Solvation of uranyl(II) and europium(III) cations and their chloro complexes in a room-temperature ionic liquid. A theoretical study of the effect of solvent "humidity"

We report a molecular dynamics study of the solvation of the UO2(2+) and Eu3+ cations and their chloro complexes in the [BMI][PF6][H2O] "humid" room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) composed of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium+ and PF6- ions and H2O in a 1:1:1 ratio. When compared to the results obtained in dry [BMI][PF6], the present results reveal the importance of water. The "naked" cations form UO2(H2O)5(2+) and Eu(H2O)9(3+) complexes, embedded in a shell of 7 and 8 PF6- anions, respectively. All studied UO2Cln(2-n) and EuCln(3-n) chloro complexes remain stable during the dynamics and coordinate additional H2O molecules in their first shell. UO2Cl4(2-) and EuCl6(3-) are surrounded by an "unsaturated" water shell, followed by a shell of BMI+ cations. According to an energy component analysis, the UO2Cl4(2-) and EuCl6(3-) species, intrinsically unstable toward dissociation, are more stable than their less halogenated analogues in the IL solution, due to the solvation forces. The different chloro species also interact better with the humid than with the dry IL, which hints at the importance of solvent humidity to improve their solubility. Humidity markedly modifies the local ion environment, with major consequences as far as their spectroscopic properties are concerned. We finally compare the aqueous interface of [BMI][PF6] and [OMI][PF6] ionic liquids, demonstrating the importance of imidazolium substituents (N-butyl versus N-octyl) to the nature of the interface and miscibility with water.     

Uranyl and strontium salt solvation in room-temperature ionic liquids. A molecular dynamics investigation

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we compare the solvation of uranyl and strontium nitrates and uranyl chlorides in two room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs): [BMI][PF(6)] based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium(+),PF(6)(-) and [EMI][TCA] based on 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium(+),AlCl(4)(-). Both dissociated M(2+),2NO(3)(-) and associated M(NO(3))(2) states of the salts are considered for the two cations, as well as the UO(2)Cl(2) and UO(2)Cl(4)(2)(-) uranyl complexes. In a [BMI][PF(6)] solution, the "naked" UO(2)(2+) and Sr(2+) ions are surrounded by 5.8 and 10.1 F atoms, respectively. The first-shell PF(6)(-) anions rotate markedly during the dynamics and are coordinated, on the average, monodentate to UO(2)(2+) and bidentate to Sr(2+). In an [EMI][TCA] solution, UO(2)(2+) and Sr(2+) coordinate 5.0 and 7.4 Cl atoms of AlCl(4)(-), respectively, which display more restricted motions. Four Cl atoms sit on a least motion pathway of transfer to uranyl, to form the UO(2)Cl(4)(2)(-) complex. The free NO(3)(-) anions and the UO(2)Cl(4)(2)(-) complex are surrounded by imidazolium(+) cations ( approximately 4 and 6-9, respectively). The first shell of the M(NO(3))(2) and UO(2)Cl(2) neutral complexes is mostly completed by the anionic components of the IL, with different contributions depending on the solvent, the M(2+) cation, and its counterions. Insights into energy components of solvation are given for the different systems.     

Chloride complexation by uranyl in a room temperature ionic liquid. A computational study

The stepwise addition of 1 to 4 Cl(-) anions to the uranyl cation has been studied via potential of mean force (PMF) calculations in the [BMI][Tf 2N] ionic liquid based on the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation (BMI(+)) and the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion (Tf2N(-)). According to these calculations, the four Cl(-) complexation reactions are favored and UO2Cl4(2-) is the most stable chloride complex in [BMI][Tf2N]. The solvation of the different chloro-complexes is found to evolve from purely anionic (ca. 5 Tf2N(-) ions around UO2(2+)) to purely cationic (ca. 8.5 BMI (+) cations around UO2Cl4(2-)), with onion-type alternation of solvent shells. We next compare the solvation of the UO2Cl4(2-) complex to its reduced analogue UO2Cl4(3-) in the [BMI][Tf2N] and [MeBu3N][Tf2N] liquids that possess the same anion, but differ by their cation (imidazolium BMI(+) versus ammonium MeBu3N(+)). The overall solvation structure of both complexes is found to be similar in both liquids with a first solvation shell formed exclusively of solvent cations (about 9 BMI(+) cations or 7 MeBu3N(+) cations). However, a given complex is better solvated by the [BMI][Tf2N] liquid, due to hydrogen bonding interactions between Cl(-) ligands and imidazolium-ring C-H protons. According to free energy calculations, the gain in solvation energy upon reduction of UO2Cl4(2-) to UO2Cl4(3-) is found to be larger in [BMI][Tf2N] than in [MeBu3N][Tf2N], which is fully consistent with recent experimental results (Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 10419).     

