Amphiphilic behavior of two phosphonium based ionic liquids

Solution and surface chemical behavior of two phosphonium based ionic liquids triisobutyl (methyl) phosphonium tosylate (IL-1) and trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium bis 2,4,4-(trimethylpentyl)phosphinate (IL-2) have been studied. The polar IL-1 is surface active and water soluble, whereas the weakly polar IL-2 is more surface active with very low aqueous solubility. IL-1 does not form micelles but affects the micellization properties of ionic, nonionic, and zwitterionic surfactants more strongly than conventional electrolytes. IL-2 itself forms micelles and mixed micelles with Triton X-100 (TX-100) in aqueous solution. It also forms Langmuir monolayers of liquid expanded type, at the air/water interface. IL-1 can replace water in forming microemulsions with the oil isopropylmyristate (IPM), stabilized by IL-2 (surfactant) + isopropanol (IP as a co-surfactant) like the IL-1/IPM/(IL-2+IP) system. It produces a large monophasic zone in the pseudoternary phase diagram. The thermodynamics of formation of the microemulsions of IL-1 in oil (IPM) have been examined. The dimensions and the polydispersity of the dispersed nano-droplets in the microemulsions have been determined by DLS. The thermal stability of the microemulsion forming systems has also been studied. ILs studied against Sarcoma-180 cell lines have evidenced proficient anti-cancer activity of IL-1 and moderate activity of IL-2.

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► Micelle and mixed micelle formation of a phosphonium based hydrophobic ionic liquid.
► Gibbs and Langmuir monolayer properties of the same hydrophobic ionic liquid.
► The impact of phosphonium based hydrophilic ionic liquid on surfactant self-assembly.
► Potential formation of microemulsions with these ionic liquids.
► Studied of in vitro anti-cancer activity with the ionic liquids.