Measurement of acid-catalyzed isomerization of unsaturated aldehyde-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis

Aldehyde-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones exist as (E)- and (Z)-geometrical isomers, and adventitious isomerization during sample preparation can cause analytical errors. Purified alkenal-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives comprise only the (E)-isomer. However, partial isomerization to the (Z)-isomer occurs upon addition of acid to attain an equilibrium isomer ratio. The UV-visible spectral properties of the isomers differ; the (Z)-isomer exhibiting a 6-10 nm lower absorption maximum compared to the (E)-isomer. Alkenal-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones having a CC double bond at the 2- or 3-position of the alkenal exhibited similar absorption maxima with an equilibrium isomer ratio (0.035) that was much lower than those of other alkenals. The CC double bond at the 3-position migrates to a position of conjugation with the CN double bond during hydrazone synthesis to form a stabilized molecular structure. Alkenal-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones having a double bond at the 4-position or greater exhibited a similar absorption maxima equilibrium isomer ratio (0.14) to alkanal-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones. The quantitative analysis of carbonyl compounds in air or water using DNPH is usually conducted in the presence of an acid catalyst. Consequently, the solution of the direct extract prepared for HPLC or GC analysis contains both (E)- and (Z)-isomers.     

Electrochemical determination of 2,4-D at a mercury electrode

An indirect electrochemical determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), has been presented. The method is based on the adsorption and desorption of 2,4-D on mercury electrode. Also, the electrochemical behavior of 2,4-D in aqueous solutions at different pH values and different 2,4-D concentrations were studied. A simple and rapid method has been developed for its extraction from water and soil. The subsequent determination was carried out by a tensammetric method. Three calibration curves could be obtained from different parts of voltammogram. Under the optimum conditions (pH = 2.3; E_acc = −1100 mV; t_acc = 60 s; alternative current mode; ν = 40 mV s⁻¹; pulse height = 20 mV; modulation frequency = 60 Hz; phase angle = 90°) the limit of detection was 50 μg L⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the determination of 2,4-D in real samples such as soil and water.     

Rapid and simultaneous analysis of dichlorvos, malathion, carbaryl, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid in citrus fruit by flow-injection ion spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple method for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of dichlorvos (DDVP), malathion, carbaryl, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in citrus fruit, which uses flow-injection ion spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, has been developed for the first time. The method involves the combined use of stable isotopically labeled internal standards (DDVP-d₆, malathion-d₁₀, carbaryl-d₇, and 2,4-D-d₅) and a multiple reaction monitoring technique. The average recoveries for the pesticides at the same concentrations as their tolerance levels (DDVP: 0.1-0.2 μg g⁻¹; malathion: 0.5-4.0 μg g⁻¹; carbaryl: 1.0 μg g⁻¹; 2,4-D: 1.0-2.0 μg g⁻¹) ranged from 90 to 119% with the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) ranging from 1.0 to 13.1% (n = 5). Analysis time, including sample preparation and determination, was only 15 min. The present method is effective for screening DDVP, malathion, carbaryl, and 2,4-D in citrus fruit.     

Direct hapten coated immunoassay format for the detection of atrazine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicides

A novel immunoassay format employing direct coating of small molecular hapten on microtiter plates is reported for the detection of atrazine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D). In this assay, the polystyrene surface of microtiter plates was first treated with an acid to generate -NO₂ groups on the surface. Acid treated plates were further treated with 3-aminoprpyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to functionalize the plate surface with amino groups for covalent linkage to small molecular hapten with carboxyl groups. The modified plates showed significantly high antibody binding in comparison to plates coated with hapten-carrier protein conjugates and presented excellent stability as a function of the buffer pH and reaction time. The developed assay employing direct hapten coated plates and using affinity purified atrazine and 2,4-D antibodies demonstrated very high sensitivity, IC₅₀ values for atrazine and 2,4-D equal to 0.8 ng mL⁻¹ and 7 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The assay could detect atrazine and 2,4-D levels in standard water samples even at a very low concentration upto 0.02 and 0.7 ng mL⁻¹ respectively in the optimum working range between 0.01 and 1000 ng mL⁻¹ with good signal reproducibility (p values: 0.091 and 0.224 for atrazine and 2,4-D, respectively). The developed immunoassay format could be used as convenient quantitative tool for the sensitive screening of pesticides in samples.     

