Factors associated with unwillingness to seek professional help for depression: a web-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: Depression is a prevalent disorder that has a substantial impact on not only individuals but also society as a whole. Despite many effective depression interventions, delay in initial treatment contact is problematic. The Internet is a possible tool for low-cost dissemination of appropriate information and awareness raising about depressive disorders among the general public. This study aimed to identify factors associated with unwillingness to seek professional help for depression in Internet users. RESULTS: This web-based cross-sectional study surveyed 595 participants who scored over the cutoff point for depression on a self-rated mental-health questionnaire for depression, had never been assessed or treated by a mental health professional, and were experiencing depressive symptoms for at least 6 months. Among the 595 participants, 329 (55.3%) reported they were unwilling to seek professional help for depression. Regression analysis indicated that unwillingness to seek professional help for depression was associated with male sex and financial issues as a depression trigger, and that willingness to seek professional help was associated with problems with interpersonal relationships. The Internet warrants further complementary investigation to elucidate factors associated with unwillingness to seek professional help for depression.

Early Improvement and Marriage Are Determinants of the 12-Month Treatment Outcome of Paroxetine in Outpatients with Panic Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the determinants of remission and discontinuation of paroxetine pharmacotherapy in outpatients with panic disorder (PD). METHODS: Subjects were 79 outpatients diagnosed with PD who took 10-40 mg/day of paroxetine for 12 months. The candidate therapeutic determinants included the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region and the -1019C/G promoter polymorphism of the serotonin receptor 1A as genetic factors, educational background and marital status as environmental factors, and early improvement (EI) at 2 weeks as a clinical factor were assessed. The Clinical Global Impression scale was used to assess the therapeutic effects of the pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to investigate the significant predictive factors of remission and discontinuation. EI was only a significant predictive factor of remission. EI was a significant predictive factor of remission (hazard ratio [HR], 2.709; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.177-6.235). Otherwise, EI and marital status were significant predictive factors of the discontinuation. EI (HR, 0.266; 95% CI, 0.115-0.617) and being married (HR, 0.437; 95% CI, 0.204-0.939) were considered to reduce the risk of treatment discontinuation. In married subjects, EI was a significant predictive factor of the discontinuation (HR, 0.160; 95% CI, 0.045-0.565). However, in unmarried subjects, EI was not a significantly predictive factor for the discontinuation. CONCLUSION: EI achievement appears to be a determinant of PD remission in paroxetine treatment. In married PD patients, EI achievement also appears to reduce a risk of discontinuation of paroxetine treatment.

Genetic Polymorphism of 1019C/G (rs6295) Promoter of Serotonin 1A Receptor and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase in Panic Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Family and twin studies have suggested genetic liability for panic disorder (PD) and therefore we sought to determine the role of noradrenergic and serotonergic candidate genes for susceptibility for PD in a Japanese population. METHODS: In this age- and gender-matched case-control study involving 119 PD patients and 119 healthy controls, we examined the genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), -1019C/G (rs6295) promoter polymorphism of the serotonin receptor 1A (5-HT1A), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism (rs4680) and their association with PD. RESULTS: No significant differences were evident in the allele frequencies or genotype distributions of the COMT (rs4680), 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms or the -1019C/G (rs6295) promoter polymorphism of 5-HT1A between PD patients and controls. Although there were no significant associations of these polymorphisms with in subgroups of PD patients differentiated by gender or in subgroup comorbid with agoraphobia (AP), significant difference was observed in genotype distributions of the -1019C/G (rs6295) promoter polymorphism of 5-HT1A between PD patients without AP and controls (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: In this association study, the 1019C/G (rs6295) promoter polymorphism of the 5-HT1A receptor G/G genotype was associated with PD without AP in a Japanese population.

Factors affecting discontinuation of initial treatment with paroxetine in panic disorder and major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to analyze the association between discontinuation of paroxetine (PAX) and the genetic variants of the polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in Japanese patients with panic disorder (PD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: The 5-HTTLPR genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction method. PAX plasma concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography to confirm adherence. RESULTS: When comparing between the PD and MDD patients with the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test, the PD patients had a significant and higher discontinuation rate due to non-adherence than did the MDD patients (13.5% [7/52] versus 0% [0/88], respectively; P<0.001). MDD patients had a significant and higher discontinuation rate due to untraceability than PD patients (12.5% [11/88] versus 1.9% [1/52]; P=0.032). Multilogistic regression revealed a tendency for the long/short and short/short genotypes to affect discontinuation due to adverse effects in PD patients (25.0% versus 6.3%, respectively; P=0.054). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the 5-HTTLPR genotype might contribute to the discontinuation of initial PAX treatment due to adverse effects in PD patients.

