Probing Cu(I)-exchanged zeolite with CO: DFT modeling and experiment

Addition of CO on Cu-exchanged zeolite was investigated by means of quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory. The aim of this investigation was to get insights about changes of electronic properties of a copper site with zeolite composition by using a CO probe molecule. Calculated nu(CO) frequency values show that various Si/Al ratios of faujasite zeolite reproduce the expected experimental decrease of the nu(CO) values with decreasing Si/Al ratio. These calculations predict that H/Na ratio variations also induce changes in the nu(CO) values. These results illustrate that different compositions of the zeolite change the electronic properties of copper that are reflected in the nu(CO) frequency values. DFT results showed also that different structures and CO adsorption energies are obtained due to various Si/Al and H/Na ratios of the zeolite. Finally, these calculations evidence the possibility for CO to be connected at the same time to Cu(I) and to a close Na cation, Cu being at site II and Na at site II in Cu(I)-exchanged faujasite. A DRIFT experiment on two samples of faujasite, Cu(28)H(51)NaY and Cu(25)H(0)NaY, supports nu(CO) displacements to higher energy values with increasing H/Na ratio.     

Theoretical studies of Cu(I) sites in faujasite and their interaction with carbon monoxide

Sitting, coordination, and properties of Cu(I) cations in zeolite faujasite are investigated using a combined quantum mechanics-interatomic potential function method. The coordination of Cu(I) ions depends on their location within the zeolite lattice. Cu(I) located inside the hexagonal prisms (site I') and in the plane of six-membered aluminosilicate rings on the walls of sodalite units (site II) is threefold coordinated, whereas Cu(I) located in the supercages (site III) is twofold coordinated. In agreement with available experimental data Cu(I) appears to be more strongly bound in sites I' and II than in site III. The binding energy of site II Cu(I) ions increases with the number of Al atoms, but only closest Al atoms have a substantial influence. The CO molecule binds more strongly onto sites with weaker bound cations and lower coordination. We assign the two CO stretching IR bands observed for Cu(I)-Y zeolites to sites II with one Al (2157-2161 cm(-1)) and two Al atoms (2140-2148 cm(-1)) in the six-membered aluminosilicate ring. For Cu(I)-X we tentatively assign the high frequency band to site III (2156-2168 cm(-1)) and the low-frequency band to site II with three Al atoms in the six-membered ring (2136-2138 cm(-1)).     

常温常压下β沸石改性吸附剂脱除噻吩类硫的研究

在合成不同硅铝比Naβ沸石的基础上,采用固相离子交换方法制备了Cu(I)、Ag(I)离子改性的β沸石系列吸附剂。样品的结晶度和BET比表面积有所降低,XRD表征结果表明,所制备的样品保持了结构的完整性,随着硅铝比的增加,Naβ样品的BET比表面积增加。Cu(I)、Ag(I)离子的引入使样品的红外骨架振动峰向低波数移动,与相同硅铝比的Naβ沸石相比,吸附剂的BET比表面积有所降低。对模型油的静态吸附结果表明,硅铝摩尔比为25时Cu(I)β吸附性能最好,模型油中硫的质量分数降到10×10－6以下,脱除率达到95％,Ag(I)β次之,脱除率达到87％。常温常压下固定床动态吸附穿透实验得到Cu(I)β、Ag(I)β的穿透硫容分别为0.144mmol/g和0.132mmol/g。     

CopC protein from Pseudomonas syringae: intermolecular transfer of copper from both the copper(I) and copper(II) sites

The CopC protein from Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato is expressed as one of four proteins encoded by the operon CopABCD that is responsible for copper resistance. It is a small soluble molecule (10.5 kDa) with a beta-barrel structure and features two distinct copper binding sites, which are highly specific for Cu(I) (K(D) > or = 10(-)(13)) and Cu(II) (K(D) approximately 10(-)(15)). These dissociation constants were estimated via ligand competition experiments monitored by electronic spectral and fluorescence probes. The chemistries of the two copper sites are interdependent. When the Cu(II) site is empty, the Cu(I) ion is oxidized by air, but when both sites are occupied, the molecule is stable in air. The availability of an unoccupied site of higher affinity induces intermolecular transfer of either Cu(I) or Cu(II) while maintaining free copper ion concentrations in solution at sub-picomolar levels. This intriguing copper chemistry is consistent with the proposed role of CopC as a copper carrier in the oxidizing periplasmic space. These properties would allow it to exchange either Cu(I) or Cu(II) with its putative partners CopA, CopB, and CopD, contrasting with the role of the Cu(I) (only) chaperones found in the reducing cytoplasm.     