Luminescence properties and water coordination of Eu3+ in the binary solvent mixture water/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

The effect of relative water content on the luminescence properties and speciation of Eu3+ ions in solutions of EuCl3 in the binary solvent mixture water/[BMI]Cl is presented, where [BMI]Cl is the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Using luminescence techniques, the binding properties of water to Eu3+ are determined for samples with mole ratios of water-to-IL ranging from 0 to 5. Very little water binds to Eu3+ at mole ratios of water-to-IL less than 1, above which binding increases rapidly with increasing water concentration. It is shown that only certain hydration numbers for Eu3+ complexes are stable in the water/IL solutions. The data presented suggest that the Eu3+ species present are [EuClx]3-x, [EuCly(H2O)3-4]3-y, [EuClz(H2O)6]3-z, and [Eu(H2O)8-9]3+ (where x > y > z). Comparison of the positions of the 5D0<--7F0 transitions of the Eu3+ complexes in IL solution with those of model crystal systems provides insight into the extent of Cl- complexation. This study suggests that [BMI]Cl is a promising medium for luminescent lanthanide (Ln) compounds due to the low-energy phonon environment of the [LnClx]3-x complex and to the fact that moderate water contamination does not result in direct binding of water to Ln3+, which would result in luminescence quenching.     

First example of low-valence ion substitution in Ln5O(OPri)13: mixed-valence europium oxoalkoxide [EuIII4EuIIO(OPri)12(HOPri)]HOPri

The novel mixed-valence alkoxide [Eu3+(4)Eu2+O(OPri)12(HOPri)]HOPri (1) has been prepared and structurally and spectroscopically characterized. The three synthesis routes (i) metathesis of 4EuCl3, EuI2, and 14KOPri combined with hydrolysis with 1H2O, (ii) oxidation of 5[Eu4(OPri)10(HOPri)3]2HOPri with 1.5O2, and (iii) reduction of Eu5O(OPri)13 with 0.8[Eu4(OPri)10(HOPri)3]2HOPri all yielded pure 1, whereas (iv) reduction of Eu5O(OPri)13 with 0.36-0.5 mol of europium metal produced impure 1. The compound, having the average Eu oxidation number +2.8, is very sensitive toward further oxidation to Eu5O(OPri)13 and is part of a redox series of europium 2-propoxides with average oxidation states +2.5, +2.8, and +3. The square pyramidal molecular structure, containing an oxo-oxygen atom in the basal plane, is similar to that of the well-known Ln5O(OPri)13; the main difference is the substitution of an Eu3+(-)OPri pair for an Eu2+(-)HOPri pair in the basal plane. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-visible spectroscopy showed that the solid-state structure was retained on dissolution in hexane and toluene-HOPri. The compound was further characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and solubility studies.     

Europium(II) compounds: simple synthesis of a molecular complex in water and coordination polymers with 2,2'-bipyrimidine-mediated ferromagnetic interactions

Reaction between EuCl(2) and 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm) in de-oxygenated water afforded a cationic molecular complex [EuCl(bpm)(2)(H(2)O)(4)][Cl]·H(2)O (1). When performed in an organic solvent such as THF or methanol, the same reaction yielded a 3-dimensional coordination polymer of formula [EuCl(2)(bpm)(MeOH)(0.5)](∞) (2) in which both bpm and the chloride ions act as linkers between the Eu(II) ions. Upon replacing Cl(-) by I(-), two coordination polymers of formula {[Eu(bpm)(2)(H(2)O)(3)][I](2)·0.5bpm}(∞) (3) and {[Eu(I)(bpm)(MeOH)][I]}(∞) (4) were obtained from reaction in water and methanol, respectively. All these compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Investigations of the magnetic properties revealed a weak antiferromagnetic coupling in 2, while 3 and 4 showed a weak ferromagnetic coupling at low temperature.     