Acid-base property of N-methylimidazolium-based protic ionic liquids depending on anion.

Proton-donating and ionization properties of several protic ionic liquids (PILs) made from N-methylimidazole (Mim) and a series of acids (HA) have been assessed by means of potentiometric and calorimetric titrations. With regard to strong acids, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (Tf(2)NH) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH), it was elucidated that the two equimolar mixtures with Mim almost consist of ionic species, HMim(+) and A(-), and the proton transfer equilibrium corresponding to autoprotolysis in ordinary molecular liquids was established. The respective autoprotolysis constants were successfully evaluated, which indicate the proton-donating abilities of TfOH and Tf(2)NH in the respective PILs are similar. In the case of trifluoroacetic acid, the proton-donating ability of CF(3)COOH is much weaker than those of TfOH and Tf(2)NH, while ions are predominant species. On the other hand, with regard to formic acid and acetic acid, protons of these acids are suggested not to transfer to Mim sufficiently. From calorimetric titrations, about half of Mim is estimated to be proton-attached at most in the CH(3)COOH-Mim equimolar mixture. In such a mixture, hydrogen-bonding adducts formation has been suggested. The autoprotolysis constants of the present PILs show a good linear correlation with dissociation constants of the constituent acids in an aqueous phase.

Surface analysis of ionic liquids with and without lithium salt using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was applied to a neat ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [EMI(+)][Tf(2)N(-)] and its lithium salt solution at room temperature to clarify the composition and structure of its near-surface region. Core level peaks were recorded for Li 1s, N 1s, C 1s, F 1s, O 1s, S 2s, and S 2p. Valence band XPS spectra (0-40 eV binding energy) were also studied. The XPS spectra were analyzed using DV-Xα calculations. Results show that the planar type isomer of the EMI(+) cation is dominant at the near-surface region of EMI-Tf(2)N. Results of XPS measurements show a spectrum of Li 1s in Li/EMI-Tf(2)N. The proposed models for the preferred orientation of the ions exhibit good agreement with results obtained from the DV-Xα calculations.

Physicochemical and acid-base properties of a series of 2-hydroxyethylammonium-based protic ionic liquids.

Physicochemical properties such as a thermal behavior, ionic conductivity, viscosity and density, and acid-base properties of a new class of 2-hydroxyethylammonium-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) have been investigated. Thirty-six potential PILs were surveyed to find 32 salts with a melting point below 373 K. Among them, [(EtOH)(n)Et((3-n))NH(+)][TFS(-)] (Et, C(2)H(5); n = 0 - 3) and [(EtOH)(2)EtNH(+)][X(-)] (X = TFS, trifluoromethanesulfonate; TFSA, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide; NO(3)) were studied in terms of the Walden plots, molar volume and auto-protolysis reaction for effect of the number of 2-hydroxyethyl groups introduced in the cations and for dependence of the anion nature, respectively. With regard to [(EtOH)(n)Et((3-n))NH(+)][TFS(-)] (n = 0 - 3), the ion-ion interactions between cation-anion and cation-cation were enhanced with increasing the number of the 2-hydroxyethyl groups. In addition, the auto-protolysis constant K(s) value for [(EtOH)(2)EtNH(+)][TFSA(-)] is smaller than that for TFS(-) based PIL, indicating that HTFSA behaves as a stronger acid than HTFS in the respective PIL. On the other hand, in [(EtOH)(2)EtNH(+)][NO(3)(-)], the emf jump was rather small, which suggests that the proton of HNO(3) does not easily transfer to (EtOH)(2)EtN in the liquid state.

Free-energy and structural analysis of ion solvation and contact ion-pair formation of Li(+) with BF4(-) and PF6(-) in water and carbonate solvents.

