1460729814-9b67fcfd-7b4a-4892-a7e1-08f419774454

What is claimed is:

1. A compound according to formula I
23
wherein:
fused rings A, B, C, and D are independently saturated or fully or partially unsaturated; and
R1 through R4, R6, R7, R11, R12, R15, R16, and R17 is each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) haloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, oxo, a linking group attached to a second steroid, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxamido, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyl oxy, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyl carboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group, and
R5, R8, R9, R10, R13, and R14 is each independently:
deleted when one of fused rings A, B, C, or D is unsaturated so as to complete the valency of the carbon atom at that site, or
selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, C1-C10 haloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, a linking group attached to a second steroid, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group, and

provided that at least two of R1 through R14 are independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
2. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following pairs is deleted and the valency of the ring carbon atoms at these deleted positions is completed with a double bond: R5 and R9; R8 and R10; and R13 and R14.
3. The compound of claim 1, wherein at least three of R1 through R14 are independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxamido, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy.
4. The compound of claim 3, wherein the 3 of R1 through R14 independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, and (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy.
5. The compound of claim 1, wherein the second steroid is a compound of formula I.
6. The compound of claim 1, wherein the linking group is (C1-C10) alkyl-oxy-(C1-C10) alkyl.
7. The compound of claim 1, wherein none of R5, R8, R9, R13, and R14 is deleted.
8. The compound of claim 1, wherein each of R3, R7, and R12 is independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxamido, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkylcarboxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
9. The compound of claim 8, wherein R1, R2, R4, R5, R6, R8, R10, R11, R13, R14, R15, and R16 are hydrogen.
10. The compound of claim 9, wherein R17 is CR18R19R20, where each of R18, R19, and R20, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, (C1-C10) haloalkyl, (C2-C6) alkenyl, (C2-C6) alkynyl, oxo, and a linking group attached to a second steroid.
11. The compound of claim 8, wherein each of R3, R7, and R12, is independently selected from the group consisting of O(CH2)n-NH2, OCO(CH2)n-NH2, O(CH2)n-NHC(NH)NH2, O(CH2)n-N3, O(CH2)n-CN, where n is 1 to 3, and OC(O)HC(Q5)NH2, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid.
12. The compound of claim 8, wherein each of R3, R7, and R12, is OCO(CH2)n-NH2, where n is 1 to 4.
13. The compound of claim 12, wherein R17 is CH(CH3)(CH2)3O(CH2)nNH2, wherein n is 1-7.
14. The compound of claim 12, wherein R17 is CH(CH3)(CH2)nNR1R2, wherein n is 0-2, R1 and R2 are independently (C1-C6) alkyl, aryl or aralkyl.
15. The compound of claim 1, wherein R17 is CH(CH3)(CH2)n1COOR3, where R3 is selected from (CH2)n2N(CH3)3, wherein n1 and n2 are independently 1-4.
16. The compound of claim 15, wherein R3, R7, and R12 are OC(O)(CH2)nNH2, wherein n is 1-5.
17. The compound of claim 1 having the following formula:
24
wherein n is 1-3, and Bn is a benzyl group.
18. The compound of claim 1 having the following formula:
25
wherein n is 1-3, and R is selected from n-octyl, and trimethylethylammonio.
19. The compound of claim 1 having the formula:
26
20. A method of preparing the compound according to formula I
27
wherein
fused rings A, B, C, and D are independently saturated or fully or partially unsaturated; and
R1 through R4, R6, R7, R11, R12, R15, R16, and R17 is each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) haloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, oxo, a linking group attached to a second steroid, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxamido, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyl oxy, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyl carboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group, and
R5, R8, R9, R10, R13, and R14 is each independently:
deleted when one of fused rings A, B, C, or D is unsaturated so as to complete the valency of the carbon atom at that site, or
selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, C1-C10 haloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, a linking group attached to a second steroid, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group, and