Reactivity of "Eu(OiPr)2" with phenols: formation of linear Eu3, square pyramidal Eu5, cubic Eu8, and capped cubic Eu9 polymetallic europium complexes

The direct reaction of europium with 2-propanol and phenols has been investigated under a variety of conditions. The reaction of europium metal with 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,6-diisopropylphenol in 2-propanol at reflux revealed that polymetallic europium complexes could be generated by this method. Hx[Eu8O6(OC6H3Me2-2,6)12(OiPr)8], 1, and H5[Eu5O5(OC6H3iPr2-2,6)6(NCCH3)8], 2, were isolated by recrystallization in the presence of hexanes and acetonitrile, respectively, and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 has a cubic arrangement of europium ions with face-bridging mu 4-O donor atoms, edge-bridging mu-O(phenoxide/phenol) ligands, and terminal O(isopropoxide/2-propanol) ligands. Complex 2 is mixed valent and has a square pyramidal europium core with four Eu(II) ions at the basal positions and one Eu(III) ion at the apex. Since these reactions gave complicated mixtures of products from which 1 and 2 could only be obtained in low yields, direct reactions under less forcing reaction conditions were investigated. Europium reacts slowly at room temperature to form arene-soluble divalent [Eu(OiPr)2(THF)x]n, 3. Complex 3 reacts with 2,6-dimethylphenol to form the arene-insoluble complex (H[Eu(OC6H3Me2)2(OiPr)])n, 4. Recrystallization of 4 in the presence of THF results in the crystallographically characterizable divalent trimetallic complex [Eu(OC6H3Me2-2,6)2(THF)2]3, 5, which has an unusual linear metal geometry. In the presence of HOiPr at ambient conditions in the glovebox, crystals of 5 slowly convert to the mixed valent H10[Eu8O8(OC6H3Me2-2,6)10(OiPr)2(THF)6], 6, which was found to have a cubic arrangement of europium atoms similar to 1 by X-ray crystallography. Complex 4, upon heating under vacuum, followed by reaction with THF, forms the arene-soluble divalent complex H18([Eu9O8(OC6H3Me2-2,6)10(THF)7][Eu9O9(OC6H3Me2-2,6)10(THF)6]), 7, which contains two types of capped cubic arrangements of europium ions in the solid state.     

Highly efficient sensitized red emission from europium (III) in Ir-Eu bimetallic complexes by 3MLCT energy transfer

Two novel iridium-europium bimetallic complexes, {[(dfppy)2Ir(mu-phen5f)]3EuCl}Cl2 and (dfppy)2Ir(mu-phen5f)Eu(TFAcA)3 [dfppy represents 2-(4',6'-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C(2'), phen5f stands for 4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoro-1-(1',10'-phenanthrolin-2'-yl)-pentane-1,3-dionate and TFAcA represents trifluoroacetylacetonate], were successfully synthesized. The novel ligand Hphen5f with four coordination sites was designed as a bridge to link the Ir (III) center and the Eu (III) center. The X-ray diffraction data shows that the nonbonding distances for Eu...Ir are 6.028, 5.907, and 6.100 A in the bimetallic complex {[(dfppy)2Ir(mu-phen5f)]3EuCl}Cl2. Photophysical studies implied that the high efficient red luminescence from the Eu (III) ion was sensitized by the (3)MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) energy based on an Ir (III) complex-ligand in a d-f bimetallic assembly. The excitation window for the new bimetallic complex {[(dfppy)2Ir(mu-phen5f)]3EuCl}Cl2 extends up to 530 nm (1 x 10(-3) M in EtOH), indicating that this bimetallic complex can emit red light under the irradiation of sunlight.     