Free energy of contact ion-pair (CIP) formation of lithium ion with BF(4)(-) and PF(6)(-) in water, propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) are quantitatively analyzed using MD simulations combined with the energy representation method. The relative stabilities of the mono-, bi-, and tridentate coordination structures are assessed with and without solvent, and water, PC, and DMC are found to favor the CIP-solvent contact. The monodentate structure is typically most stable in these solvents, whereas the configuration is multidentate in vacuum. The free energy of CIP formation is not simply governed by the solvent dielectric constant, and microscopic analyses of solute-solvent interaction at a molecular level are then performed from energetic and structural viewpoints. Vacant sites of Li(+) cation in CIP are solvated with three carbonyl oxygen atoms of PC and DMC solvent molecules, and the solvation is stronger for the monodentate CIP than for the multidentate. Energetically favorable solute-solvent configurations are shown to be spatially more restricted for the multidentate CIP, leading to the observation that the solvent favors the monodentate coordination structure.

Structural heterogeneity and unique distorted hydrogen bonding in primary ammonium nitrate ionic liquids studied by high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments and MD simulations.

Liquid structure and the closest ion-ion interactions in a series of primary alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids [C(n)Am(+)][NO(3)(-)] (n = 2, 3, and 4) were studied by means of high-energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) experiments with the aid of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Experimental density and X-ray structure factors are in good accordance with those evaluated with MD simulations. With regard to liquid structure, characteristic peaks appeared in the low Q (Q: a scattering vector) region of X-ray structure factors S(Q)'s for all ionic liquids studied here, and they increased in intensity with a peak position shift toward the lower Q side by increasing the alkyl chain length. Experimentally evaluated S(Q(peak))(r(max)) functions, which represent the S(Q) intensity at a peak position of maximum intensity Q(peak) as a function of distance (actually a integration range r(max)), revealed that characteristic peaks in the low Q region are related to the intermolecular anion-anion correlation decrease in the r range of 10-12 Å. Appearance of the peak in the low Q region is probably related to the exclusion of the correlations among ions of the same sign in this r range by the alkyl chain aggregation. From MD simulations, we found unique and rather distorted NH···O hydrogen bonding between C(n)Am(+) (n = 2, 3, and 4) and NO(3)(-) in these ionic liquids regardless of the alkyl chain length. Subsequent ab initio calculations for both a molecular complex C(2)H(5)NH(2)···HONO(2) and an ion pair C(2)H(5)NH(3)(+)···ONO(2)(-) revealed that such distorted hydrogen bonding is specific in a liquid state of this family of ionic liquids, though the linear orientation is preferred for both the N···HO hydrogen bonding in a molecular complex and the NH···O one in an ion pair. Finally, we propose our interpretation of structural heterogeneity in PILs and also in APILs.

Determinants of pharmacodynamic trajectory of the therapeutic response to paroxetine in Japanese patients with panic disorder.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic and pharmacokinetic factors to establish the pharmacotherapeutic effect of paroxetine (PAX) in patients with panic disorder (PD). METHOD: Subjects were 65 drug-naïve patients who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for PD diagnosis. All subjects were administered PAX (10 mg/day) for 4 weeks, and PD severity was assessed using the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS) at baseline and at 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of treatment. Plasma PAX concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) variants and the -1019C/G promoter polymorphism of the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT(1A)) gene were determined by PCR analysis. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed that the plasma concentrations of PAX, 5-HTTLPR genotype, and -1019C/G 5-HT(1A) gene polymorphism were significant factors affecting clinical response to PAX (reduction ratio of PAS score) at 2 weeks after the initiation of pharmacotherapy. The -1019C/G 5-HT(1A) gene promoter polymorphism, PAS score at baseline, and adverse effects were found to be the significant factors affecting clinical response to PAX at 4 weeks after initiation of pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that plasma concentration of PAX, 5-HTTLPR genotype, -1019C/G 5-HT(1A) genotype, PAS score at baseline, and adverse effects may influence the therapeutic response to PAX in patients with PD.

Experimental evidences for molecular origin of low-Q peak in neutron/x-ray scattering of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ionic liquids.

