Self-diffusion coefficients of cations and solvent molecules were determined with (1)H NMR in mixtures of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmim(+)) tetrafluoroborate (BF4(-)), hexafluorophosphate (PF6(-)), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO(-)), and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TFSI(-)) with acetonitrile (AN), γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL), and propylene carbonate (PC) over the entire composition range at 300 K. The relative diffusivities of solvent molecules to cations as a function of concentration were found to depend on the solvent but not on the anion (i.e., IL). In all cases the values exhibit a plateau at low IL content (x(IL) < 0.2) and then increase steeply (AN), moderately (γ-BL), or negligibly (PC) at higher IL concentrations. This behavior was related to the different solvation patterns in the employed solvents. In BmimPF6-based systems, anionic diffusivities were followed via (31)P nuclei and found to be higher than the corresponding cation values in IL-poor systems and lower in the IL-rich region. The inversion point of relative ionic diffusivities was found around equimolar composition and does not depend on the solvent. At this point, a distinct change in the ion-diffusion mechanism appears to take place.

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A new class of polymeric thermometers with a memory function is reported that is based on the supramolecular host–guest interactions of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) with side‐chain naphthalene guest moieties and the tetracationic macrocycle cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene) (CBPQT4+) as the host. This supramolecular thermometer exhibits a memory function for the thermal history of the solution, which arises from the large hysteresis of the thermoresponsive LCST phase transition (LCST=lower critical solution temperature). This hysteresis is based on the formation of a metastable soluble state that consists of the PNIPAM–CBPQT4+ host–guest complex. When heated above the transition temperature, the polymer collapses, and the host–guest interactions are disrupted, making the polymer more hydrophobic and less soluble in water. Aside from providing fundamental insights into the kinetic control of supramolecular assemblies, the developed thermometer with a memory function might find use in applications spanning the physical and biological sciences.

Mixtures of ionic liquids (ILs) with polar aprotic solvents in different combinations and under different conditions (concentration, temperature etc.) are used widely in electrochemistry. However, little is known about the key intermolecular interactions in such mixtures depending on the nature of the constituents and mixture composition. In order to systematically address the intermolecular interactions, the chemical shift variation of (1)H and (13)C nuclei has been followed in mixtures of imidazolium ILs 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BmimBF4), 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmimPF6), 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (BmimTfO) and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BmimTFSI) with molecular solvent acetonitrile (AN) over the entire composition range at 300 K. The concept of relative chemical shift variation is proposed to assess the observed effects on a unified and unbiased scale. We have found that hydrogen bonds between the imidazolium ring hydrogen atoms and electronegative atoms of anions are stronger in BmimBF4 and BmimTfO ILs than those in BmimTFSI and BmimPF6. Hydrogen atom at position 2 of the imidazolium ring is substantially more sensitive to interionic hydrogen bonding than those at positions 4-5 in the case of BmimTfO and BmimTFSI ILs. These hydrogen bonds are disrupted upon dilution in AN due to ion dissociation which is more pronounced at high dilutions. Specific solvation interactions between AN molecules and IL cations are poorly manifested.

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Isoprene chain shuttling polymerisation between the 1,4-trans regulating Cp*La(BH)(THF)/MgBuEt (Cp* = CMe) and the 1,4-cis regulating NdCl(THF)/AlR (R = Et or Bu) systems provides access to stereoblock polyisoprene. Under selected experimental conditions, the trans segments are semi-crystalline, leading to a thermoplastic elastomer-like material.