Density functional theory study of the bis‐3‐benzo‐crown ethers and their complexes with alkali metal cations Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+

The binding interactions of bis‐3‐benzo‐15‐crown‐5 ethers and bis‐3‐benzo‐18‐crown‐6 ethers (neutral hosts) with a series of alkali metal cations Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ (charged guests) were investigated using quantum chemical density functional theory. Different optimized structures, binding energies and various thermodynamic parameters of free crown ethers and their metal cation complexes were obtained based on the Becke, three‐parameter, Lee–Yang–Parr functional using mixed basis set (C, H, O, Na⁺ and K⁺ using 6‐31 g, and the heavier cation Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ using effective core potentials). Natural bond orbital analysis is conducted on the optimized geometric structures. The main types of driving force host–guest interactions are investigated. The electron donating O offers a lone pair of electrons to the contacting LP* (1‐center valence antibond lone pair) orbitals of metal cations. The bis‐3‐benzocrown ethers are assumed to have sandwich‐like conformations, considering the binding energies to gauge the exact interactions with alkali cations. It is found that there are two different types of complexes: one is a tight ion pair and the other is a separated ion pair. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of the stability of thymine tautomers and the interaction of its tautomers with Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ in gas and solvent phases

The present study compared the interactions among Na ⁺, K ⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, thymine and its tautomers in the gas and solvent phase, an interaction dependent upon the electronic construction of the tautomers. Three types of cation interaction with thymine and its tautomers were observed. In the first one, the metal cations interacted with a lone pair of nitrogen or oxygen of the tautomers. In the second type, there was an interaction among the cations, nitrogen and oxygen at the same time; the last one was that of cations with the electron density of thymine π-system, where the cations were perpendicular to the ring of thymine. The interaction of metals cation with tautomers was studied in the gas and solvent phases; a comparison was then made between interactions in two phases. The interaction energy for all complexes indicated the stability of complexes, an energy which was higher in Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ compared with Na⁺ and K⁺. Concerning K⁺ and Na⁺, the stability of all complexes of tautomers was greater than that of thymine complexes; however, the stability of certain Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ complexes was lower than the complexes of thymine.     

Interaction of cations with 2′‐deoxythymidine nucleoside and analysis of the nature and strength of cation bonds

Binding of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu⁺ metal ions with 2′‐deoxythymidine (dT) nucleoside was studied using a density functional theory method and a 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. This work demonstrated that the interaction of dT with these cations is tri‐coordinated η (O2, O4′, O5′). Among the four types of cations, Zn²⁺ cation exhibited the most tendency to interact with the dT. Cations via their interaction with dT can affect the N‐glycosidic bond length, the values of pseudorotation of the sugar ring, the orientation of the base unit with respect to the sugar ring, and the acidity of the O5′H, O3′H, and N3H groups in the dT nucleoside. Natural bond orbital analysis was performed to calculate the charge transfer and natural population analysis of the complexes. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules was also applied to determine the nature of interactions. It was shown that in dT–Mg²⁺ and dT–Ca²⁺ complexes, the bonds are electrostatic (closed‐shell) interactions, although they are partially covalent and partially electrostatic interactions in dT–Zn²⁺ and dT–Cu⁺ complexes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study of efficiency of metal cations (Mg+, Ca+, and Ag+) for effective hydrogen storage

The interaction between the metal cations and H₂ molecule has been investigated using dispersion-corrected and -uncorrected hybrid density functional and CCSD(T) methods in conjunction with the correlation consistent triple-ζ quality basis sets for the storage of the H₂ molecule. The molecular properties, potential energy surfaces, stability, binding energy and well-depth have been computed for the metal cation–dihydrogen (M⁺–H₂, M = Mg, Ca, and Ag) complexes in the gas phase. The results obtained by the dispersion-corrected hybrid density functional B2PLYP-D method agree very well with the earlier experimental and theoretical results wherever available. Different components of the interaction energy have been estimated by the symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) to get physical insight into the interaction energy. Among the three complexes, only Ag⁺–H₂ is the most stable complex and it accumulates more H₂ molecules as the interaction between the metal cation Ag⁺ and the H₂ molecule is the greatest.     