Short- and long-range liquid structures of [C(n)mIm(+)][TFSA(-)] with n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 have been studied by high-energy x-ray diffraction (HEXRD) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments with the aid of MD simulations. Observed x-ray structure factor, S(Q), for the ionic liquids with the alkyl-chain length n > 6 exhibited a characteristic peak in the low-Q range of 0.2-0.4 Å(-1), indicating the heterogeneity of their ionic liquids. SANS profiles I(H)(Q) and I(D)(Q) for the normal and the alkyl group deuterated ionic liquids, respectively, showed significant peaks for n = 10 and 12 without no form factor component for large spherical or spheroidal aggregates like micelles in solution. The peaks for n = 10 and 12 evidently disappeared in the difference SANS profiles ΔI(Q) [=I(D)(Q) - I(H)(Q)], although that for n = 12 slightly remained. This suggests that the long-range correlations originated from the alkyl groups hardly contribute to the low-Q peak intensity in SANS. To reveal molecular origin of the low-Q peak, we introduce here a new function; x-ray structure factor intensity at a given Q as a function of r, S(Q) (peak)(r). The S(Q) (peak)(r) function suggests that the observed low-Q peak intensity depending on n is originated from liquid structures at two r-region of 5-8 and 8-15 Å for all ionic liquids examined except for n = 12. Atomistic MD simulations are consistent with the HEXRD and SANS experiments, and then we discussed the relationship between both variations of low-Q peak and real-space structure with lengthening the alkyl group of the C(n)mIm.

Dependence of the conformational isomerism in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids on the nature of the halide anion.

The conformational isomerism of the 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation, [C(4)mim](+), in halide-based ionic liquids--[C(4)mim]Cl, [C(4)mim]Br, and [C(4)mim]I--was explored by Raman spectroscopy. The [C(4)mim](+) cation exhibits trans-gauche conformational isomerism with respect to the N1-C7-C8-C9 dihedral angle of its butyl chain. The thermodynamics of trans-gauche conversion were analyzed through the successful evaluation of the corresponding Gibbs free energy, Δ(iso)G°, enthalpy, Δ(iso)H°, and entropy, Δ(iso)S°, of conformational isomerization. The values of Δ(iso)G° obtained are small (a few units of kJ/mol) and show a slight negative variation with the decrease of the size of the halide anion. On the other hand, Δ(iso)H° and Δ(iso)S° values are positive for [C(4)mim]I and decrease with the anion size to yield negative values for [C(4)mim]Cl and [C(4)mim]Br. This suggests that the negative electrostatic field around the halide anions stabilizes the gauche isomer from an enthalpic point of view. In order to study the structure and ion-ion interactions in this type of ionic liquids, high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments were performed for [C(4)mim]Cl at different temperatures and for supercooled [C(4)mim][Br] at ambient temperature. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for these systems were also carried out at several temperatures. Δ(iso)G° and Δ(iso)H° values derived from the simulations qualitatively agree with the experimental ones. Experimental X-ray structure factors are also well reproduced by the simulations. The MD results also allowed the calculation of different spatial distribution functions (SDFs) for the three ionic liquids. Although all SDFs exhibit similar trends, [C(4)mim]I shows a reduced anion density facing the C(2)-H atoms of the cation and enhanced anion densities above and below the imidazolium ring plane. This indicates that anions localized near the C(2)-H atoms of the cation can stabilize their gauche conformer, an effect that is stronger with smaller anions. This conclusion is also supported by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T) level for isolated ion pairs.

Raman spectroscopic studies and ab initio calculations on conformational isomerism of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide solvated to a lithium ion in ionic liquids: effects of the second solvation sphere of the lithium ion.