Chromatographic characterisation, under highly aqueous conditions, of a molecularly imprinted polymer binding the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

The affinity of a 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), which was synthesised directly in an aqueous organic solvent, for its template (2,4-D) was studied and compared with the affinity exhibited by two other reference (control) polymers, NIPA and NIPB, for the same analyte. Zonal chromatography was performed to establish the optimal selectivity, expressed as imprinting factor (IF), under chromatographic conditions more aqueous than those described so far in the literature. Frontal analysis (FA) was performed on columns packed with these polymers, using an optimized mobile phase composed of methanol/phosphate buffer (50/50, v/v), to extract adsorption isotherm data and retrieve binding parameters from the best isotherm model. Surprisingly, the template had comparable and strong affinity for both MIP (K = 3.8 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) and NIPA (K = 1.9 × 10⁴ M⁻¹), although there was a marked difference in the saturation capacities of selective and non-selective sites, as one would expect for an imprinted polymer. NIPB acts as a true control polymer in the sense that it has relatively low affinity for the template (K = 8.0 × 10² M⁻¹). This work provides the first frontal chromatographic characterization of such a polymer in a water-rich environment over a wide concentration range. The significance of this work stems from the fact that the chromatographic approach used is generic and can be applied readily to other analytes, but also because there is an increasing demand for well-characterised imprinted materials that function effectively in aqueous media and are thus well-suited for analytical science applications involving, for example, biofluids and environmental water samples.     

Determination of trace amounts of formaldehyde in acetone

A method to quantify sub-ppm levels of formaldehyde in acetone has been developed and it is reported here. In this method, the different reactivities and stabilities of sulfite with formaldehyde and acetone are used to separate the two carbonyl compounds. Sulfite reacts with formaldehyde to form hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS), the non-volatile and stable nature of which allows its separation from bulk acetone solvent. The resulting HMS is then converted back to formaldehyde under basic conditions, and formaldehyde is derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and quantified in its DNP hydrazone form using high-performance liquid chromatography-UV detection. The method detection limit at the 99% confidence level was 0.051 mg L⁻¹. A batch of samples can be processed within 4 h. The method has been applied to quantify the amount of formaldehyde in an analytical-grade acetone and in a commercial nail polish remover and the level of formaldehyde was found to be 0.175 and 0.184 mg L⁻¹, respectively.     

Development of a fluorescent chelating ligand for gallium ion having a quinazoline structure with two Schiff base moieties

A novel chelating ligand, 2,4-[bis-(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)]-dihydrazinoquinazoline (DBHQ), was synthesized, and the fluorescence characteristics of its complex with metal ions were investigated.Thirty-five different metal ions were tested for the emission of fluorescence in the presence of DBHQ in aqueous solutions in a pH range of 3.0-10.5 (at a difference of 0.5 for each metal).It was observed that DBHQ fluoresces intensely at 470 nm with an excitation wavelength of 405 nm in the presence of Ga³⁺ or Al³⁺ in the pH range 3.0-4.0. The other metal ions did not show fluorescence with DBHQ. Although the presence of Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺ decreased the fluorescence intensity of DBHQ-Ga³⁺, the addition of a fluoride ion (NaF) recovered the fluorescence by masking the interfering ions. In addition, the fluoride ions were found to enhance the sensitive determination of Ga³⁺ because the fluorescence intensity of DBHQ-Ga³⁺ was further increased approximately 2.5-fold in the presence of F⁻ (? = 0.658) from that in the absence of F⁻ (? = 0.401). The fluoride ions also masked the Al³⁺ ions, which emit fluorescence on chelation with DBHQ. Therefore, a selective and sensitive detection of Ga³⁺ was achieved by using DBHQ in the presence of F⁻. The detection limit of Ga³⁺ was approximately 50 nmol L⁻¹ (3.5 ppb). The proposed method was applicable to determine Ga³⁺ in river water.     