Structure and properties of metal-exchanged zeolites studied using gradient-corrected and hybrid functionals. III. Energetics and vibrational spectroscopy of adsorbates

The influence of the exchange-correlation functional (semilocal gradient corrected or hybrid functional) on density-functional studies of the adsorption of CO and NO in Cu- and Co-exchanged chabazite has been investigated, extending the studies of the structural and electronic properties of these materials [F. Go?ltl and J. Hafner, J. Chem. Phys. 136, 064501 (2012); 136, 064502 (2012)] and including for comparison carbonyls and nitrosyls of Cu and Co. Hybrid functionals predict much lower adsorption energies than conventional semilocal functionals, in better agreement with experiment as far as data are available for comparison. The calculated adsorption energies show a strong linear correlation with the stability of the cation sites. For Cu(I)-chabazite the calculated adsorption energies span almost the interval between the adsorption energies calculated for pure neutral and positively charged Cu-carbonyls and nitrosyls. For divalent Cu(II) and Co(II) the adsorption energies at cations in chabazite are much lower than the metal-molecule binding energies in the free carbonyls or nitrosyls, especially for the most stable cation location in a six-membered ring of the chabazite structure. For the stretching modes of adsorbed CO only hybrid functionals reproduce the blueshift of the frequency reported for all Cu(I)- and Co(II)-zeolites. For Cu(II)-chabazite both types of functionals predict a blueshift, the larger value calculated with hybrid functionals being in better agreement with observation. For NO adsorbed on Cu(I)-chabazite all functionals produce a redshift, the smaller value derived with hybrid functionals being in better agreement with experiment. For NO adsorbed in Cu(II)- and Co(II)-chabazite gradient-corrected functionals produce the best agreement with experiment for cations located in a six-membered ring. Semilocal functionals tend to underestimate the frequencies, while hybrid functionals tend to overestimate. The decisive factors determining the influence of the functionals are the larger HOMO-LUMO gap and the larger bandgap of the zeolite host, as well as the larger exchange-splitting of the cation eigenstates predicted with hybrid functionals. For Co(II)-chabazite the tendency to overestimate the exchange-splitting and to stabilize a high-spin state lead to better results with semilocal functionals. Finally, a comprehensive discussion of the influence of the exchange-correlation functional on the physico-chemical properties of these complex systems, based all three papers of this series is presented.     

Effects of cation siting and spin–spin interactions on the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of Cu exchanged X Faujasite zeolite

Copper(II) exchanged Na X Faujasite zeolite was cation exchanged at levels from one Cu(II) in 30 unit cells (0.033 Cu(II)/UC) to 38 Cu(II) per unit cell (38 Cu/UC) and was examined by continuous wave and two-pulse and three-pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at temperatures from 10 K to 300 K. In this work exchange of Cu²⁺ into X Faujasite zeolite is shown by EPR spectral and pulsed EPR relaxation measurements to begin into site I′, where it lies coordinated to a hexagonal prism face with Si:Al ratios of predominantly 4:2 and 5:1. Spin–spin interactions influence EPR g-value averaging, spin–spin relaxation, and spin spectral diffusion in a manner highly dependent on Cu exchange. Spin–lattice relaxation is relatively independent of exchange. The marked increase observed in spin–spin relaxation and g-value averaging at 8 Cu/UC and an effective Cu–Cu distance of 1.2 nm can be understood in terms of filling sodalite cages with an average of 1 Cu²⁺ each.     

The reduction of copper in porous matrices--the role of electrostatic stabilisation

