UV and IR spectroscopy of cold 1,2-dimethoxybenzene complexes with alkali metal ions

We report UV photodissociation (UVPD) and IR-UV double-resonance spectra of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB) complexes with alkali metal ions, M(+)·DMB (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs), in a cold, 22-pole ion trap. The UVPD spectrum of the Li(+) complex shows a strong origin band. For the K(+)·DMB, Rb(+)·DMB, and Cs(+)·DMB complexes, the origin band is very weak and low-frequency progressions are much more extensive than that of the Li(+) ion. In the case of the Na(+)·DMB complex, spectral features are similar to those of the K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) complexes, but vibronic bands are not resolved. Geometry optimization with density functional theory indicates that the metal ions are bonded to the oxygen atoms in all the M(+)·DMB complexes. For the Li(+) complex in the S(0) state, the Li(+) ion is located in the same plane as the benzene ring, while the Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) ions are located off the plane. In the S(1) state, the Li(+) complex has a structure similar to that in the S(0) state, providing the strong origin band in the UV spectrum. In contrast, the other complexes show a large structural change in the out-of-plane direction upon S(1)-S(0) excitation, which results in the extensive low-frequency progressions in the UVPD spectra. For the Na(+)·DMB complex, fast charge transfer occurs from Na(+) to DMB after the UV excitation, making the bandwidth of the UVPD spectrum much broader than that of the other complexes and producing the photofragment DMB(+) ion.     

Ion selectivity of crown ethers investigated by UV and IR spectroscopy in a cold ion trap

Electronic and vibrational spectra of benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) and benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6) complexes with alkali metal ions, M(+)?B15C5 and M(+)?B18C6 (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs), are measured using UV photodissociation (UVPD) and IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy in a cold, 22-pole ion trap. We determine the structure of conformers with the aid of density functional theory calculations. In the Na(+)?B15C5 and K(+)?B18C6 complexes, the crown ethers open the most and hold the metal ions at the center of the ether ring, demonstrating an optimum matching in size between the cavity of the crown ethers and the metal ions. For smaller ions, the crown ethers deform the ether ring to decrease the distance and increase the interaction between the metal ions and oxygen atoms; the metal ions are completely surrounded by the ether ring. In the case of larger ions, the metal ions are too large to enter the crown cavity and are positioned on it, leaving one of its sides open for further solvation. Thermochemistry data calculated on the basis of the stable conformers of the complexes suggest that the ion selectivity of crown ethers is controlled primarily by the enthalpy change for the complex formation in solution, which depends strongly on the complex structure.     

The solvent extraction of alkali metal picrates with 4,13-N,N'-dibenzyl-4,13-diaza-18-crown-6

Extraction of alkali metal picrates with N,N'-dibenzyl-18-crown-6 was carried out, with dichloromethane as water-immiscible solvent, as a function [ligand]/[metal cation]. The extractability of metal picrates (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+)) was evaluated as a function of [L]/[M(+)]. The extractability of complex cation-picrate ion pairs decreases in this sequence: Li(+)>Rb(+)>Cs(+)>K(+)>Na(+). The overall extraction equilibrium constants (K(ex)) for complexes of N,N'-dibenzyl-18-crown-6 with alkali metal picrates between dichloromethane and water have been determined at 25 degrees C. The values of the extraction constants (logK(ex)) were determined to be 10.05, 6.83, 7.12, 7.83, 6.73 for Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+) compounds, respectively. DB186 shows almost 2-fold extractability against Li(+) compared to the other metal picrates, whereas it shows no obvious extractability difference amongst the other metal cations when [L]/[M(+)] is 0.2-1. However, an increasing extractability is observed for Cs(+) when [L]/[M(+)] [1].     