provided that at least two of R1 through R14 are independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy -(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
the method comprising contacting a compound of formula IV,
30
where
at least two of R1 through R14 are hydroxyl, and the remaining moieties on the fused rings A, B, C, and D are defined for formula I, with an electrophile to produce an alkyl ether compound of formula IV, wherein at least two of R1 through R14 are (C1-C10) alkyloxy;
converting the alkyl ether compound into an amino precursor compound wherein at least two of R1 through R14 are independently selected from the group consisting of (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy and (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy;
reducing the amino precursor compound to produce an aminoalkyl ether compound wherein at least two of R1 through R14 are (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy; and
contacting the aminoalkyl ether compound with a guanidino producing electrophile to form a compound of formula I.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the guanidino producing electrophile is HSO3C(NH)NH2.
24. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of claim 1.
25. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 24, wherein the composition includes additional antibiotics.
26. A method of treating a microbial infection of a host by administering to the host an effective amount of an anti-microbial composition comprising a compound according to claim 1.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the host is a human.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the anti-microbial composition further comprises a second anti-microbial substance to be delivered into a microbial cell.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the second anti-microbial substance is an anti-biotic.
30. The method of claim 26 wherein the infection is a bacterial infection.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the infection is a infection a Gram-negative bacterial infection.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein the bacterial infection is an infection with a bacterium characterized by an outer membrane comprising a substantial percentage of lipid A.
33. A method of enhancing cell permeability by administering to the cell a permeability-enhancing amount of the compound of claim 1.
34. The method of claim 33 further comprising administering to the cell a substance to be introduced into the cell.
35. The method of claim 34 in which the cell is a bacterium.
36. The method of claim 35 in which the bacterium is a Gram-negative bacterium.
37. The method of claim 34 in which the cell is a sperm cell and the compound is part of a spermicidal composition.
38. A method of identifying compounds effective against a microbe comprising administering a candidate compound and a compound according to claim 1 to the microbe and determining whether the candidate compound has a static or toxic effect on the microbe.
39. The method of claim 38 in which the microbe is a Gram-negative bacterium.
40. A method of microbial growth control comprising contacting a microbe with an effective amount of anti-microbial composition comprising a compound according to claim 1.
41. A composition of matter comprising the compound of claim 1 in combination with an anti-microbial substance to be introduced into a cell.
42. A compound comprising a ring system of at least 4 fused rings, each of the rings having from 5-7 atoms, the ring system having two faces, wherein the compound comprises 3 chains attached to the same face of the ring system, each of the chains containing a multiple nitrogen-containing group, wherein the multiple nitrogen-containing group is separated from the ring system by at least one atom, and wherein the multiple nitrogen-containing group is a (C1-C10) alkylamino (C1-C1) alkyamino group or a (C1-C10) alkylamino (C1-C1) alkyamino (C1-C1) alkyamino group.
43. The compound of claim 42, wherein each of the mulitiple nitrogen-containing groups is separated from the steroid backbone by at least two atoms.
44. The compound of claim 43, wherein each of the multiple nitrogen-containing groups is separated from the steroid backbone by at least three atoms.
45. The compound of claim 44, wherein each of the multiple nitrogen-containing groups is separated from the steroid backbone by at least four atoms.
46. The compound of claim 42, wherein the compound further comprises a hydrophobic group attached to the steroid backbone.
47. The compound of claim 42, wherein the hydrophobic group is selected from the group consisting of a substituted (C3-10) aminoalkyl group, a (C1-10) alkyloxy (C3-10) alkyl group, and a (C1-10) alkylamino (C3-10)alkyl group.
48. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of claim 42.
49. A method of enhancing cell permeability by administering to the cell a permeability enhancing amount of the compound of claim 42.
50. A compound of claim 1 having the formula:
31
wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen, or (C1-C10) alkylamino, R2 is selected from (C1-C10) alkylamino or (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, and n is 1-3.
51. The compound of claim 1, wherein R1 is hydrogen and R2 is (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino.
52. The compound of claim 1, wherein R1 is (C1-C10) alkylamino, and R2 is (C1-C10) alkylamino.
53. A compound according to formula I
32
wherein:
fused rings A, B, C, and D are independently saturated or fully or partially unsaturated; and
R1 through R4, R6, R7, R11, R12, R15, and R16, is each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) haloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, oxo, a linking group attached to a second steroid, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxamido, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyl oxy, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyl carboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group, and
R5, R8, R9, R10, R13, and R14 is each independently:
deleted when one of fused rings A, B, C, or D is unsaturated so as to complete the valency of the carbon atom at that site, or
selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) hydroxyalkyl, (C1-C10) alkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, C1-C10 haloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, a linking group attached to a second steroid, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy, where Q5 is a side chain of any amino acid, P.G. is an amino protecting group, and

R17 is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubsituted alkylcarboxyalkyl and protected or unprotected poly(aminoalkyl),
provided that at least two of R1 through R14 are independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) alkylcarboxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, (C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino-(C1-C10) alkylamino, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylcarboxy, a substituted or unsubstituted arylamino-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkyloxy-(C1-C10) alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C10) aminoalkylaminocarbonyl, (C1-C10) quaternaryammoniumalkylcarboxy, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)O, H2NHC(Q5)C(O)N(H), (C1-C10) azidoalkyloxy, (C1-C10) cyanoalkyloxy, P.G.HNHC(Q5)C(O)O, (C1-C10) guanidinoalkyloxy, and (C1-C10) guanidinoalkylcarboxy; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
54. The compound of claim 53, wherein the compound has the formula:
33
wherein n is 1-3.
55. The compound of claim 53, wherein the compound has the formula:
34
wherein n is 1-3.
56. The compound of claim 53, wherein the compound has the formula:
35
57. The compound of claim 53, wherein the compound has the formula:
36
58. The compound of claim 53, wherein the compound has the formula:
37

