Synthesis and acid-base properties of (1H-benzimidazol-2-yl-methyl)phosphonate (Bimp2-). Evidence for intramolecular hydrogen-bond formation in aqueous solution between (N-1)H and the phosphonate group

The synthesis of (1H-benzimidazol-2-yl-methyl)phosphonic acid, H2(Bimp)+/-, is described: 2-chloromethylbenzimidazole was reacted with ethylchloroformate to give 1-carboethoxy-2-chloromethylbenzimidazole which was treated with trimethyl phosphite and after hydrolysis with aqueous HBr H2(Bimp)+/- was obtained. In H2(Bimp)+/- one proton is at the N-3 site and the other at the phosphonate group; both acidity constants were determined in aqueous solution by potentiometric pH titrations (25 degrees C; I = 0.1 M, NaNO3) and this furnished the pKa values of 5.37 +/- 0.02 and 7.41 +/- 0.02, respectively. The acidity constant for the release of the primary proton from the P(O)(OH)2 group of H3(Bimp)+ was estimated: pKa = 1.5 +/- 0.2. Moreover, Bimp2- can be further deprotonated at its neutral (N-1/N-3)H site to give the benzimidazolate residue, but this reaction occurs only in strongly alkaline solution (KOH); application of the H_ scale developed by G. Yagil (J. Phys. Chem., 1967, 71, 1034) together with UV spectrophotometric measurements gave pKa = 14.65 +/- 0.12. Comparisons with acidity constants taken from the literature show that this latter pKa value is far too large and this allows the conclusion that an intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed between the (N-1/N-3)H site and the phosphonate group of Bimp2-; the formation degree of this hydrogen-bonded isomer is estimated to be 98 +/- 2%. The general relevance of this and the other results are shortly discussed and the species distribution for the Bimp system in dependence on pH is provided.     

Behavior of a nickel electrode in the presence of carbon monoxide

The electrochemical behavior of a nickel electrode with limited volume (LVE) electrodeposited as a thin layer on gold has been studied. The influence of the gold matrix on the electrochemical Ni electrode behavior has been considered. The electrosorption and oxidation of carbon monoxide on the Ni surface and its influence on hydrogen sorption has also been demonstrated. Received: 21 May 1997 / Accepted: 9 June 1997     

Quantum chemical evaluation of protein control over heme ligation: CO/O2 discrimination in myoglobin

Control of O2 versus CO binding in myoglobin (Mb) is tuned by a distal histidine residue through steric and H-bonding interactions. These interactions have been evaluated via Car-Parrinello DFT calculations, whose efficiency allows full quantum mechanical treatment of the 13 closest residues surrounding the heme. The small (8 degrees ) deviation of the Fe-C-O bond angle from linearity results from the steric influence of a distal valine residue and not the distal histidine. H-bond energies were evaluated by replacing the distal histidine with the non-H-bonding residue isoleucine. Binding energies for CO and O2 decreased by 0.8 and 4.1 kcal/mol for MbCO and MbO2, in good agreement with experimental H-bond estimates. Ligand discrimination is dominated by distal histidine H-bonding, which is also found to stabilize a metastable side-on isomer of MbO2 that may play a key role in MbO2 photodynamics.     

The determination of lead in environmental samples by slurry atomization-graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectrophotometry using matrix modification

Lead has been determined in three certified reference materials (aquatic plant, olive leaves, and mussel tissue) by direct slurry atomization-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The importance of using ascorbic acid as matrix modifier has been demonstrated, particularly to overcome calcium interferences. Using 0.05 M ascorbic acid and aqueous calibration standards excellent agreement was found with certified values. The method is proposed for general application in environmental analysis.     

Shape of the proton potential in an intramolecular hydrogen-bonded system. Part II

The crystals of 5,5′-dibromo-3-diethylaminomethyl-2,2′-biphenol N-oxide were studied by X-ray and FT-IR spectroscopy. Within this molecule two short OHO intramolecular hydrogen bonds are formed. The NO?H⁺?O⁻ bond between the OH and the N-oxide groups is very strong, of 2.419(7) Å between the oxygen atoms. The proton potential of this hydrogen bond is flat, broad and has probably no barrier—consequently it could not be located from X-ray diffraction data. The other hydrogen bond formed between two hydroxyl groups appears asymmetrical from FT-IR spectra, and shows also relatively limited proton polarizability. The molecular conformation is non-planar, due to strong overcrowding effect between the oxygen atoms involved in the hydrogen bonds.     

Coupled Hartree-Fock calculation of the H-bond chemical shift in FHF

A coupled Hartree-Fock calculation of the proton shielding constant in FHF⁻ with a reasonably good basis set of contracted gaussian orbitals leads to an extremely large upfield H-bond chemical shift with respect to the HF molecule. An approximate scheme, based on the requirement of the gauge origin independence of the finite basis set coupled Hartree-Fock calculations of the magnetic susceptibility, provides a considerable improvement of the computed proton shielding constant and results in the required downfield H-bond chemical shift of the proton resonance. The computed H-bond shift for FHF⁻ agrees with the experimental data.     

Spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) in milligram solid samples

The analytical procedure of determination of Fe(II) in the presence of Fe(III) in milligram samples is proposed. A solid sample is dissolved in hydrochloric acid in argon atmosphere. Subsequently, the pH-value of the solution is fixed and Fe(III) complexed by phosphoric buffer. At the next step Fe(II) is oxidized by -molybdosilicic acid. Finally, the intensity of colouring caused by the reduced form of the acid is measured at the wavelength 770 nm. The proper treatment of the sample during oxidation, and immediately before, is decisive for the accuracy of the analysis. The method was verified by means of the analysis of synthetic magnetite. The theoretical content of Fe(II) was 24.12%, the determined one was 24.02 ± 0.10%. The method was applied to the determination of the homogeneity of an iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis.     

Is planarity of pyridin-2-yl- and pyrazin-2-yl-formamide thiosemicarbazones related to their tuberculostatic activity? X-ray structures of two pyrazine-2-carboxamide-N′-carbonothioyl-hydrazones

Crystal structures of two title compounds and several their relatives known earlier reveal conservative and characteristic features, which may be related to their tuberculostatic activity. The molecules are predominantly planar due to conjugation through five successive bonds in the zwitterionic fragment S⁻–C(sp²)–N–NH⁺–C(sp²)–NH₂ and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which prevent rotation of the adjacent pyrazine (or pyridine) ring. It has been suggested that in spatial sense such planar molecules resemble acridines intercalating with nucleic acids and that similar process may be responsible for tuberculostatic activity of the title pyrazine-2-carboxamide-N′-carbonothioyl-hydrazones.     

Temperature influence on hydrogen sorption in palladium limited-volume electrodes (Pd-LVE)

The effect of temperature on hydrogen and deuterium electrosorption into a palladium LVE (limited-volume electrode) has been investigated. A decrease in hydrogen capacity (H/Pd ratio) with increasing temperature has been observed. Temperature strongly influences the plots of measured H(D)/Pd values vs. potential scan rate. In addition, hydrogen absorption was found to be dependent on the composition of the surrounding electrolyte solution. These results have confirmed the hypothesis that two different mechanisms of hydrogen desorption from the palladium electrode take place, namely electrochemical oxidation and non-electrochemical recombination. Further, the ratio between the rate constants for these two processes has been found to change with temperature. Electronic Publication