Gas phase interaction of L‐proline with Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions: a computational study

Geometry optimisation and metal ion affinities (MIAs) of the binding configurations of Be²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ to L ‐proline were calculated using the hybrid Density Functional Theory (DFT‐B3LYP) and second order Møllet?Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) methods. Be²⁺ was found to bind preferentially in a charge transfer type arrangement through the carbonyl oxygen (? C?O) and the lone pair of the imino‐group nitrogen atom (? NH? ). On the contrary Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were found to prefer binding in a bi‐dentate manner through the carboxylate group of L ‐proline (OCO) in a zwitterion form. The main types of interactions found to influence the binding preference of M²⁺ ions to L ‐proline were (i) charge transfer in the case of Be²⁺ ions and (ii) electrostatic interactions in the case of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. Inspection of the IR stretching of the N? H and the O? H groups of L ‐proline with M²⁺ ions in a chelating configuration (to both O and N atoms) indicated a considerable shift to higher frequency with decreasing MIA. On the other hand, the MIA for the zwitterion L ‐proline with M²⁺ tracks the reciprocal distance of the M²⁺? OCO bond further confirming that the nature of the bond is mainly electrostatic. Comparison with other molecules containing the carboxylic function is also included in order to gain more insight on the types of interaction of this amino acid with metal ions in general. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complexation and DFT studies of lower rim hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene derivatives bearing pyridyl groups with transition and heavy metal cations. Cone versus partial cone conformation

The binding of representative alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal cations by 2‐pyridylmethoxy derivatives (1b, in cone and partial cone conformations) of p‐tert‐butylhexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene was studied. Binding was assessed by extraction studies of the metal picrates from water into dichloromethane and by stability constant measurements in acetonitrile and methanol, using spectrophotometric and potentiometric techniques. Microcalorimetric studies of some selected complexes in acetonitrile were performed, as well as proton NMR titrations. Computational methods (density functional theory calculations) were also employed to complement the NMR data. The results are compared with those obtained with the dihomooxacalix[4]arene 2b and the calix[4]arene 3b derivative analogues. Partial cone‐1b is the best extractant for transition and heavy metal cations. Both conformers of 1b exhibit very high stability constants for soft and intermediate cations Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺, with cone‐1b the strongest binder (ML, log β ≥ 7) and partial cone‐1b the most selective. Both derivatives show a slight preference for Na⁺. Besides the formation of ML complexes, ML₂ and M₂L species were also observed. The former complexes were, in general, formed with the transition and heavy metal cations, whereas the latter were obtained with Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ and partial cone‐1b. In most cases, these species were corroborated by the proton NMR and density functional theory studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The C2-Symmetry Colorimetric Dye Based on a Thiosemicarbazone Derivative and its Cadmium Complex for Detecting Heavy Metal Cations (Ni2+, Co2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+) Collectively,in DMF

The field of chemosensing has been experiencing an exponential expansion in recent times, due to increased demands for simpler and user-friendly analytical techniques, in order to combat and confront the challenges of industrial pollutions in the twenty-first century. Metal complex-based chemosensors have received little attention while exhibiting excellent sensing properties, comparing to their organic counterparts. Thus, a thiosemicarbazone-based (H) and its cadmium complex (P) were synthesized, characterized and their photophysical and chemosensing properties were investigated in DMF solvent. The addition of molar equivalents of selected cations (of nitrates or chloride salts) to H and P, produced visually detectable colour changes as well as remarkable spectral shifts. Explicitly, the two probes (H and P) were able to collectively discriminate heavy metal cations such as Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni^2+, and Ag⁺, both in DMF, among all other heavy metal cations tested. None of the anions could be detected by H or P, even when the tetrabutylammonium salts (TBAs) were used, the action presumably ascribed to the solvent effect. Thus, H and P can be used to selectively and sensitively detect the presence of heavy metal cations, via naked-eye detectable colour changes in an aqueous soluble solvent such as DMF.

     

Spectroscopic Study of Some Alkali and Alkaline Earth Complexes with Benzo Crown Ethers in Ethanol Solution

The interaction between Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions and benzo crown ethers B15C5, DB18C6, DB21C7, DB24C8 and DB30C10 in ethanol solution has been studied spectrophotometrically at 25°C. The formation constants for 1:1 complexes were determined by computer fitting of the resulting UV-absorbance-mole ratio data. In the case of all crown ethers used, K⁺ ion was found to form the most stable complexes. The observed selectivities of different benzo crowns for the cations used are discussed in terms of the cavity-cation size ratio, number of the donating oxygens participating in the cation binding, conformations of the free and complexed ligands and ionic solvation.     

