Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem
Many reactions are carried out in solvent mixtures, mainly because of practical reasons. For example, E2 eliminations are favored over S<b><sub>N</sub></b>2 substitutions in aqueous organic solvents because the bases are desolvated. This example raises the question: how do we...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Liquids |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8015/4/1/3 |
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| author | Omar A. El Seoud Shirley Possidonio Naved I. Malek |
| author_facet | Omar A. El Seoud Shirley Possidonio Naved I. Malek |
| author_sort | Omar A. El Seoud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many reactions are carried out in solvent mixtures, mainly because of practical reasons. For example, E2 eliminations are favored over S<b><sub>N</sub></b>2 substitutions in aqueous organic solvents because the bases are desolvated. This example raises the question: how do we chose binary solvents to favor reaction outcomes? This important question is deceptively simple because it requires that we understand the details of all interactions within the system. Solvatochromism (solvent-dependent color change of a substance) has contributed a great deal to answer this difficult question, because it gives information on the interactions between solvents, solute-solvent, and presumably transition state-solvent. This wealth of information is achieved by simple spectroscopic measurements of selected (solvatochromic) substances, or <i>probes</i>. An important outcome of solvatochromism is that the probe solvation layer composition is almost always different from that of bulk mixed solvent. In principle, this difference can be exploited to “tune” the composition of solvent mixture to favor the reaction outcome. This minireview addresses the use of solvatochromic probes to quantify solute-solvent interactions, leading to a better understanding of the complex effects of solvent mixtures on chemical phenomena. Because of their extensive use in chemistry, we focus on <i>binary mixtures</i> containing protic-, and protic-dipolar aprotic solvents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:04:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-265432f0b941453ab06bdf3fd6314fe9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-8015 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:04:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Liquids |
| spelling | doaj.art-265432f0b941453ab06bdf3fd6314fe92024-03-27T13:51:27ZengMDPI AGLiquids2673-80152024-01-0141739410.3390/liquids4010003Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex ProblemOmar A. El Seoud0Shirley Possidonio1Naved I. Malek2Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, BrazilDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Environmental, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, SP, BrazilDepartment of Chemistry, Sardar Vallabhbhai Nation Institute of Technology, Surat 395007, Gujarat, IndiaMany reactions are carried out in solvent mixtures, mainly because of practical reasons. For example, E2 eliminations are favored over S<b><sub>N</sub></b>2 substitutions in aqueous organic solvents because the bases are desolvated. This example raises the question: how do we chose binary solvents to favor reaction outcomes? This important question is deceptively simple because it requires that we understand the details of all interactions within the system. Solvatochromism (solvent-dependent color change of a substance) has contributed a great deal to answer this difficult question, because it gives information on the interactions between solvents, solute-solvent, and presumably transition state-solvent. This wealth of information is achieved by simple spectroscopic measurements of selected (solvatochromic) substances, or <i>probes</i>. An important outcome of solvatochromism is that the probe solvation layer composition is almost always different from that of bulk mixed solvent. In principle, this difference can be exploited to “tune” the composition of solvent mixture to favor the reaction outcome. This minireview addresses the use of solvatochromic probes to quantify solute-solvent interactions, leading to a better understanding of the complex effects of solvent mixtures on chemical phenomena. Because of their extensive use in chemistry, we focus on <i>binary mixtures</i> containing protic-, and protic-dipolar aprotic solvents.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8015/4/1/3binary solvent mixturessolvatochromismsolvatochromic probessolvation modelsester hydrolysisbiopolymer dissolution |
| spellingShingle | Omar A. El Seoud Shirley Possidonio Naved I. Malek Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem Liquids binary solvent mixtures solvatochromism solvatochromic probes solvation models ester hydrolysis biopolymer dissolution |
| title | Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem |
| title_full | Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem |
| title_fullStr | Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem |
| title_short | Solvatochromism in Solvent Mixtures: A Practical Solution for a Complex Problem |
| title_sort | solvatochromism in solvent mixtures a practical solution for a complex problem |
| topic | binary solvent mixtures solvatochromism solvatochromic probes solvation models ester hydrolysis biopolymer dissolution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8015/4/1/3 |
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