The
thermodynamic properties of gas-phase amino acid ionic liquids
(AAILs) containing 20 amino acids ([AA]−) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium
([Emim]+) are studied using a combination of the ab initio
method, molecular dynamics simulations, Born–Haber (BH) cycle
analysis, and isodesmic reactions. The M06-2X/TZVP method is used
to explore the structure and dissociation enthalpies of [Emim][AA]
by considering dispersion interaction, and the MP2/Aug-cc-pVTZ method
is used to correct these enthalpies. The vaporization enthalpies of
all 20 AAILs are calculated by molecular dynamics simulations, and
the gas-phase formation enthalpies (Δf
H) of the 20 [AA]− anions and [Emim]+ cation are calculated by the density functional theory/M06-2X method
and isodesmic reaction approaches. To obtain the Δf
H of the AAILs, interconnections in the corresponding
BH cycles are evaluated. A systematic study of the 20 [Emim][AA] ion
pairs provides some initial factors contributing to the thermodynamic
properties of AAILs: including length of the alkyl chain, interatomic
electronic effects, steric repulsion from the cyclic group, and H-bonds
formed by functional groups. Generally speaking, the results of this
work provide insights into the structure–property relationships
of not only ILs but also any ionic or molecular substance.