Extraction equilibria of various metal picrates with 19-crown-6 between benzene and water. Effect of the extra methylene group on extraction ability and selectivity

The overall extraction equilibrium constants (K(ex)) of picrates of Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+), Ag(+), Tl(+), and Sr(2+)with 19-crown-6 (19C6) were determined between benzene and water at 25 degrees C. The K(ex) values were analyzed into the constituent equilibrium constants, i.e. the extraction constant of picric acid, the distribution constant of the crown ether, the formation constant of the metal ion-crown ether complex in water, and the ion-pair extraction constant of the complex cation with the picrate anion. The effects of an extra methylene group of 19C6 on the extraction ability and selectivity are discussed in detail by comparing the constituent equilibrium constants of 19C6 with those of 18-crown-6 (18C6). The K(ex) value of 19C6 for each metal ion is lower than that of 18C6, which is mostly attributed to the higher lipophilicity of 19C6. The extraction ability of 19C6 for the univalent metal ions decreases in the order Tl(+)>K(+)>Rb(+)>Ag(+)>Cs(+)>Na(+)Li(+), which is the same as that observed for 18C6. The difference in logK(ex) between the univalent metals is generally smaller for 19C6 than for 18C6. The extraction selectivity of 19C6 is governed by the selectivity in the ion-pair extraction, whereas that of 18C6 depends on both the selectivities in the ion-pair extraction and in the complexation in water.     

Competitive cesium-133 NMR spectroscopic study of complexation of different metal ions with dibenzo-21-crown-7 in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide and nitromethane-dimethylsulfoxide mixtures

(133)Cs NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the stoichiometry and stability of the Cs(+) ion complex with dibenzo-21-crown-7 (DB21C7) in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide (96.5:3.5, w/w) and nitromethane-dimethylsulfoxide (96.5:3.5, w/w) mixtures. A competitive (133)Cs NMR technique was also employed to probe the complexation of Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Ag(+), Tl(+), NH(4)(+), Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Hg(2+), Pb(2+) and UO(2)(2+) ions with DB21C7 in the same solvent systems. All the resulting 1:1 complexes in nitromethane-dimethylsulfoxide were more stable than those in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide solution. In both solvent systems, the stability of the resulting complexes was found to vary in the order Rb(+)>K(+) approximately Ba(2+)>Tl(+)>Cs(+)>NH(4)(+) approximately Pb(2+)>Ag(+)>UO(2)(2+)>Hg(2+)>Mg(2+)>Na(+).     

Infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of cationized histidine: effects of metal cation size on gas-phase conformation

The gas phase structures of cationized histidine (His), including complexes with Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+), are examined by infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) action spectroscopy utilizing light generated by a free electron laser, in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. To identify the structures present in the experimental studies, measured IRMPD spectra are compared to spectra calculated at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) (Li(+), Na(+), and K(+) complexes) and B3LYP/HW*/6-311+G(d,p) (Rb(+) and Cs(+) complexes) levels of theory, where HW* indicates that the Hay-Wadt effective core potential with additional polarization functions was used on the metals. Single point energy calculations were carried out at the B3LYP, B3P86, and MP2(full) levels using the 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set. On the basis of these experiments and calculations, the only conformation that reproduces the IRMPD action spectra for the complexes of the smaller alkali metal cations, Li(+)(His) and Na(+)(His), is a charge-solvated, tridentate structure where the metal cation binds to the backbone carbonyl oxygen, backbone amino nitrogen, and nitrogen atom of the imidazole side chain, [CO,N(α),N(1)], in agreement with the predicted ground states of these complexes. Spectra of the larger alkali metal cation complexes, K(+)(His), Rb(+)(His), and Cs(+)(His), have very similar spectral features that are considerably more complex than the IRMPD spectra of Li(+)(His) and Na(+)(His). For these complexes, the bidentate [CO,N(1)] conformer in which the metal cation binds to the backbone carbonyl oxygen and nitrogen atom of the imidazole side chain is a dominant contributor, although features associated with the tridentate [CO,N(α),N(1)] conformer remain, and those for the [COOH] conformer are also clearly present. Theoretical results for Rb(+)(His) and Cs(+)(His) indicate that both [CO,N(1)] and [COOH] conformers are low-energy structures, with different levels of theory predicting different ground conformers.     