2-(2-Hydroxyaryl)cinnamic amides: a new class of axially chiral molecules

The syntheses of several differently substituted amides formally derived from a chiral amine, either E-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)cinnamic acid or both E- and Z-2-(2-hydroxynaphthyl)cinnamic acid, are reported. These molecules display a restricted rotation about the C₂-C_aryl bond. The barriers to rotation about the C₂-C_aryl bond were measured by the dynamic ¹H NMR and were found to vary between 11.8 and 24.5 kcal mol⁻¹, depending on the substitution. In particular, E-2-(2-hydroxynapthyl)cinnamic amides, displayed a high barrier to rotation (ΔG_c^‡=24.4 kcal mol⁻¹) and could be isolated in both diastereomerically pure forms at room temperature. The X-ray structure of one E-2-(2-hydroxynapthyl)cinnamic amide, was resolved, enabling for the determination of the absolute configuration of the chiral axis (aR).     

Voltammetric analysis of the acaricide amitraz and its degradant, 2,4-dimethylaniline

Amitraz is a formamide acaracide used in the control of ticks and mites in livestock. An electrochemical method for the determination of total amitraz residues and its final breakdown product, 2,4-dimethylaniline, is presented. Cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode showed the irreversible oxidation of amitraz and of 2,4-dimethylaniline. A linear current response was obtained with an extrapolated limit of detection of 2 × 10⁻⁸ M for amitraz and 1 × 10⁻⁸ M for 2,4-dimethylaniline. The biological degradation of amitraz and subsequent formation of 2,4-dimethylaniline was readily monitored in spent cattle dip. Amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline was also monitored in milk and honey samples.     

Analysis of selected carbonyl oxidation products in wine by liquid chromatography with diode array detection

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the detection and quantitation of acetaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, pyruvic acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid, and formaldehyde in wine, based on the formation of the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones, is presented. These carbonyl compounds often result from the chemical oxidation of major wine components, and are known to affect flavor and color stability. Their analysis in wine is complicated due to their instability and their tendency to react reversibly with bisulfite to form α-hydroxysulfonates. Published methods that break down the sulfonates for the quantitation of total carbonyls in wine involve alkaline hydrolysis of sulfite-bound carbonyls, but we show, for the first time, that this alkaline treatment step significantly increases the concentration of carbonyls during analysis. A solution based on oxygen exclusion is described. The technique offers good specificity, reproducibility (%RSD 0.45-10.6), and limits of detection (1.29-7.53 μg L⁻¹). The method was successfully used to monitor concentration changes of these compounds in both white and red wines.     

Theoretical study of formic acid: A new look at the origin of the planar Z conformation and C–O rotational barrier

The E and Z rotamers of formic acid (HCOOH) and its barrier to internal rotation about the C–O bond were computationally explored at the HF/6-311 + G^∗∗, B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, and CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ levels of theory. All calculations yielded similar results consistent with experimental observations. Subsequent analysis of the interaction between formate ion (HCOO⁻) and proton (H⁺) within formic acid demonstrated a direct correlation between the changes in fragment interaction energy and the total energy of formic acid upon rotation. To obtain further insights into the interaction, energy decomposition analysis based on the reactive bond orbital (RBO) method was carried out using the 6-311 + G^∗∗ basis set. The analysis showed the electrostatic effect constitutes a major component that gives rise to the interaction energy variation along the rotation path. Thus, the electrostatic environment of HCOO⁻ can be viewed as the key factor determining the Z ground state and C–O rotational barrier of formic acid. The anisotropic electrostatic environment of formate that favors planar conformations of formic acid may be due to the in-plane distribution of carbonyl lone pairs, and the larger electrostatic attraction in the Z form appears to come from a secondary electrostatic interaction between the proton and the distal oxygen. At the rotational transition state, the O–H bond was not exactly perpendicular to the molecular plane, but slightly tilted toward the E side, which can also be explained by the electrostatic hypothesis. Charge-transfer stabilization was smallest in the Z conformation, but it gradually increased upon rotation to a maximum at the E conformation. Therefore, charge - transfer does not explain the geometry of formic acid. The important role of the electrostatic effect was also observed in in-plane rotation of the O–H bond.     

