Synergistic effect of dicarbollide anions in liquid–liquid extraction: a molecular dynamics study at the octanol–water interface

Abstract

We report a molecular dynamics study of chlorinated cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anions [(B₉C₂H₈Cl₃)₂Co]⁻ “CCD⁻” in octanol and at the octanol–water interface, with the main aim to understand why these hydrophobic species act as strong synergists in assisted liquid–liquid cation extraction. Neat octanol is quite heterogeneous and is found to display dual solvation properties, allowing to well solubilize CCD⁻, Cs⁺ salts in the form of diluted pairs or oligomers, without displaying aggregation. At the aqueous interface, octanol behaves as an amphiphile, forming either monolayers or bilayers, depending on the initial state and confinement conditions. In biphasic octanol–water systems, CCD⁻ anions are found to mainly partition to the organic phase, thus attracting Cs⁺ or even more hydrophilic counterions like Eu³⁺ into that phase. The remaining CCD⁻ anions adsorb at the interface, but are less surface active than at the chloroform interface. Finally, we compare the interfacial behavior of the Eu(BTP)₃³⁺ complex in the absence and in the presence of CCD⁻ anions and extractant molecules. It is found that when the CCD⁻’s are concentrated enough, the complex is extracted to the octanol phase. Otherwise, it is trapped at the interface, attracted by water. These results are compared to those obtained with chloroform as organic phase and discussed in the context of synergistic effect of CCD⁻ in liquid–liquid extraction, pointing to the importance of dual solvation properties of octanol and of the hydrophobic character of CCD⁻ for synergistic extraction of cations.