Solvent effects on the conformation of DNA dodecamer segment: a simulation study

Different solvent temperatures with five kinds of counterions are used to investigate solvent effects on the DNA microscopic structure. The dodecamer d (CGCGAATTCGCG) DNA segment is merged into the solvents and its conformation transition is studied with the molecular dynamics simulations in detail. For the simple point charge model of water molecule with Na(+) counterions, as temperature increases from 200 K to 343 K, the duplex DNA changes from stiff B form to a state between A form and B form, which we define as mixed (A-B) structure, with a double helix unwinding. To study the counterions effects, other four alkali cations, Li(+), K(+), Rb(+), or Cs(+) ions, are substituted for Na(+) ions at 298 K and 343 K, respectively. For the cases of Li(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) ions, the duplex DNA becomes more flexible with sugar configuration changing form C2'-endo to C1'-endo type and the width and depth of minor groove at CpG and GpC steps moving towards A values, as the mass of the counterions decreasing. For the case of K(+) ions, DNA-K(+) interaction widens the width of minor and major grooves at ApA steps and TpT steps, respectively. It seems that the light ions (Li(+) or Na(+)) prefer to interact with the free phosphate oxygen atoms while the heavier ions (Rb(+) and Cs(+)) strongly interact with the base pairs.     

Photometric reagents for alkali metal ions, based on crown-ether complex formation--III. 4'-picrylaminobenzo-15-crown-5 derivatives

An extraction study of alkali metal cations has been made with crown-ether reagents, 4'-picrylaminobenzo-15-crown-5 derivatives (HL). On dissociation in alkaline medium, the orange HL gives the blood-red anion L(-) and extracts alkali metal ions into chloroform as coloured complexes of composition ML.HL or ML. The ease of extraction decreases in the order, K(+) > Rb(+) > Cs(+) > Na(+) > Li(+). The extracted complexes are ML.HL for K(+) and Rb(+), and both ML.HL and ML for Na(+). The Li(+) complex is not extracted. The photometric determination of 10-800 ppm of K(+) is possible in the presence of other alkali and alkaline earth metal ions.     

Investigation of homo- and heterodimer alkali metal cation complexes of resorc[4]arenes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Resorc[4]arenes are compounds with interesting properties, mainly because of their ability to form host-guest complexes with the guest located inside the cavity. The size of the guest limits the complexation, as shown by a competition experiment with tetraalkylammonium ions of different size. By electroscopy ionization tandem mass spectrometric experiments on resorc[4]arene heterodimers bearing an alkali metal ion as guest, it was found that there must be two different binding mechanisms for alkali metal ions with high surface charge density (Li(+) and Na(+)) on the one hand compared with those with a lower surface charge density on the other hand (K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+)).     

Molecular structures of cation...pi(arene) interactions for alkali metals with pi- and sigma-modalities

The monovalent cations of Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) derived from the highly electropositive alkali metals represent prototypical charged spheres that are mainly subject to relatively simple electrostatic and solvation (hydration) forces. We now find that the largest of these Rb(+) and Cs(+) are involved in rather strong cation...pi(arene) interactions when they are suitably disposed with the ambifunctional hexasubstituted benzene C(6)E(6). The ether tentacles (E = methoxymethyl) allow these cations to effect eta(1)-bonding to the benzene center in a manner strongly reminiscent of the classical sigma-arene complexes with positively charged electrophiles where Z(+) = CH(3)(+), Br(+), Cl(+), Et(3)Si(+), etc. The somewhat smaller potassium cation is involved in a similar M(+)...pi(arene) interaction that leads to eta(2)-bonding with the aromatic center in the pi-mode previously defined in the well-known series of silver(I)/arene complexes. We can find no evidence for significant Na(+)... pi(arene) interaction under essentially the same conditions. As such, the sigma-structure of the Rb(+) and Cs(+) complexes and pi-structure of the K(+) complex are completely integrated into the continuum of sigma-pi bondings of various types of electrophilic (cationic) acceptors with arene donors that were initially identified by Mulliken as charge-transfer.     