Development of polymeric sensing films based on a tridentate bis(phosphinic amide)-phosphine oxide for detecting europium(III) in water

A novel europium(III) membrane luminescence sensor based on a tridentate bis(phosphinic amide)-phosphine oxide, PhPO(C(6)H(4)POPhN(CH(CH(3))(2))(2))(2) (1), is described. The new luminescent complex, [Eu(1)(2)]Cl(3)2, which is formed between europium(III) and ligand 1 and has a 1 : 2 stoichiometry, has been evaluated in solution. It has the excellent spectroscopic and chemical characteristics that make it appropriate for sensing film applications. All the parameters (polymer, plasticizer, ligand and ionic additive) that can affect the sensitivity and selectivity of the membrane sensor and instrumental conditions have been carefully optimized. The best sensing response (λ(exc) = 229.04 nm, λ(em) = 616.02 nm) was observed for 33.4 : 65.1 : 1.5 (%, w/w) PVC : DOS : 1. The sensing film shows a good response time (10 min) and a very good selectivity toward europium(III) with respect to other lanthanides(III) ions, such as La, Sm, Tb and Yb. The newly-developed sensing film has a linear range from 1.6 × 10(-7) to 5.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) for Eu ions with a very low detection limit (4.8 × 10(-8) mol L(-1)) and good sensitivity (9.41 × 10(-7) a.u. mol(-1) L(-1)) to europium. Complexes of [Eu(1)(2)]Cl(3) (2) and [Eu(1)]Cl(3) (4) were isolated by mixing ligand 1 with Eu(Cl(3))·6H(2)O in acetonitrile at room temperature in ligand : metal molar ratios of 1 : 2 and 1 : 1, respectively. The 1 : 1 derivative is the product of thermodynamic control when a molar ratio of ligand to europium salt of 1 : 1 is used. The new compounds have been characterized in both the solid form (IR, MS-TOF, elemental analysis, TGA and X-ray diffraction) and in solution (multinuclear magnetic resonance). In both europium complexes, the ligand acts as a tridentate chelate. Thermogravimetric (TG) studies demonstrated that neither complex 2 or 4 possess any water molecules directly bound to the lanthanide metal, which corroborates the X-ray structure. The investigation of the solution behaviour of the Y(III) complexes with pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) NMR diffusion measurements showed that average structures with 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 stoichiometries are retained in acetonitrile solutions.     

Comparative EXAFS investigation of uranium(VI) and -(IV) aquo chloro complexes in solution using a newly developed spectroelectrochemical cell

The coordination of the U(IV) and U(VI) ions as a function of the chloride concentration in aqueous solution has been studied by U L(III)-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The oxidation state of uranium was changed in situ using a gastight spectroelectrochemical cell, specifically designed for the safe use with radioactive solutions. For U(VI) we observed the complexes UO2(H2O)5(2+), UO2(H2O)4Cl+, UO2(H2O)3Cl2(0), and UO2(H2O)2Cl3- with [Cl-] increasing from 0 to 9 M, and for U(IV) we observed the complexes U(H2O)9(4+), U(H2O)8Cl3+, U(H2O)(6-7)Cl2(2+), and U(H2O)5Cl3+. The distances in the U(VI) coordination sphere are U-Oax = 1.76+/-0.02 A, Oeq = 2.41 +/- 0.02 A, and U-Cl = 2.71 +/- 0.02 A; the distances in the U(IV) coordination sphere are U-O = 2.41 +/- 0.02 A and U-Cl = 2.71 +/- 0.02 A.     

