Effect of temperature on the protonation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid in aqueous solutions: Potentiometric and calorimetric studies

The TALSPEAK process (Trivalent Actinide Lanthanide Separations by Phosphorus-reagent Extraction from Aqueous Komplexes) has been demonstrated in several pilot-scale operations to be effective at separating trivalent actinides (An³⁺) from trivalent lanthanides (Ln³⁺). However, fundamental studies have revealed undesired aspects of TALSPEAK, such as the significant partitioning of Na⁺, lactic acid, and water into the organic phase, thermodynamically unpredictable pH dependence, and the slow extraction kinetics. In the modified TALSPEAK process, the combination of the aqueous holdback complexant HEDTA (N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid) with the extractant HEH[EHP] (2-ethyl(hexyl) phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) in the organic phase has been found to exhibit a nearly flat pH dependence between 2.5 and 4.5 and more rapid phase transfer kinetics for the heavier lanthanides. To help understand the speciation of Ln³⁺ and An³⁺ in the modified TALSPEAK, systematic studies are underway on the thermodynamics of major reactions in the HEDTA system under conditions relevant to the process (e.g., higher temperatures). Thermodynamics of the protonation and complexation of HEDTA with Ln³⁺ were studied at variable temperatures. Equilibrium constants and enthalpies were determined by a combination of techniques including potentiometry and calorimetry. This paper presents the protonation constants of HEDTA at T = (25 to 70) °C. The potentiometric titrations have demonstrated that, stepwise, the first two protonation constants decrease and the third one slightly increases with the increase of temperature. This trend is in good agreement with the enthalpy of protonation directly determined by calorimetry. The results of NMR analysis further confirm that the first two protonation reactions occur on the diamine nitrogen atoms, while the third protonation reaction occurs on the oxygen of a carboxylate group. These data, in conjunction with the thermodynamic parameters of Ln³⁺/An³⁺ complexes with HEDTA at different temperatures, will help to predict the speciation and temperature-dependent behavior of Ln³⁺/An³⁺ in the modified TALSPEAK process.     

Thermodynamic studies on protonation constant of adenosine and guanosine at different temperatures and ionic strengths

Stepwise protonation constants of two purine nucleosides (adenosine and guanosine) were determined at different temperatures (293.15 to 308.15) and various ionic strengths (0.101 to 3.503 mol · kg⁻¹ NaClO₄) using a combination of potentiometric and spectrophotometric method. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e. enthalpy change, ΔH, and entropy change, ΔS) of the protonations were calculated at different temperatures using van’t Hoff and virial equations. The dependence of the protonation constant on ionic strength is modeled by a Debye–Hückel type equation and discussed. Finally, the protonation constants of the nucleosides and the enthalpy change of protonations were determined at zero ionic strength.     

Characterizing the protonation states of the catalytic residues in apo and substrate-bound human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 protease

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) protease is an attractive target when developing inhibitors to treat HTLV-1 associated diseases. To study the catalytic mechanism and design novel HTLV-1 protease inhibitors, the protonation states of the two catalytic aspartic acid residues must be determined. Free energy simulations have been conducted to study the proton transfer reaction between the catalytic residues of HTLV-1 protease using a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics simulation. The free energy profiles for the reaction in the apo-enzyme and in an enzyme – substrate complex have been obtained. In the apo-enzyme, the two catalytic residues are chemically equivalent and are expected to be both unprotonated. Upon substrate binding, the catalytic residues of HTLV-1 protease evolve to a singly protonated state, in which the OD1 of Asp32 is protonated and forms a hydrogen bond with the OD1 of Asp32′, which is unprotonated. The HTLV-1 protease–substrate complex structure obtained from this simulation can serve as the Michaelis complex structure for further mechanistic studies of HTLV-1 protease while providing a receptor structure with the correct protonation states for the active site residues toward the design of novel HTLV-1 protease inhibitors through virtual screening.     

Molybdenum-catalyzed reduction of molecular dinitrogen into ammonia under ambient reaction conditions

Synthesis of transition metal–dinitrogen complexes and stoichiometric transformations of their coordinated dinitrogen into ammonia and hydrazine have so far been well investigated in order to achieve a novel nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. As an extension of our study, the dimolybdenum–dinitrogen complex bearing PNP pincer ligands has been found to work as an effective catalyst for the formation of ammonia from dinitrogen, where 52 equiv of ammonia are produced based on the catalyst (26 equiv of ammonia are produced based on the molybdenum atom of the catalyst). This is the most effective catalytic reaction system for the formation of ammonia from molecular dinitrogen catalyzed by transition metal–dinitrogen complexes as catalysts under ambient reaction conditions. Herein, we describe recent results concerning the catalytic reaction, including the proposed reaction pathway.     