A joint experimental and theoretical study of cation-pi interactions: multiple-decker sandwich complexes of ferrocene with alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+)

A systematic study of cation-pi interactions between alkali metal ions and the cyclopentadienyl ring of ferrocene is presented. The alkali metal (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) salts of the ditopic mono(pyrazol-1-yl)borate ligand [1,1'-fc(BMe2pz)2]2- crystallize from dimethoxyethane as multiple-decker sandwich complexes with the M+ ions bound to the pi faces of the ferrocene cyclopentadienyl rings in an eta5 manner (fc = (C5H4)2Fe; pz = pyrazolyl). X-ray crystallography of the lithium complex reveals discrete trimetallic entities with each lithium ion being coordinated by only one cyclopentadienyl ring. The sodium salt forms polyanionic zigzag chains where each Na+ ion bridges the cyclopentadienyl rings of two ferrocene moieties. Linear columns [-CpR-Fe-CpR-M+-CpR-Fe-CpR-M+-](infinity) (R = [-BMe2pz]-) are established by the K+, Rb+, and Cs+ derivatives in the solid state. According to DFT calculations, the binding enthalpies of M+-eta5(ferrocene) model complexes are about 20% higher as compared to the corresponding M+-eta6(benzene) aggregates when M+ = Li+ or Na+. For K+ and Rb+, the degree of cation-pi interaction with both aromatics is about the same. The binding sequence along the M+-eta5(ferrocene) series follows a classical electrostatic trend with the smaller ions being more tightly bound.     

A new surface structural approach to ion adsorption: tracing the location of electrolyte ions

Electrolyte ions differ in size leading to the possibility that the distance of closest approach to a charged surface differs for different ions. So far, ions bound as outersphere complexes have been treated as point charges present at one or two electrostatic plane(s). However, in a multicomponent system, each electrolyte ion may have its own distance of approach and corresponding electrostatic plane with an ion-specific capacitance. It is preferable to make the capacitance of the compact part of the double layer a general characteristic of the solid-solution interface. A new surface structural approach is presented that may account for variation in size of electrolyte ions. In this approach, the location of the charge of the outersphere surface complexes is described using the concept of charge distribution in which the ion charge is allowed to be distributed over two electrostatic planes. It was shown that the concept can successfully describe the pH dependent proton binding and the shift in the isoelectric point (IEP) in the presence of variety of monovalent electrolyte ions, including Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Cs(+), Cl(-), NO(-)(3), and ClO(-)(4) with a common set of parameters. The new concept also sheds more light on the degree of hydration of the ions when present as outersphere complexes. Interpretation of the charge distribution values obtained shows that Cl(-) ions are located relatively close to the surface. The large alkali ions K(+), Cs(+), and Rb(+) are at the largest distance. Li(+), Na(+), NO(-)(3), and ClO(-)(4) are present at intermediate positions.     

Oligoether-strapped calix[4]pyrrole: an ion-pair receptor displaying cation-dependent chloride anion transport