Raman spectra of the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide [C(4)mIm][TFSA] containing a LiTFSA salt were measured for the lithium salt mole fractions x(Li) = 0.000, 0.053, 0.106, and 0.171 in the temperature range of 273-350 K. The lithium ion solvation number of 2 at ambient temperature is kept constant in higher temperatures examined in this study. Thermodynamic quantities, such as Gibbs free energy, Delta(iso)G(0); enthalpy, Delta(iso)H(0); and entropy, Delta(iso)S(0), for conformational isomerism of TFSA(-) from trans to cis isomers in the neat ionic liquid and also in the first solvation sphere of the lithium ion were successfully evaluated for the first time. In the neat ionic liquid, the thermodynamics quantities indicates that the trans isomer is slightly stabilized by enthalpy, though the enthalpic advantage is reduced by entropy to yield nearly equal Gibbs free energy. For the TFSA(-) in the first solvation sphere of the lithium ion, the Delta(iso)G(0), Delta(iso)H(0), and TDelta(iso)S(0) were obtained at 298 K to be -4, -9.4, and -5 kJ mol(-1), respectively, and the cis isomer is clearly more favored due to the larger enthalpy relative to that for the neat ionic liquid. However, gas phase quantum calculations for the lithium ion solvated clusters of [Li(TFSA)(2)](-) were reported to be opposite to the experimental isomerization enthalpy. In this study, additional MP2 level ab initio calculations were carried out for the lithium ion solvated clusters with a countercation of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium [C(2)mIm] in gas phase to yield the energy difference of -8.8 kJ mol(-1) from [C(2)mIm][Li(trans-TFSA)(2)] to [C(2)mIm][Li(cis-TFSA)(2)]. The ab initio calculations revealed the important roles of the surrounding imidazolium cation as the second solvation sphere of the lithium ion and agree with the Raman experimental fact that the cis-TFSA(-) solvated to the lithium ion is more stabilized relative to the trans with relatively large enthalpy.

[Pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics in psychiatry].

Pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics has been developed so rapidly in these twenty years and the pharmacogenetic/pharmacogenomic research in psychiatry is also the case. Especially, the impact of genetic polymorphism (e.g., cytochrome P450 (CYP)) on pharmacokinetics of psychotropics have been extensively studied, however, recently, most of the studies in this field have been moved to pharmacodynamic study, i.e., the studies on impact of genetics polymorphism on clinical response and adverse effects to pharmacotherapy with psychotropics. Development of pharmacogenetics/ pharmacogenomics in psychiatry may well lead to a future of individualized pharmacotherapy for psychiatric disorders.

Solvation and microscopic properties of ionic liquid/acetonitrile mixtures probed by high-pressure infrared spectroscopy.

The microscopic features of binary mixtures formed by an ionic liquid (EMI(+)TFSA(-) or EMI(+)FSA(-)) and a molecular liquid (acetonitrile or methanol) have been investigated by high-pressure infrared spectroscopy. On the basis of its responses to changes in pressure and concentration, the imidazolium C-H appears to exist at least in two different forms, i.e., isolated and associated structures. The weak band at approximately 3102 cm(-1) should be assigned to the isolated structure. CD(3)CN can be added to change the structural organization of ionic liquids. The compression of an EMI(+)TFSA(-)/CD(3)CN mixture leads to the increase in the isolated C-H band intensity. Nevertheless, the loss in intensity of the isolated structures was observed for EMI(+)FSA(-)/CD(3)CN mixtures as the pressure was elevated. In other words, the associated configuration is favored with increasing pressure by debiting the isolated form for EMI(+)FSA(-)/CD(3)CN mixtures. The stronger C-H...F interactions in EMI(+)FSA(-) may be one of the reasons for the remarkable differences in the pressure-dependent results of EMI(+)TFSA(-) and EMI(+)FSA(-).

Relationships between center atom species (N, P) and ionic conductivity, viscosity, density, self-diffusion coefficient of quaternary cation room-temperature ionic liquids.

The physicochemical properties (ionic conductivity, viscosity, density, and self-diffusion coefficient) of tri-n-ethylpentylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (TEPP-TFSA) ionic liquid were compared with those of tri-n-ethylpentylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (TEPA-TFSA). Compared with the TEPA-TFSA ionic liquid, the density and viscosity of the phosphorus ionic liquid are lower, although the ionic conductivity and self-diffusion coefficient are higher. The molar conductivities were compared for the values obtained by the electrochemical impedance method (electrochemical conductivity) and the calculated from the pulsed-gradient spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance method (diffusive conductivity). The comparison shows that active ionic ratios of the TEPP-TFSA ionic liquid were smaller than those of the TEPA-TFSA ionic liquid in the whole temperature, regardless of the lower viscosity of the TEPP-TFSA ionic liquid, and results with high precision were obtained using Walden's law.

Structural change of ionic association in ionic liquid/water mixtures: a high-pressure infrared spectroscopic study.