Comparative spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of bis(octakis(dodecylthio)naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) and bis(tetra-tert-butylnaphthalocyaninato)europium(III) complexes

Bis(substituted-2,3-naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) complexes: bis(octakis(dodecylthio)-2,3-naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) (Eu[2,3-Nc(SC12H25)8]2, 1) and bis(tetra-tert-butyl-2,3- naphthalocyaninato)europium(III) (Eu[2,3-Nc(t-Bu)4]2, 2) have been synthesized by cyclic tetramerization of naphthalonitriles with Eu(acac)3.H2O in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in refluxing n-octanol. These compounds were characterized by UV-visible, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), near-IR, IR, EPR, and mass spectroscopies. The absorption and MCD spectra of 1 showed splitting of the Q band, with peaks at 700 and 784 nm, red shifted from the Q band of 2 at 763 nm. The absorption and MCD spectral band deconvolution calculations of complex 1 gave two A terms in the Q-band region. The A terms are assigned to 2A2-->2E1 transitions. Cyclic voltammograms of 1 and 2 showed reversible oxidation couples at E1/2 = -0.28 V (for 2) and -0.25 V (for 1) vs ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc+/Fc). The second oxidation exhibited a complicated behavior for both complexes. The reduction couples for 2 were observed at E1/2 = -0.61, -1.64, -1.97, and -2.42 V, and for 1 they were observed at E1/2 = -0.62, -1.60, -1.86, and -2.27 V vs Fc+/Fc. Spectral changes observed on chemical oxidation and reduction of the complexes are presented, and the behaviors of 1 and 2 are compared.     

A Cl- anion-responsive luminescent Eu3+ complex with a chiral tripod: ligand substituent effects on ternary complex stoichiometry and anion sensing selectivity

A new series of N3,O-mixed donor tripods was prepared for luminescent Eu3+ complexes, in which the soft quinoline nitrogen, tertiary amine nitrogen, and hard amide oxygen donors were cooperatively involved. The mixed donor tripods formed more stable 1 : 1 complexes with Eu(NO3)3, La(NO3)3 and Tb(NO3)3 than the corresponding N4 donor tripods, and their Eu3+ complexes particularly exhibited anion-responsive luminescence properties. NMR, UV, and luminescence spectroscopic characterizations revealed that -CH3 substitution on the tripod skeleton remarkably altered the preferred stoichiometry of the "tripod-Eu3+-anion" ternary complex and gave anion-dependent europium luminescence. Although the disubstituted tripod preferred to form non-luminescent 2 : 1 (tripod : Eu3+) complexes with Eu(NO3)3 and other salts, it formed a luminescent 1 : 1 complex with EuCl3. Thus, this type of tripod offered Cl- anion-selective luminescence enhancement that was easily observed by the naked eye.     

Tethered dinuclear europium(III) macrocyclic catalysts for the cleavage of RNA

Dinuclear europium(III) complexes of the macrocycles 1,3-bis[1-(4,7,10-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane]-m-xylene (1), 1,4-bis[1-(4,7,10-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane]-p-xylene (2), and mononuclear europium(III) complexes of macrocycles 1-methyl-,4,7,10-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (3), 1-[3'-(N,N-diethylaminomethyl)benzyl]-4,7,10-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (4), and 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (5) were prepared. Studies using direct excitation ((7)F0 --> (5)D0) europium(III) luminescence spectroscopy show that each Eu(III) center in the mononuclear and dinuclear complexes has two water ligands at pH 7.0, I = 0.10 M (NaNO3) and that there are no water ligand ionizations over the pH range of 7-9. All complexes promote cleavage of the RNA analogue 2-hydroxypropyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (HpPNP) at 25 degrees C (I = 0.10 M (NaNO3), 20 mM buffer). Second-order rate constants for the cleavage of HpPNP by the catalysts increase linearly with pH in the pH range of 7-9. The second-order rate constant for HpPNP cleavage by the dinuclear Eu(III) complex (Eu2(1)) at pH 7 is 200 and 23-fold higher than that of Eu(5) and Eu(3), respectively, but only 7-fold higher than the mononuclear complex with an aryl pendent group, Eu(4). This shows that the macrocycle substituent modulates the efficiency of the Eu(III) catalysts. Eu2(1) promotes cleavage of a dinucleoside, uridylyl-3',5'-uridine (UpU) with a second-order rate constant at pH 7.6 (0.021 M(-1) s(-1)) that is 46-fold higher than that of the mononuclear Eu(5) complex. Methyl phosphate binding to the Eu(III) complexes is energetically most favorable for the best catalysts, and this supports an important role for the catalyst in stabilization of the developing negative charge on the phosphorane transition state. Despite the formation of a bridging phosphate ester between the two Eu(III) centers in Eu2(1) as shown by luminescence spectroscopy, the two metal ion centers are only weakly cooperative in cleavage of RNA and RNA analogues.     