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A process for producing lithium from lithium carbonate which comprises:
a. Providing lithium carbonate and at least an acid selected from sulfuric acid, trifluoromethane sulfonic acid, fluorosulfonic acid, trifluoroboric acid, trifluoroactetic acid, trifluorosilicic acid and kinetically hindered acids in an aqueous solvent wherein lithium anion is dissolved in the solvent forming a lithium feed solution.
b. Providing an anode in contact with the solution
c. Providing a liquid metal cathode suitable for electrolysis of lithium, wherein the liquid metal cathode is in contact with the solution forms an electrolysis cell
d. Providing electric current to the electrolysis cell thereby producing lithium at the liquid metal cathode, forming an alloy with the liquid metal cathode
e. Optionally isolating lithium metal from the liquid metal cathode
2. The process of claim 1, further comprising heating the feed solution and liquid metal cathode above the melting point of the liquid metal cathode.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein the acid is sulfuric acid
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the isolating of lithium is conducted by an extraction process using a suitable extraction solvent.
5. The process of claim 4, wherein the extraction solvent is selected from pentyl amine, pyridine, HMPO, isopropylamine, triethylamine, triethyltetramine, ethylenediamine or anhydrous ammonia.
6. The process of claim 5, wherein the extraction is conducted under pressure.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the isolating of lithium involves a distillation process.
8. The process of claim 1, wherein the process is a continuous production process.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is kept 7 or less.
10. A process for producing lithium metal which comprises an electrolysis of lithium ion in an electrolytic cell comprising a liquid metal cathode and an aqueous solution wherein the aqueous solution containing lithium ion and at least an anion selected from sulfate, trifluoromethane sulfonate, fluorosulfonate, trifluoroborate, trifluoroacetate, trifluorosilicate and kinetically hindered acid anions and wherein the lithium ion is produced from lithium carbonate or its equivalent lithium ion source.
11. The process of claim 10, wherein the anion is sulfate.
12. The process of claim 10, where the liquid metal cathode comprises an alloy containing one or more of bismuth, lead, tin, and indium.
13. The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid metal cathode is selected from Bi\u2014Pb\u2014Sn alloy, Bi\u2014In\u2014Pb\u2014Sn alloy, In\u2014Bi alloy, Ga, Ga\u2014Sn\u2014Zn alloy, Ga\u2014In\u2014Sn alloy, Ga\u2014In\u2014Sn alloy or In\u2014Bi\u2014Sn alloy.
14. The process of claim 13, wherein the liquid metal cathode is a Bi\u2014Pb\u2014Sn alloy where the weight percentage of Bi is between about 45% and about 55%
15. The process of claim 14, wherein the liquid metal cathode is a Bi\u2014In\u2014Pb\u2014Sn alloy where the weight percentage of Bi is between about 45% and about 55% (Ideally close to the Eutectic alloy: 49% Bi, 21% In, 18% Pb, 12% Sn with a melting point of 58\xb0 C.)
16. The process of claim 10, wherein the liquid metal cathode has a melting point of less than the boiling point of the solution.
17. The process of claim 16, wherein the melting point is less than about 100\xb0 C.
18. The process of claim 17, wherein the melting point is less than about 60\xb0 C.
19. The process of claim 10, wherein the lithium ion is produced from lithium carbonate.
20. The process of claim 10, wherein the lithium ion is produced from spudomene ore by using a process comprising reacting spudomene ore with sulfuric acid.
21. The process of claim 10, wherein the process has less than 50% of a parasitic reaction
22. The process of claim 21, wherein the process has less than 40% of a parasitic reaction.
23. The process of claim 22, wherein the process has less than 30% of a parasitic reaction.
24. The process of claim 24, wherein the parasitic reaction produces oxygen and hydrogen.
25. A process for producing lithium which comprises an electrolysis of lithium ion in an electrolytic cell comprising a liquid metal cathode and an aqueous solution wherein the aqueous solution containing lithium ion which is produced spudomene ore or other natural lithium source.
26. The process of claim 25, wherein the lithium ion is prepared by reacting spudomene ore with sulfuric acid in a aqueous solvent.
27. The process of claim 25, wherein the process does not involve a step generating lithium halide.
28. A lithium production system utilizing electrolysis of lithium ion, which comprises
a. an electrolytic cell comprising a liquid metal cathode and an aqueous solution wherein the aqueous solution containing lithium ion and at least an anion selected from sulfate, trifluoromethane sulfonate, fluorosulfonate, trifluoroborate, trifluoroacetate, trifluorosilicate and kinetically hindered acid anions and wherein the lithium ion is produced from lithium carbonate;
b. a heating system maintaining the temperature of the cell and liquid metal circulating systems higher than the melting point of the liquid metal cathode but lower than the boiling point of the aqueous solution; and
c. an extraction cell wherein the reduced lithium from the electrolytic cell is extracted from the liquid metal cathode using a suitable extraction solution.
d. a distillation system for isolating the lithium metal from the extraction solution.
29. The lithium production system according to claim 28, wherein the anion is sulfate.