Mixed Micelles of Surface Active Ionic Liquid (SAIL)–Octylphenol Ethoxylate: A Novel Reaction Medium for Selective Oxidation of Toluene to Benzaldehyde.

Ionic liquids have been found to be suitable alternatives to volatile organic solvents in chemical transformation. Through a proper choice of cations and anions, the properties of an ionic liquid can be tuned so that it resembles an amphiphile. Such specially designed molecules are known as surface‐active ionic liquids (SAIL). Like conventional surfactants, SAIL also form aggregates in an aqueous medium. Studies show that the mixing of SAIL with conventional surfactants leads to synergistic micellization. However, very few reports are available on the application of such systems as reaction media. Present study focuses on the application of mixed micelles of 1‐tetradecyl‐3‐methylimidazol‐1‐ium bromide, ([C14mim]Br) with nonionic surfactant, Octylphenol ethoxylate with 10 moles of ethylene oxide (OPE‐10). Enhanced solubilization and selective catalytic oxidation of toluene using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and tungstic acid as a catalyst have been studied in detail using this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]