Synthesis of a novel chelating ligand from pentane-2,4-dione and 3-aminopropyl[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)]silane. europium(III) and erbium(III) imino enolates

Acetylacetone reacts with 3-aminopropyl[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)]silane to give a mixture of the isomers 4-[3′-tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silylpropyl]iminopent-2-en-2-ol (90%) and 4-[3′-tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silylpropyl]aminopent-3-en-2-one (10%). According to ¹H and ¹³C NMR data, both isomers exist in the cis-and trans-forms. Anhydrous europium(III) and erbium(III) tris{4-[3′-tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silylpropyl]iminopent-2-en-2-olates} were obtained from the mixture of the isomers and the corresponding propan-2-olates Eu(OPr _i )₃ and Er(OPr _i )₃. The resulting complexes are transparent air-stable liquids that are distillable in vacuo and well soluble in photopolymerizable polyorganosiloxane caoutchoucs and urethane acrylate oligomers. The volatility parameters of the europium(III) complex were studied.     

Modified dipicolinic acid ligands for sensitization of europium(III) luminescence

The effect of substitution at the 4 and 3,5 positions in the pyridine ring of europium(III) pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate complexes has been investigated with particular emphasis on sensitization of the Eu3+ ion. Sensitization of the Eu3+ 615-nm emission was achieved through excitation of the ligands in which the 4 substituent was -H, -OH, and -Cl and the 3,5 position was -H. In these cases, the ligand-to-Eu3+ ratio was confirmed as being 3:1. The sensitization was found to increase following substitution of the 4 position in the order Cl > H > OH. This is attributed to energy transfer occurring from the ligands into different Eu3+ intra-atomic energy levels, with spin selection rules governing the efficiency of this process. The Eu3+ luminescence lifetime was measured and found to vary from 1.16 to 2.90 ms depending on the excitation energy, ligand, and solvent. For the case of the 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy derivative, no sensitization was observed and a ligand-to-Eu3+ ratio of 1:1 was found. The solubility of these complexes in water and their long emission lifetime make them attractive for use as probes in biological systems.     

Reactivity of the "yl"-bond in uranyl(VI) complexes. 1. Rates and mechanisms for the exchange between the trans-dioxo oxygen atoms in (UO2)2(OH)2 2+ and mononuclear UO2(OH)n 2-n complexes with solvent water

The stoichiometric mechanism, rate constant, and activation parameters for the exchange of the "yl"-oxygen atoms in the dioxo uranium(VI) ion with solvent water have been studied using 17O NMR spectroscopy. The experimental rate equation, (-->)v= k(2obs)[UO2(2+)]tot2/[H+]2, is consistent with a mechanism where the first step is a rapid equilibrium 2U(17)O2(2+) + 2H2O<==>(U(17)O2)2(OH)2(2+) + 2H+, followed by the rate-determining step (U(17)O2)2(OH)2(2+) + H2O<==>(UO2)2*(OH)2(2+) + H2(17)O, where the back reaction can be neglected because the (17)O enrichment in the water is much lower than in the uranyl ion. This mechanism results in the following rate equation (-->)v= d[(UO2)2(OH)2(2+)]/dt = k(2,2)[(UO2)2(OH)2(2+)] = k(2,2*)beta(2,2)[UO2(2+)]2/[H + ]2; with k(2,2) = (1.88 +/- 0.22) x 10(4) h(-1), corresponding to a half-life of 0.13 s, and the activation parameters DeltaH++ = 119 +/- 13 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS++ = 81 +/- 44 J mol(-1) K(-1). *Beta(2,)2 is the equilibrium constant for the reaction 2UO2(2+) + 2H2O<==>(UO2)2(OH)2(2+) + 2H+. The experimental data show that there is no measurable exchange of the "yl"-oxygen in UO2(2+), UO2(OH)+, and UO2(OH)4(2-)/ UO2(OH)5(3-), indicating that "yl"-exchange only takes place in polynuclear hydroxide complexes. There is no "yl"-exchange in the ternary complex (UO2)2(mu-OH)2(F)2(oxalate)2(4-), indicating that it is also necessary to have coordinated water in the first coordination sphere of the binuclear complex, for exchange to take place. The very large increase in lability of the "yl"-bonds in (UO2)2(OH)2(2+) as compared to those of the other species is presumably a result of proton transfer from coordinated water to the "yl"-oxygen, followed by a rapid exchange of the resulting OH group with the water solvent. "Yl"-exchange through photochemical mediation is well-known for the uranyl(VI) aquo ion. We noted that there was no photochemical exchange in UO2(CO3)3(4-), whereas there was a slow exchange or photo reduction in the UO2(OH)4(2-) / UO2(OH)5(3-) system that eventually led to the appearance of a black precipitate, presumably UO2.     