Synthesis and photochemical properties of porphyrin-azobenzene triad

Porphyrin-azobenzene triad E-2, having ester spacers between the chromophores, was synthesized and its photochemical and thermal isomerization properties were investigated. Triad E-2 showed little electronic communication among the chromophores according to a comparison of the steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra of E-2 and their model compounds. E-2 showed photochemical E-Z isomerization and subsequent thermal Z-to-E isomerization. The porphyrin chromophore in Z-2, obtained by photoisomerization, did not strongly affect the transient state of thermal Z-to-E isomerization of the azobenzene unit. The high E-isomer composition at the photostationary state indicates the occurrence of triplet energy transfer between porphyrin and azobenzene. E-2 forms a 1:1 complex with 4,4′-bipyridyl (Bipy). The stability constant for E-2 with Bipy was determined (log K = 4.20 mol⁻¹ dm³) by iterative least-squares fitting to a 1:1 binding model.     

Simple and fast spectrophotometric determination of H(2)O(2) in photo-Fenton reactions using metavanadate

This work proposes a spectrophotometric method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide during photodegradation reactions. The method is based on the reaction of H₂O₂ with amonium metavanadate in acidic medium, which results in the formation of a red-orange color peroxovanadium cation, with maximum absorbance at 450 nm. The method was optimized using the multivariate analysis providing the minimum concentration of vanadate (6.2 mmol L⁻¹) for the maximum absorbance signal. Under these conditions, the detection limit is 143 μmol L⁻¹. The reaction product showed to be very stable for samples of peroxide concentrations up to 3 mmol L⁻¹ at room temperature during 180 h. For higher concentrations however, samples must be kept refrigerated (4 °C) or diluted. The method showed no interference of Cl⁻ (0.2-1.3 mmol L⁻¹), NO₃⁻ (0.3-1.0 mmol L⁻¹), Fe³⁺ (0.2-1.2 mmol L⁻¹) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) (0.2-1.0 mmol L⁻¹). When compared to iodometric titration, the vanadate method showed a good agreament. The method was applied for the evaluation of peroxide consumption during photo-Fenton degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol using blacklight irradiation.     

Production and characterization of a broad-specificity polyclonal antibody for O,O-diethyl organophosphorus pesticides and a quantitative structure-activity relationship study of antibody recognition

Polyclonal antibody (PAb) with broad-specificity for O,O-diethyl organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) against a generic hapten, 4-(diethoxyphosphorothioyloxy)benzoic acid, was produced. The obtained PAb showed high sensitivity to seven commonly used O,O-diethyl OPs in a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) using a heterologous coating antigen, 4-(3-(diethoxyphosphorothioyloxy)phenylamino)-4-oxobutanoic acid. The 50% inhibition value (IC₅₀) was 348 ng mL⁻¹ for parathion, 13 ng mL⁻¹ for coumaphos, 22 ng mL⁻¹ for quinalphos, 35 ng mL⁻¹ for triazophos, 751 ng mL⁻¹ for phorate, 850 ng mL⁻¹ for dichlofenthion, and 1301 ng mL⁻¹ for phoxim. The limit of detection (LOD) met the ideal detection criteria of all the seven OP residues. A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was constructed to study the mechanism of antibody recognition using multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated that the frontier-orbital energies (energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital, E_HOMO, and energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, E_LUMO) and hydrophobicity (log of the octanol/water partition coefficient, log P) were mainly responsible for the antibody recognition. The linear equation was log(IC₅₀) = −63.274E_HOMO + 15.985E_LUMO + 0.556 log P − 25.015, with a determination coefficient (r²) of 0.908.     