INDIRECT METAL ION (K+, NA+, MG2+, AND CA2+) QUANTIFICATION FROM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we report the use of Mid-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with Partial Least Squares method for the quantitative determination of various alkaline and alkaline earth metals in aqueous solution owing to their interactions with sucrose. First of all, prediction equations that linked cation concentration to the spectral data were established independently for each ion (K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺): very high correlation coefficient values between the two first axes and the chemical values were obtained. Moreover, a good prediction could be made whatever the nature of ion involved in interaction with sucrose. Then, all spectral data have been gathered for generating a common prediction equation. In this case, the predictions of metal ion concentration are almost as much accurate. For both regression models, Mg²⁺ appears to provide the best precision in quantification. Nevertheless, the different types of aqueous solution, regarding to ions, can be discriminated on the basis of their spectral data set up with the three mostly correlated axes of the PCA.     

Structures and binding energies for complexations of different spin states of Ni+ and Ni2+ to aromatic molecules

Abstract

Density functional theory calculations, using the B3LYP parameterisation, were performed to determine structures, vibrational frequencies, and binding energies for complexation of Ni⁺ and Ni²⁺ cations with benzene and naphthalene molecules and clusters. The calculations employed the Stuttgart basis set with ECP pseudo potentials for the Ni cations and basis sets of at least triple ζ plus polarisation, and diffuse quality for C and H. The effect of electron correlation on non-bonded interactions was accounted for by the Grimme GD3 dispersion correction. Counterpoise computations were made for BSSE. Comparison between experiment and theory provide fascinating new insight into the bonding for these prototypical organometallic (OM) complexes. These structures have a sandwich topology, indicating major structural reorganisations occuring when benzene or naphthalene interact with Ni cations. Adiabatic electron affinities and ionisation potentials agree well with experiment when available. Binding energies were also determined, providing insight into the stability of the complexes. The results presented here provide important information for future studies to address additional investigations of both problems of the electronic structure properties of these complexes, as well as the role of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the interstellar medium (ISM) and soot formation in combustion. The Ni⁺/Ni²⁺ + aromatic organometallic bonding is of the same order of stability as an aromatic C–H bond. Such bonding modifies the IR spectrum of the complexed aromatic molecules by enhancing the 3.3?μm feature and decreasing the C–H bands in the 11–12?μm range (γ C–H). Organometallic complexation reactions may contribute significantly to metal depletion in the ISM.     

Spectroscopic properties, energy transfer and structural analysis of Sr2CeO4:M+ and Sr2CeO4:Eu3+, M+ (M+ = Li+, Na+, K+)

The room-temperature luminescent emission characteristics of Sr₂CeO₄:M⁺ and Sr₂CeO₄:Eu³⁺,M⁺ (M⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) have been investigated under UV excitation. By introducing appropriate alkali metal cations dopants (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) into the crystalline lattice, not only emission color of the blue-white-emitting Sr₂CeO₄ doped with low Eu³⁺ content can be tuned to green, but also the red emission intensity of Sr₂CeO₄ doped with high Eu³⁺ concentration is strengthened significantly. The relevant mechanisms have been elucidated in detail.     

Experimental and theoretical insight into the cooperativity effect in composite wax powder and ternary complex of coronene with CH4 and Mn+ (Mn+ = Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+ or Ca2+)

The experimental infrared (IR) spectrum of composite wax powder was investigated. The frequency shifts of the C=C anti-symmetrical stretching mode were observed and the experimental cooperativity effect involving Na⁺···π interaction was suggested. In order to further reveal the nature of cooperativity effect, the interaction energies in Mⁿ⁺···coronene···CH₄ (Mⁿ⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺) as the model systems of composite wax powder were calculated by using the B3LYP, M06-2X and MP2 methods with 6-311++G^** basis set. The results show that the Mⁿ⁺···π interactions were strengthened upon the formation of ternary complexes. Although the changes of absolute values of the interactions between CH₄ and coronene were not obvious, the relative values were considerably significant upon the formation of ternary complexes. The cooperativity effect was perhaps the reason for the formation of notable advantage of composite wax powder upon the introduction of surfactant with cation into wax powder. Reduced density gradient and atoms-in-molecules analysis confirm the cooperativity effect in Mⁿ⁺···coronene···CH₄, and reveal the nature of the formation of the predominant advantage of composite wax powder.     