Synthesis, characterization, and OFET properties of amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium(III) complexes with hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) substituents

A series of amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium complexes with hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) heads and hydrophobic alkoxy tails {Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu{Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu[Pc(OCnH2n + 1)8] (n = 6, 8, 10,12) (1-4) were designed and prepared from the reaction between homoleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) europium compound {Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8}Eu{Pc[(OC2H4)2OCH3]8} and metal-free 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(alkoxy)phthalocyanine H2Pc(OCnH2n + 1)8 (n = 6, 8, 10,12) in the presence of Eu(acac)3.H2O (Hacac = acetylacetone) in boiling 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB). These novel sandwich triple-decker complexes have been characterized by a wide range of spectroscopic methods and have been electrochemically studied. With the help of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, these typical amphiphilic triple-decker complexes have been fabricated into organic field effect transistors (OFET) with an unusual bottom contact configuration. The devices display good OFET performance with the carrier mobility for holes in the direction parallel to the aromatic phthalocyanine rings, which shows dependence on the length of the hydrophobic alkoxy side chains, decreasing from 0.46 for 1 to 0.014 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) for 4 along with the increase in the carbon number in the hydrophobic alkoxy side chains.     

Speciation of uranyl complexes in ionic liquids by optical spectroscopy

Uranyl complexes dissolved in room-temperature ionic liquids have diagnostic absorption and emission spectra which reflect the molecular symmetry and geometry. In particular, the characteristic vibrational fine structure of the absorption spectra allows identification of the molecular symmetry of a uranyl complex. The concept of speciation of uranyl complexes is illustrated for the hydrated uranyl ion, the tetrachloro complex [UO2Cl4]2-, the trinitrato complex [UO2(NO3)3]-, the triacetato complex [UO2(CH3COO)3]-, and the crown ether complex [UO2(18-crown-6)]2+ in imidazolium and pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids. The competition between 18-crown-6 and small inorganic ligands for coordination to the uranyl ion was investigated. The crystal structures of the hydrolysis product [(UO2)2(mu2-OH)2(H2O)6] [UO2Br4](18-crown-6)4 and imidazolium salt [C6mim]2[UO2Br4] are described.     

Anomalous green emission and energy transfer in the n,n-dimethylformamide/hydrochloric acid/europium chloride system

The unusual green photoluminescence (PL) of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/hydrochloric acid (HCl)/europium chloride (EuCl3) solutions discovered earlier was investigated in more detail to clarify the emission mechanism. It was revealed that the DMF/HCl pair alone can yield a green PL band under UV excitation, and the emission has features of that of excimers. The addition of EuCl3 salt to the solution further stimulates the green emission. The quantum yield of the line emission of Eu3+ ions at 592 and 612 nm is also affected by the presence of HCl in the solution. Both the green emission band and Eu3+ emission lines possess a common channel of excitation at approximately 280 nm. This channel is the only source for the green emission band and an additional source for the Eu3+ emission lines, which can also be stimulated through a conventional Eu3+ excitation channel at 394 nm. The common excitation channel was found to be time-dependent, and its excitation maximum gradually shifts to longer wavelengths. Changes in the PL profiles of europium ions were also observed depending on the presence of HCl and the solution aging.