Tautomerism,protonation regioselectivity of 2-pyrrolidone and its complexation with palladium(II): an insight from the viewpoint of quantum chemistry

It has been established (AM1, PM3, RHF/6-31G**, MP2/6-31G**//RHF/6-31G**) that in the gaseous phase and in aqueous solution, the most thermodynamically stable tautomer of 2-pyrrolidone is lactame. According to PM3 evaluations with an explicit accounting for aqueous medium, the state of tautomeric equilibrium serves as a prerequisite to participation of 2-pyrrolidone's lactime tautomer (pyrroline-2-ol) in complexation with palladium(II) in aqueous solution. 2-Pyrrolidone protonation in the gaseous phase and in aqueous medium has been shown to proceed via the oxygen atom, corresponding to expectations on mesomeric displacement of electron density in the amide fragment. The aqueous medium stabilizes 2-pyrrolidone's lactime tautomer to a greater extent than for lactame, and an O-protonated cyclic amide compared to an N-protonated one. The stereodirective character of palladium(II) complexation with chloride ion and pyrroline-2-ol has been explained. The initially formed tetragonal–pyramidal adduct with an axial organic ligand rearranges into a precursor of the cis product, an intermediate with an extra coordinated axial chlorine atom. The less thermodynamically stable cis isomer of [PdCl₂(pyrroline-2-ol)₂] appears because its precursor is a lower energy intermediate of associative nucleophilic substitution. At a supramolecular level, cis product is capable of being stabilized by means of intermolecular dipole–dipole association in a crystal.     

氧氟沙星的荧光光谱与质子化作用研究

研究了氧氟沙星(Ofloxacin,OFL)在不同pH条件下的荧光光谱、紫外光谱和质子化作用。在强酸性溶液中,OFL分子可以结合两个质子而以三元酸H₃L2+的形式存在,最大荧光发射波长(λ_max)为505 nm。随着pH值升高,OFL的荧光光谱发生变化,在激发光谱中352 nm 形成一等荧光点,同时在紫外吸收光谱中出现等色点,这一光谱特征表明H₃L2+逐渐失去4位C羰基氧结合的质子。在pH 2.5～4范围内,OFL以H₂L+形式存在,λ_max为499 nm。当pH＞4时,随pH值升高,位于499 nm 的荧光发射峰逐渐蓝移至455 nm,在484 nm形成一等荧光发射点,表明C-3位羧基质子的离解。在pH 7左右,OFL以双极离子HL形式存在,λ_max为455 nm,是最强的荧光型体。当pH＞8时,随pH值升高,λ_max由455 nm红移至约475 nm,同时荧光强度下降,表明HL失去哌嗪环N-4上结合的质子。当pH＞10时,OFL以阴离子L-形式存在, 荧光强度随pH值升高而降低,但λmax基本不变,表明介质环境对OFL的荧光性质有一定影响。     

Theoretical study of neutral and protonated triple bonded molecules formed between C, N, Si, P, B and Al

A theoretical study of the possible protonation sites of simple molecules formed by C, N, Si, P, B and Al that present a triple bond between those atoms has been carried out. The calculations performed include MP2 and CCSD(T) methods with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. The nature of the protonated species has been analyzed with the Atoms In Molecules methodology. To Serafin, a free spirit and a good friend. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Formation and stability of phytate complexes in solution

1,2,3,4,5,6 hexakis (di-hydrogen phosphate) myo-inositol, best known as phytic acid, is a very important molecule from a biological, environmental and technological point of view. For a thorough understanding of phytate properties and the mechanisms involving this ligand, a careful study of its acid–base behavior and of the formation and stability of its complexes in solution is necessary. Unfortunately, regarding the thermodynamic data on phytate complexes in solution, some are lacking, while some others exhibit large discrepancies between different authors. This motivated a detailed evaluation of the literature on this topic, aimed at identifying the most accurate data on phytate coordination chemistry in solution. This review presents the results of this, reporting and analyzing the most significant thermodynamic parameters published for both phytate protonation and complex formation with several metal and organometal cations, as well as polyammonium ligands.     

The Determination of Protonation Constants of Some Amino Acids and Their Esters by Potentiometry in Different Media

In this study, stoichiometric protonation constants of L-tyrosine, L-cysteine, L-tryptophane, L-lysine, and L-histidine, and their methyl and ethyl esters in water and ethanol–water mixtures of 30, 50, and 70% ethanol (v/v), were determined potentiometrically using a combined pH electrode system calibrated as the concentration of hydrogen ion. Titrations were performed at 25^∘C and the ionic strength of the medium was maintained at 0.10 mol⋅L⁻¹ using sodium chloride. Protonation constants were calculated by using the BEST computer program. The effect of solvent composition on the protonation constants is discussed. The log₁₀ K₂ values of esters generally decreased with increasing ethanol content. However, the log₁₀ K₁ values of the esters of L-tyrosine, L-cysteine, and L-tryptophane were found to increase with increasing ethanol content in contrast those of L-lysine and L-histidine esters.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 50. Mitt.

Using fixed tautomeric structures of 3,4-dihydropyrromethenones and 2,3-dihydrobilatrienes-abc (N- and O-alkylation) a prevalence of the lactam and bis-lactam form over lactimes by several orders of magnitude could be deduced. Although there are complications arising from side reactions of the pyrrolidinone fragment, protonation equilibria provided valuable clues for this result which is nicely complemented by NMR-, IR and UV-VIS data.

Herrn Prof. Dr.J. Derkosch, Universität Wien, zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.