Density functional investigation of metal encapsulated X@C12Si8 heterofullerene (X=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Al, Ga)

The stability and the possible application of our recently reported SiC heterofullerenes inspire the investigation of their further stabilization through ion encapsulation. The endohedral complexes X@C₁₂Si₈, where X=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, and Ga³⁺, are probed at the MPWB1K/6-311G? and B3LYP/6-311G* levels of theory. The optimized geometries show the expanding or contracting capability of C₁₂Si₈ in order to accommodate metal ion guests. The inclusion energies indicate the stability of the complexes compared to the components. Meanwhile, the calculated binding energies show the stabilization of C₁₂Si₈ through the inclusion of Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, and Ga³⁺. The host-guest interaction that is probed through NBO atomic charges supports the obtained results. This study refers to “metal ion encapsulation” as a strategy for stabilization of SiC heterofullerenes.     

Complexation of hydrogen by lithium: structures,energies and vibrational spectra of Li+ (H2) n (n = 1–4), Li-H(H2) m and Li-H + (H2) m (m = 1–3)

The interaction of metals with hydrogen is of importance in several areas of technology. Lithium-hydrogen complexes are particularly amenable to theoretical study. Although no stable compound of the Li atom and H₂ has been found, a weak dative interaction forms between the σ bond of H₂ and the positively charged Li atom for Li⁺, Li-H⁺, and Li-H. At least four H₂ molecules can be complexed by Li⁺, and three by Li-H⁺ and Li-H. The presence of the Li ion does not substantially weaken the H₂ bond, nor is the energy of dissociation affected; however, the Li ion does form stable complexes with the dissociated H atoms.     

The migration of alkali metal (Na+, Li+, and K+) ions in single crystalline vanadate nanowires: Rasch-Hinrichsen resistivity

We report the synthesis of single crystalline alkali metal vanadate nanowires, Li-vanadate (Li₄V₁₀O₂₇), Na-vanadate (NaV₆O₁₅), and K-vanadate (KV₄O₁₀) and their electrical properties in a single nanowire configuration. Alkali metal vanadate nanowires were obtained by a simple thermal annealing process with vanadium hydroxides(V(OH)₃) nanoparticles containing Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ ions and further the analysis of the migration of charged particles (Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) in vanadate by measuring the conductivity of them. We found that their ionic conductivities can be empirically explained by the Rasch-Hinrichsen resistivity and interpreted on the basis of transition state theory. Our results thus indicate that the Li ion shows the lowest potential barrier of ionic conduction due to its small ionic size. Additionally, Na-vanadate has the lowest ion number per unit V₂O₅, resulting in increased distance to move without collision, and ultimately in low resistivity at room temperature.     

Ion exchange equilibrium between cation exchange membranes and aqueous solutions of K+/Na+, K+/Ca2+, and Na+/Ca2+

Equilibrium between synthetic ion exchangers and solutions of cations has been the subject of this investigation. Competitive ion exchange reactions were studied for two cation exchange membranes (CMX and CRP) involving K⁺, Na⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions. The ionic strength of the equilibrating solutions was maintained constant, but the molar fraction varied; all experiments were conduced with nitrate as nonexchanging anions at 25 °C. Adsorption isotherm for the three binaries systems: K⁺/Na⁺, K⁺/Ca²⁺, and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ were studied. The obtained results show that potassium was the most strongly sorbed and the selectivity order for CMX and CRP membranes is K⁺>Ca²⁺>Na⁺ at 0.1 M, under the experimental conditions. Selectivity coefficients , , and for the three binaries and for the two membranes were determined at an ionic strength of 0.1 M and at a constant temperature of 25 °C. We remark that all the selectivity coefficient values are quite different from the unit. Ternary equilibrium was taken for the Ca²⁺/K⁺/Na⁺ system. It was found that binary selectivity data could be successfully used to predict the ternary ion exchange equilibrium.     