A ditopic ion-pair receptor (1), which has tunable cation- and anion-binding sites, has been synthesized and characterized. Spectroscopic analyses provide support for the conclusion that receptor 1 binds fluoride and chloride anions strongly and forms stable 1:1 complexes ([1·F](-) and [1·Cl](-)) with appropriately chosen salts of these anions in acetonitrile. When the anion complexes of 1 were treated with alkali metal ions (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Cs(+), as their perchlorate salts), ion-dependent interactions were observed that were found to depend on both the choice of added cation and the initially complexed anion. In the case of [1·F](-), no appreciable interaction with the K(+) ion was seen. On the other hand, when this complex was treated with Li(+) or Na(+) ions, decomplexation of the bound fluoride anion was observed. In contrast to what was seen with Li(+), Na(+), K(+), treating [1·F](-) with Cs(+) ions gave rise to a stable, host-separated ion-pair complex, [F·1·Cs], which contains the Cs(+) ion bound in the cup-like portion of the calix[4]pyrrole. Different complexation behavior was seen in the case of the chloride complex, [1·Cl](-). Here, no appreciable interaction was observed with Na(+) or K(+). In contrast, treating with Li(+) produces a tight ion-pair complex, [1·Li·Cl], in which the cation is bound to the crown moiety. In analogy to what was seen for [1·F](-), treatment of [1·Cl](-) with Cs(+) ions gives rise to a host-separated ion-pair complex, [Cl·1·Cs], in which the cation is bound to the cup of the calix[4]pyrrole. As inferred from liposomal model membrane transport studies, system 1 can act as an effective carrier for several chloride anion salts of Group 1 cations, operating through both symport (chloride+cation co-transport) and antiport (nitrate-for-chloride exchange) mechanisms. This transport behavior stands in contrast to what is seen for simple octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole, which acts as an effective carrier for cesium chloride but does not operates through a nitrate-for-chloride anion exchange mechanism.     

Alkali metal-cationized serine clusters studied by sonic spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Serine solutions containing salts of alkali metals yield magic number clusters of the type (Ser(4)+C)(+), (Ser(8)+C)(+), (Ser(12)+C)(+), and (Ser(17)+2C)(+2) (where C = Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), or Cs(+)), in relative abundances which are strongly dependent on the cation size. Strong selectivity for homochirality is involved in the formation of serine tetramers cationized by K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+). This is also the case for the octamers cationized by the smaller alkalis but there is a strong preference for heterochirality in the octamers cationized by the larger alkali cations. Tandem mass spectrometry shows that the octamers and dodecamers cationized by K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) dissociate mainly by the loss of Ser(4) units, suggesting that the neutral tetramers are the stable building blocks of the observed larger aggregates, (Ser(8)+C)(+) and (Ser(12)+C)(+). Remarkably, although the Ser(4) units are formed with a strong preference for homochirality, they aggregate further regardless of their handedness and, therefore, with a preference for the nominally racemic 4D:4L structure and an overall strong heterochiral preference. The octamers cationized by K(+), Rb(+), or Cs(+) therefore represent a new type of cluster ion that is homochiral in its internal subunits, which then assemble in a random fashion to form octamers. We tentatively interpret the homochirality of these tetramers as a consequence of assembly of the serine molecules around a central metal ion. The data provide additional evidence that the neutral serine octamer is homochiral and is readily cationized by smaller ions.     

Encapsulation of metal cations by the PhePhe ligand: a cation-π ion cage

Structures and binding thermochemistry are investigated for protonated PhePhe and for complexes of PhePhe with the alkaline-earth ions Ba(2+) and Ca(2+), the alkali-metal ions Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and Cs(+), and the transition-metal ion Ag(+). The two neighboring aromatic side chains open the possibility of a novel encapsulation motif of the metal ion in a double cation-π configuration, which is found to be realized for the alkaline-earth complexes and, in a variant form, for the Ag(+) complex. Experimentally, complexes are formed by electrospray ionization, trapped in an FT-ICR mass spectrometer, and characterized by infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy using the free electron laser FELIX. Interpretation is assisted by thermochemical and IR spectral calculations using density functional theory (DFT). The IRMPD spectrum of protonated PhePhe is reproduced with good fidelity by the calculated spectrum of the most stable conformation, although the additional presence of the secondmost stable conformation is not excluded. All metal-ion complexes have charge-solvated binding modes, with zwitterion (salt bridge) forms being much less stable. The amide oxygen always coordinates to the metal ion, as well as at least one phenyl ring (cation-π interaction). At least one additional chelation site is always occupied, which may be either the amino nitrogen or the carboxy carbonyl oxygen. The alkaline-earth complexes prefer a highly compact caged structure with both phenyl rings providing cation-π stabilization in a "sandwich" configuration (OORR chelation). The alkali-metal complexes prefer open-cage structures with only one cation-π interaction, except perhaps Cs(+). The Ag(+) complex shows a unique preference for the closed-cage amino-bound NORR structure. Ligand-driven perturbations of normal-mode frequencies are generally found to correlate linearly with metal-ion binding energy.     

