oxo coordination is observed. In [C6mim][Cl] pure chloro complexation is also observed, but coordination numbers are smaller (typically 3), which can be explained by the long alkyl chain of the cation. In [C2mim][SCN] metal ions are entirely coordinated by thiocyanate, either through the N or the S atom, depending on the hardness of the metal ion according to the hard-soft acid-base principle. With weaker coordinating anions, mixed coordination between solvent and solute anions is observed. The effect of hydrate or added water on speciation is insignificant for the diol-based DESs and small in other liquids with intermediate or strong ligands. One of the main findings of this study is that, with respect to metal speciation, there is no fundamental difference between deep eutectic solvents and classic ionic liquids.

In this study we compare the electrochemical and structural properties of three gold salts AuCl, AuCN and KAu(CN)2 in a Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) electrolyte (Ethaline 200) in order to elucidate factors affecting the galvanic deposition of gold coatings on nickel substrates. A chemically reversible diffusion limited response was observed for AuCl, whereas AuCN and KAu(CN)2 showed much more complicated, kinetically limited responses. Galvanic exchange reactions were performed on nickel substrates from DES solutions of the three gold salts; the AuCN gave a bright gold coating, the KAu(CN)2 solution give a visibly thin coating, whilst the coating from AuCl was dull, friable and poorly adhesive. This behaviour was rationalised by the differing speciation for each of these compounds, as evidenced by EXAFS methods. Analysis of EXAFS data shows that AuCl forms the chlorido-complex [AuCl2] − , AuCN forms a mixed [AuCl(CN)] − species, whereas KAu(CN)2 maintains its [Au(CN)2] − structure. The more labile Cl − enables easier reduction of Au when compared to the tightly bound cyanide species, hence leading to slower kinetics of deposition and differing electrochemical behaviour. We conclude that metal speciation in DESs is a function of the initial metal salt and that this has a strong influence on the mechanism and rate of growth, as well as on the morphology of the metal deposit obtained. In addition, these coatings are also extremely promising from a technological perspective as Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) finishes in the printed circuit board (PCB) industry, where the elimination of acid in gold plating formulation could potentially lead to more reliable coatings. Consequently, these results are both significant and timely. IntroductionGold plating processes are widely used in the materials finishing, decorative and electronics industries due to their high reliability, electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. 1 The key characteristic feature of these noble metal coatings is the lack of insulating surface oxides. 2 Electrolytic, 3 electroless, 4 and immersion plating 5 are the three common electrochemical methods used for the coating of conducting substrates with gold films. In each of these processes the conventional/commercial plating bath chemistry is dominated by the choice of the dicyanidoaurate anion [Au(CN) 2 ] − as the gold source 6 due to its high stability 7 and the ability to yield fine grained deposits. 8 In electroplating experiments, acidic plating baths around pH 5 are used to produce soft gold coatings, whilst alkaline and neutral baths are used to produce hard gold. 8 However, there are significant safety concerns, as well as issues regarding the disposal of waste, where cyanide based processes are present. In addition, the requirement of large negative reduction potentials can also lead to the coreduction of hydrogen ions. 9 As such, there have been cyanide free gold plating solutions developed, primarily based upon sulphite and thiosulfate complexes, however these are limited to...

The 2-(3-biphenyl-2-ol)-6-iminepyridines, 2-(3-C12H8-2-OH)-6-(CH=NAr)C5H3N (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (L1a-H), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (L1b-H)), have been prepared in high yield via sequential Suzuki coupling, deprotection and condensation reactions from 2-methoxybiphenyl-3-ylboronic acid and 2-bromo-6-formylpyridine. Treatment of L1-H with Pd(OAc)2 or (MeCN)2PdCl2 results in deprotonation of L1-H to afford the discrete square planar ONN-chelates, [{2-(3-C12H8-2-O)-6-(CHNAr)C5H3N}Pd(OAc)] (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (1a), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (1b)) and [{2-(3-C12H8-2-O)-6-(CH=NAr)C5H3N}PdCl] (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (2a), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (2b)), in good yield, respectively; conversion of 1 to 2 using aqueous sodium chloride has been demonstrated. Selective reduction of the imino unit in L1-H with LiAlH4 proceeds smoothly to yield the 2-(3-biphenyl-2-ol)-6-(methylamine)pyridines, 2-(3-C12H8-2-OH)-6-(CH2-NHAr)C5H3N (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (L2a-H), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (L2b-H)), which on reaction with Pd(OAc)2 give [{2-(3-C12H8-2-O)-6-(CH2-NHAr)C5H3N}Pd(OAc)] (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (3a), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (3b)). Depending on the temperature of the reaction, the oxidised aldimine products 1a or 1b can also be observed as a competitive side-product during the formation of 3a or 3b. Similarly, ketimine-containing, [{2-(3-C12H8-2-O)-6-(CMe=N(2,6-i-Pr2C6H3))C5H3N}Pd(OAc)] (5), can be detected during the preparation of chiral [{2-(3-C12H8-2-O)-6-(CMeH-NH(2,6-i-Pr2C6H3))C5H3N}Pd(OAc)] (4) from 2-(3-C12H8-2-OH)-6-(CH2-NH(2,6-i-Pr2C6H3))C5H3N (L3-H) and Pd(OAc)2. Complexes 3a, 3b and 4 all exist as dimeric species in the solid state in which two anti-aligned square planar monomers are held together by two intermolecular NH(amine)···O(phenolate) interactions resulting in palladium–palladium separations of between 3.141–3.284 Å. The structurally related chloride-containing dimeric assemblies, [{2-(3-C12H8-2-O)-6-(CH2-NHAr)C5H3N)}PdCl] (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 (6a), 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 (6b)), can also be isolated on treatment of 3 with aqueous sodium chloride or by reaction of L3-H with (MeCN)2PdCl2. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on L1a-H, L3-H, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 6a and 6b.

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