Complex formation of pyridine‐azacrown ether amide macrocycles with proton and heavy metal ions in aqueous solution

This research concerns the analysis of the proton and metal ion binding of amide macrocycles of different structures and sizes by potentiometric, ¹H NMR and X‐ray diffraction methods. Protonated ligands exist as a 3D network structures. The ligands form 1:1 complexes with heavy metal ions (Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ni²⁺) in aqueous solutions and demonstrate the high selectivity towards Cu²⁺ cations. The pyridine‐2,6‐dicarbamide fragment provides structural rigidity to crown ether, resulting the molecule has an open cavity and faster kinetics of metal complexes formation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical explanation for the DNA cleavage by GO with cation: anti-cooperativity effect among the π⋯π, cation⋯π/σ and H-bonding interactions in cytosine⋯GO⋯Mn+ (Mn+ = Na+, Mg2+, Al3+)

In order to reveal the nature of DNA cleavage by inorganic intercalator GO (graphene oxide) with cation, the cooperativity effects among the π?π, cation?π/σ and H-bonding interactions were evaluated in the cytosine?GO?Mⁿ⁺ (Mⁿ⁺?=?Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺) model systems using the M06-2X, MP2 and ω B97X-D methods with the 6-311++G(2d,p) and 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets. The Mⁿ⁺?O (ether) and N–H?O interactions induce the formation of the π?π stacking between cytosine and GO, and the anti-cooperativity effect are dominant in controling of the aggregation process of cytosine, GO and Mⁿ⁺, which was confirmed by the AIM (atoms-in-molecules) and RDG (reduced density gradient) analyses. Furthermore, the solvent effects of H₂O weaken greatly the anti-cooperativity effects. Thus, a deduction on the DNA cleavage by GO?cation with the intercalation mode is put forward: due to the anti-cooperativity effect and solvent effect, the π?π stacking is weakened in the complexes with Na⁺ or broken in those with Mg²⁺ or Al³⁺. Then the GO?Mg²⁺ moiety is squeezed out from the intercalating sites, leading to an invalid cleavage of DNA, while Na⁺ or Al³⁺ is bound tightly to cytosine, with a notable DNA cleavage. This deduction was used to explain reasonably the previous experimental phenomena.     

Density functional theory study on a fluorescent chemosensor device of aza‐crown ether

Three derivatives of alkyl anthracene covalently bonded to aza‐18‐crown‐6 at the nitrogen position, anthracene(CH₂)_n, (n = 1–3) which act as an on–off fluorogenic photoswitch have been theoretically studied using a computational strategy based on density functional theory at B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) method. The fully optimized geometries have been performed with real frequencies which indicate the minima states. The binding energies, enthalpies and Gibbs free energies have been calculated for aza‐18‐crown‐6 ( L ) and their metal complexes. The natural bond orbital analysis is used to explore the interaction of host–guest molecules. The absorption spectra differences between L and their metal ligands, the excitation energies and absorption wavelength for their excited states have been studied by time‐dependent density functional theory with the basis set 6‐31 + G(d,p). These fluorescent sensors and switchers based on photoinduced electron transfer mechanism have been investigated. The PET process from aza‐crown ether to fluorophore can be suppressed or completely blocked by the entry of alkali metal cations into the aza‐crown ether‐based receptor. Such a suppression of the PET process means that fluorescence intensity is enhanced. The binding selectivity studies of the aza‐crown ether part of L indicate that the presence of the alkali metal cations Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ play an important role in determining the internal charge transfer and the fluorescence properties of the complexes. In addition, the solvent effect has been investigated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cation-mediated sandwich formation between benzene and pillar[5]arene: a DFT study

Cation–π interactions in alkali metal ion (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺)–pillar[5]arene complexes and sandwiches of pillar[5]arene and benzene formed via alkali metal ions are studied in the light of density functional theory. Several possible modes of interaction between metal ions and pillar[5]arene have been studied. Results suggest that interaction is stronger in the complexes with the metal ion present inside the cavity of the pillar[5]arene as compared to that where the metal ion is outside the cavity. The calculated interaction energy further reveals that though cation–π complexes with larger number of alkali metal ions are unstable, however, corresponding sandwiches are stable, which further support the fact that pillar[5]arene–metal ion complexes can interact with other π–electron-rich species. Absorption spectra of the complexes formed undergo both blue and red shifts as compared to the pillar[5]arene.