High-pressure infrared measurements were carried out to observe the microscopic structures of two imidazolium-based ionic liquids, i.e., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [EMI(+)(CF(3)SO(2))(2)N(-), EMI(+)TFSA(-)] and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide [EMI(+)(FSO(2))(2)N(-), EMI(+)FSA(-)]. The results obtained at ambient pressure indicate that the imidazolium C-H may exist in two different forms, i.e., isolated and network structures. As the sample of pure EMI(+)FSA(-) was compressed, the network configuration is favored with increasing pressure by debiting the isolated form. For EMI(+)TFSA(-)/H(2)O mixtures, the imidazolium C-H peaks split into four bands at high pressures. The new spectral features at approximately 3117 and 3190 cm(-1), being concentration sensitive, can be attributed to the interactions between the imidazolium C-H and water molecules. The alkyl C-H absorption exhibits a new band at approximately 3025 cm(-1) under high pressures. This observation suggests the formation of a certain water structure around the alkyl C-H groups. The O-H stretching absorption reveals two types of O-H species, i.e., free O-H and bonded O-H. For EMI(+)TFSA(-)/H(2)O mixtures, the compression leads to a loss of the free O-H band intensities, and pressure somehow stabilizes the bonded O-H configurations. The results also suggest the non-negligible roles of weak hydrogen bonds in the structure of ionic liquids.

Raman spectroscopic study, DFT calculations and MD simulations on the conformational isomerism of N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide ionic liquids.

The conformational behaviors of N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide ionic liquids (alkyl; propyl and butyl, [P(1n)][TFSA]; n = 3 and 4) were studied by Raman spectroscopy in the frequency range of 200-1700 cm(-1) at different temperatures. Observed Raman spectra in the frequency range 870-960 cm(-1) for [P(13)][TFSA] and at 860-950 cm(-1) for [P(14)][TFSA] depend on the temperature, indicating that pseudo rotational isomerization of the pyrrolidinium ring exists in the ionic liquids. DFT calculations revealed that the pseudo rotational potential energy surfaces for P(13)(+) and P(14)(+) ions were similar to each other, i.e., the e6 isomer is the global minimum, whereas the three other isomers e1, e4, and e5 are ca. 3 kJ mol(-1) higher in energy. Optimized geometries with no imaginary frequency were successfully obtained for the e6, e1, and e4 isomers. For both cations, the theoretical Raman spectra of the e6 isomers reproduce well the observed data. To explain their observed Raman spectra in a reasonable way, it is necessary to consider one or more species as predicted by DFT calculations, i.e., the e4 isomer of P(13)(+) rather than the e1, or the e1 isomer of P(14)(+) rather than the e4. In addition, the torsion energy potentials of the alkyl chains of the cations were scanned by DFT calculations. It turns out that the alkyl chains of the cations prefer all trans conformations. It should be emphasized that the alkyl chains of the pyrrolidinium cations show remarkably different conformational behaviors comparing with those of the imidazolium. The isomerization enthalpies Delta(iso)H degrees from the e6 to the e4 isomer of P(13)(+) and to e1 of P(14)(+) were reasonably estimated from the temperature dependence of Raman spectra based on our proposed assignments to be 2.9 kJ mol(-1) for P(13)(+) and 4.2 kJ mol(-1) for P(14)(+), respectively. Thus evaluated experimental Delta(iso)H degrees values, which may contain some uncertainties, are in agreement with those predicted by DFT calculations and MD simulations suggesting that pseudo rotational isomerization equilibria are established in the examined N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium ionic liquids. The conformational behavior of TFSA(-) was also investigated. The Delta(iso)H degrees from the trans (trifluoromethyl groups on opposite sides of the S-N-S plane) to the cis isomer were evaluated to be 4.2 kJ mol(-1) for [P(13)][TFSA] and 3.5 kJ mol(-1) for [P(14)][TFSA], respectively, which are similar to that for the 1-ethyl-3methylimidazolium ionic liquid.

Phase transition and conductive acceleration of phosphonium-cation-based room-temperature ionic liquid.

An unusual ionic conduction phenomenon related to the phase transition of a novel phosphonium-cation-based room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) is reported; we found that in the phase change upon cooling, a clear increase in ionic conductivity was seen as the temperature was lowered, which differs from widely known conventional RTILs; clearly, our finding of abnormality of the correlation between temperature change and ionic conduction is the first observation in the electrolyte field.