Probing ionophore selectivity in argon-tagged hydrated alkali metal ion-crown ether systems

Crown ethers are an important family of compounds that are closely related to naturally occurring ionophores. Thus, crown ethers are useful in modeling the size-selective behavior of ionophores. Using a combination of infrared predissociation spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we have investigated M(+)(18-crown-6 ether)(H(2)O)(1-4) Ar complexes, where M = Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs in the gas phase. The argon-tagging technique was used to lower the internal energies (effective temperatures ~100 K), yielding well-resolved spectra in the OH stretching region for systems containing up to three waters. Spectral changes were monitored as both the size of the ion and degree of hydration were varied. While there is not a particular spectroscopic signature of gas-phase selectivity reported in this work, the unique role that K(+) plays in the systems studied, as a "bridge" between the smaller and larger alkali metal ions, is consistent with the well-known special affinity for K(+) by 18-crown-6 ether in the aqueous phase.     

Extraction of Alkali Metal (Na—Cs) Picrates with Dibenzo-18-crown-6 into Various Organic Solvents. Elucidation of Fundamental Equilibria which Govern the Extraction-Ability and -Selectivity

In order to quantitatively investigate effects of the size, the structuralrigidity, and the lipophilicity of dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) on itsextraction-ability and -selectivity for alkali metal ions, constants of theoverall extraction (Kex), the distribution for various diluents of lowdielectric constants (K_D,MLA), and the aqueous ion-pairformation (K_MLA) of DB18C6-alkali metal (Na-—Cs) picrate 1:1:1 complexes were determined at 25°C; the partition constants of DB18C6 itself were also measured at 25°C. The log K_MLA of Na, K, Rb, and Cs are -0.14 ± 0.11, 1.30 ± 0.10, 1.00 ± 0.09, and 0.24 ± 0.11, respectively. The partition behavior of DB18C6 and its1:1:1 complexes with the alkali metal picrates can be clearly explained byregular solution theory, except for chloroform. The molar volumes andsolubility parameters of DB18C6 and the 1:1:1 complexes were determined.A relation between molar volumes of the complexes and K_MLAis discussed. The magnitude of Kex is largely determined by that ofK_D,MLA. For every diluent, the extraction selectivity of DB18C6increases in the order Na > Cs > Rb > K. The K extraction-selectivity of DB18C6 over Na is the highest among all the combinations of the two neighboring alkali metals in the periodic table. The extraction-ability and -selectivity for the alkalimetal picrates and their change with the diluent of DB18C6 were completely elucidated by the four fundamental equilibria and regular solution theory.     

Alkali metal ion binding to amino acids versus their methyl esters: affinity trends and structural changes in the gas phase