Syntheses and investigation of the effects of position and nature of substituent on the spectral,electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of new cobalt phthalocyanine complexes

The syntheses of new cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) complexes, tetra-substituted with diethylaminoethanethio at the peripheral (complex 3a) and non-peripheral (complex 3b) positions, and with benzylmercapto at the non-peripheral position (complex 5), are reported. The effects of the nature and position of substituent on the spectral, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of these complexes are investigated. Solution electrochemistry of complex 3a showed three distinctly resolved redox processes attributed to Co^IIIPc⁻²/Co^IIPc⁻² (E_½ = +0.64 V versus Ag|AgCl), Co^IIPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻² (E_½ = −0.24 V versus Ag|AgCl) and Co^IPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻³ (E_½ = −1.26 V versus Ag|AgCl) species. No ring oxidation was observed in complex 3a. Complex 3b showed both ring-based oxidation, attributed to Co^IIIPc⁻¹/Co^IIIPc⁻² species (E_p = +0.86 V versus Ag|AgCl), and ring-based reduction associated with Co^IPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻³ species (E_½ = −1.46 V versus Ag|AgCl), with the normal metal-based redox processes in CoPc complexes: Co^IIIPc⁻²/Co^IIPc⁻² (E_p = +0.41 V versus Ag|AgCl) and Co^IIPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻² (E_½ = −0.38 V versus Ag|AgCl). Solution electrochemistry of complex 5 showed the same type and number of species observed in complex 3a: Co^IIIPc⁻²/Co^IIPc⁻² (E_p = +0.59 V versus Ag|AgCl), Co^IIPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻² (E_½ = −0.26 V versus Ag|AgCl) and Co^IPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻³ (E_½ = −1.39 V versus Ag|AgCl) species. These processes were confirmed using spectroelectrochemistry.     

Simultaneous voltammetric detection of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid using a pyrolytic graphite electrode modified into dopamine solution

Pyrolytic graphite electrodes (PGE) were modified into dopamine solutions using phosphate buffer solutions, pH 10 and 6.5, as supporting electrolyte. The modification process involved a previous anodization of the working electrode at +1.5 V into 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH followed by other anodization step, in the same experimental conditions, into dopamine (DA) solutions. pH of the supporting electrolyte performed an important role in the production of a superficial melanin polymeric film, which permitted the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA), (DA) and uric acid (UA), ΔE_AA-DA = 222 mV; ΔE_AA-UA = 360 mV and ΔE_DA-UA = 138 mV, avoiding the superficial poisoning effects. The calculated detection limits were: 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for uric acid, 1.3 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ for ascorbic acid and 1.1 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for dopamine, with sensitivities of (7.7 ± 0.5), (0.061 ± 0.001) and (9.5 ± 0.05) A mol⁻¹ cm⁻², respectively, with no mutual interference. Uric acid was determined in urine, blood and serum human samples after dilution in phosphate buffer and no additional sample pre-treatment was necessary. The concentration of uric acid in urine was higher than the values found in blood and serum and the recovery tests (92-102%) indicated that no matrix effects were observed.     

Highly-controllable imprinted polymer nanoshell at the surface of silica nanoparticles based room-temperature phosphorescence probe for detection of 2,4-dichlorophenol

This paper reports a facile and general method for preparing an imprinted polymer thin shell with Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) at the surface of silica nanoparticles by stepwise precipitation polymerization to form the highly-controllable core–shell nanoparticles (MIPs@SiO₂–ZnS:Mn QDs) and sensitively recognize the target 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). Acrylamide (AM) and ethyl glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used as the functional monomer and the cross-linker, respectively. The MIPs@SiO₂–ZnS:Mn QDs had a controllable shell thickness and a high density of effective recognition sites, and the thickness of uniform core–shell 2,4-DCP-imprinted nanoparticles was controlled by the total amounts of monomers. The MIPs@SiO₂–ZnS:Mn QDs with a shell thickness of 45 nm exhibited the largest quenching efficiency to 2,4-DCP by using the spectrofluorometer. After the experimental conditions were optimized, a linear relationship was obtained covering the linear range of 1.0–84 μmol L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9981 and the detection limit (3σ/k) was 0.15 μmol L⁻¹. The feasibility of the developed method was successfully evaluated through the determination of 2,4-DCP in real samples. This study provides a general strategy to fabricate highly-controllable core–shell imprinted polymer-contained QDs with highly selective recognition ability.     