The relative alkali metal ion (M(+)) affinities (binding energies) between seventeen different amino acids (AA) and the corresponding methyl esters (AAOMe) were determined in the gas phase by the kinetic method based on the dissociation of AA-M(+)-AAOMe heterodimers (M=Li, Na, K, Cs). With the exception of proline, the Li(+), Na(+), and K(+) affinities of the other aliphatic amino acids increase in the order AAAAOMe is already observed for K(+). Proline binds more strongly than its methyl ester to all M(+) except Li(+). Ab initio calculations on the M(+) complexes of alanine, beta-aminoisobutyric acid, proline, glycine methyl ester, alanine methyl ester, and proline methyl ester show that their energetically most favorable complexes result from charge solvation, except for proline which forms salt bridges. The most stable mode of charge solvation depends on the ligand (AA or AAOMe) and, for AA, it gradually changes with metal ion size. Esters chelate all M(+) ions through the amine and carbonyl groups. Amino acids coordinate Li(+) and Na(+) ions through the amine and carbonyl groups as well, but K(+) and Cs(+) ions are coordinated by the O atoms of the carboxyl group. Upon consideration of these differences in favored binding geometries, the theoretically derived relative M(+) affinities between aliphatic AA and AAOMe are in good overall agreement with the above given experimental trends. The majority of side chain functionalized amino acids studied show experimentally the affinity order AAAAOMe. The latter ranking is attributed to salt bridge formation.     

Determination of stability constants of valinomycin complexes with ammonium and alkali metal ions by capillary affinity electrophoresis

Capillary affinity electrophoresis (CAE) has been employed to investigate quantitatively the interactions of valinomycin, macrocyclic depsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with univalent cations, ammonium and alkali metal ions, K(+), Cs(+), Na(+), and Li(+), in methanol. The study involved measuring the change in effective electrophoretic mobility of valinomycin while the cation concentrations in the BGE were increased. The corresponding apparent stability (binding) constants of the valinomycin-univalent cation complexes were obtained from the dependence of valinomycin effective mobility on the cation concentration in BGE using a nonlinear regression analysis. The calculated apparent stability constants of the above-mentioned complexes show the substantially higher selectivity of valinomycin for K(+) and Cs(+) ions over Li(+), Na(+), and NH(4)(+) ions. CAE proved to be a suitable method for the investigation of both weak and strong interactions of valinomycin with small ions.     

Selectivity of bis(calix[4]diquinone) ionophores towards metal ions in solvent dimethylsulfoxide: a molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics study

Molecular modelling studies have been carried out on two bis(calix[4]diquinone) ionophores, each created from two (calix[4]diquinone)arenes bridged at their bottom rims via alkyl chains (CH(2))(n), 1: n = 3, 2; n = 4, in order to understand the reported selectivity of these ligands towards different sized metal ions such as Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) in dmso solution. Conformational analyses have been carried out which show that in the lowest energy conformations of the two macrocycles, the individual calix[4]diquinones exhibit a combination of partial cone, 1,3-alternate and cone conformations. The interactions of these alkali metals with the macrocycles have been studied in the gas phase and in a periodic box of solvent dmso by molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics calculations. Molecular mechanics calculations have been carried out on the mode of entry of the ions into the macrocycles and suggest that this is likely to occur from the side of the central cavity, rather than through the main axis of the calix[4]diquinones. There are energy barriers of ca. 19 kcal mol(-1) for this entry path in the gas phase, but in solution no energy barrier is found. Molecular dynamics simulations show that in both 1 and 2, though particularly in the latter macrocycle, one or two solvent molecules are bonded to the metal throughout the course of the simulation, often to the exclusion of one or more of the ether oxygen atoms. By contrast the carbonyl oxygen atoms remain bonded to the metal atoms throughout with bond lengths that remain significantly less than those to the ether oxygen atoms. Free energy perturbation studies have been carried out in dmso and indicate that for 1, the selectivity follows the order Rb(+) approximately K(+) > Cs(+) > Na(+), which is partially in agreement with the experimental results. The energy differences are small and indeed the ratio between stability constants found for Cs(+) and K(+) complexes is only 0.60, showing that has only a slight preference for K(+). For the larger receptor , which is better suited to metal complexation, the binding affinity follows the pattern Cs(+) > Rb(+) > K(+) > Na(+), with energy differences of 5.75, 2.61, 2.78 kcal mol(-1) which is perfectly consistent with experimental results.