Selective electrochemical molecular recognition of benzenediol isomers using molecularly imprinted TiO2 film electrodes

In this paper, selective recognition of benzenediol isomers was studied using molecularly imprinted TiO₂ film formed on a graphitic electrode. The imprinting process was investigated in detail using IR. The electrode process for p-hydroquinone follows a E_rC_r mechanism. The cavities formed by p-phthalic acid have good selectivity toward p-hydroquinone among the isomers. The complex ratio between p-hydroquinone and binding sites was estimated to be 1:2 with an apparent equilibrium constant of 2.98×10⁶ l² mol⁻². For o-hydroquinone and m-benzenediol, the ratio decreased to 1:1 with an apparent equilibrium constant of 1.20×10³ and 1.35×10³ l mol⁻¹. The apparent complexing ratio and equilibrium constants could shed some insight on the nature of isomeric selectivity of the recognition sites with respect to different isomers of benzenediol. The cavities designed by o-phthalic acid present good selectivity toward o-hydroquinone.     

Solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography with ion trap detector (GC-ITD) analysis of amitraz residues in beeswax after hydrolysis to 2,4-dimethylaniline

An analytical method for the determination of amitraz residues in beeswax after hydrolysis to 2,4-dimethylaniline is reported. It consists of wax extraction with an acid buffer solution, head space solid phase microextraction and GC-ITD analysis. The limit of determination is 1 ng g⁻¹. Wax samples from beekepers and commercial foundations were analysed, content of residues varied from <1 to 20.5 ng g⁻¹.     

Conformation and coordination of β-diketonates in mixed-ligand copper(II) chelates of 1,2-diamines. Theoretical approach and experimental verification. Crystal structure of [bis(N,N′-dimethyl-1,2-diaminoethane) bis(3-cyano-2,4-pentanedionate)copper(II)]dihydrate

The reaction of the bis(2,4-pentanedionato)copper(II), Cu(acac)₂, and its substituted derivatives (Cu(NC-acac)₂, Cu(O₂N-acac)₂, and Cu(tfac)₂), with 1,2-diaminoethane (en), 1,2-diaminopropane (pn) and certain N-substituted derivatives of 1,2-diaminoethane, enR, is reported. The reaction products were found to depend on the reaction conditions, the extent of N-substitution of the diamine and the nature of the β-diketonate anion, β⁻. The [Cu(enR)β₂] addition compounds are not always sufficiently stable and in most instances the tetragonal species [Cu(enR)₂β₂] prevail as the final product. The 1,2-diamine molecules in [Cu(enR)₂β₂] form chelate rings attaining the gauche conformation while the β-diketonato anions essentially confer electrical neutrality. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the active sites of the β-diketonato anion and its conformation depend on their ability to create hydrogen bonds and on the substituents in 3-position. The Fukui indices of chemical reactivity favor the carbonyl oxygens as binding sites of most anions while in the case of the 3-cyano-2,4-pentanedionato anion, NC-acac⁻, bonding through the cyano nitrogen is envisaged with the S(E, Z) conformer having the lowest energy. These findings are in accord with experimental data and further proof is given by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the structure of [Cu(MeenMe)₂(NC-acac)₂] · 2H₂O (MeenMe denoting N,N′-dimethyl-1,2-diaminoethane). In this compound the NC-acac⁻ attains the S(E, Z) conformation and interacts with the square-planar entity [Cu(MeenMe)₂]²⁺ through the cyano nitrogen, while intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving the water molecules leads to supramolecular structure.