The redox properties of Cu(II) species in FAU matrices have been studied by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) in hydrogen and by XAFS analysis of the products obtained after (stationary) reduction treatments at various temperatures. The influence of the matrix polarity was investigated by comparing aluminosilicate FAU (Y zeolite) with siliceous FAU. In addition, the influence of Zn ions on the reduction process was studied. It was found that both the matrix composition and the presence of zinc ions exert a significant influence on the course of the reduction. In Y zeolite, heat treatment which is known to transfer Cu(II) ions to remote sites (SI, SI', SII') affects the reduction process dramatically. Cu(II) is most easily reduced in siliceous FAU, but the reduction proceeds in two clearly separated steps. Between these steps, small Cu(0) nuclei coexist with Cu(I) species, apparently unable to activate hydrogen for the autocatalytic reduction of the remaining Cu ions. The polarity of the matrix causes an upshift of the Cu(II) reduction temperature (in TPR by ca. 80 K for sites in the large cavity, by ca. 105 K for the remote sites), but the reduction of Cu(I) depends strongly on the simultaneous presence of Cu(0) and on its ability to activate hydrogen and induce an autocatalytic reduction mechanism. While Cu(I) species in the large cavities are easily reduced to the metal, tending to segregate from the zeolite lattice, Cu(I) ions in remote sites are strongly stabilized towards further reduction and even traces of Cu metal form only at very high temperatures. In the presence of zinc ions, the Cu metal particles formed were found to be smaller than in zinc-free samples.     

A density functional theory study of molecular and dissociative adsorption of H2 on active sites in mordenite

Adsorption and chemisorption of H2 in mordenite is studied using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The geometries of the adsorption complex, the adsorption energies, stretching frequencies, and the capacity to dissociate the adsorbed molecule are compared for different active sites. The active centers include a Br?nsted acid site, a three-coordinated surface Al site, and Lewis sites formed by extraframework cations: Na+, Cu+, Ag+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ga3+, and Al3+. Adsorption properties of cations are compared for a location of the cation in the five-membered ring. This location differs from the location in the six-membered ring observed for hydrated cations. The five-membered ring, however, represents a stable location of the bare cation. In this position any cation exhibits higher reactivity compared with the location in the six-membered ring and is well accessible by molecules adsorbed in the main channel of the zeolite. Calculated adsorption energies range from 4 to 87 kJ/mol, depending on electronegativity and ionic radius of the cation and the stability of the cation-zeolite complex. The largest adsorption energy is observed for Cu+ and the lowest for Al3+ integrated into the interstitial site of the zeolite framework. A linear dependence is observed between the stretching frequency and the bond length of the adsorbed H2 molecule. The capacity of the metal-exchanged zeolite to dissociate the H2 molecule does not correlate with the adsorption energy. Dissociation is not possible on single Cu+ cation. The best performance is observed for the Ga3+, Zn2+, and Al3+ extraframework cations, in good agreement with experimental data.     

Electronic properties of metal-modified DNA base pairs

The electronic properties of several metal-modified Watson-Crick guanine-cytosine base pairs are investigated by means of first-principle density functional theory calculations. Focus is placed on a new structure recently proposed as a plausible model for building an antiparallel duplex with Zn-guanine-cytosine pairs, but we also inspect several other conformations and the incorporation of Ag and Cu ions. We analyze the effects induced by the incorporation of one metal cation per base pair by comparing the structures and the electronic properties of the metalated pairs to those of the natural guanine-cytosine pair, particularly for what concerns the modifications of energy levels and charge density distributions of the frontier orbitals. Our results reveal the establishment of covalent bonding between the metal cation and the nucleobases, identified in the presence of hybrid metal-guanine and metal-cytosine orbitals. Attachment of the cation can occur either at the N1 or the N7 site of guanine and is compatible with altering or not altering the H-bond pattern of the natural pair. Cu(II) strongly contributes to the hybridization of the orbitals around the band gap, whereas Ag(I) and Zn(II) give hybrid states farther from the band gap. Most metalated pairs have smaller band gaps than the natural guanine-cytosine pair. The band gap shrinking along with the metal-base coupling suggests interesting consequences for electron transfer through DNA double helices.     

Investigations on the effect of Mn ions on the local structure and photocatalytic activity of Cu(I)-ZSM-5 catalysts

The introduction of Mn ions into Cu(I)-ZSM-5 was found to lead to an enhancement of the photocatalytic activity for the direct decomposition of N2O into N2 and O2 at 298 K. Various in-situ techniques such as ESR, photoluminescence, XAFS as well as a combination of CO-FT-IR and CO-TPD measurements revealed that the accommodation of Mn ions within ZSM-5 zeolite cavities significantly affects the location sites of the ion-exchanged Cu(II) ions as well as the local structure of the Cu(I) ion species formed by evacuation at high temperatures. Moreover, the introduction of Mn ions into ZSM-5 led to an increase in the amount of 3-coordinated Cu(I) species at the main channel of the zeolite, playing a major role as the active species for the photocatalytic decomposition of N2O into N2 and O2.     

Intermolecular transfer of copper ions from the CopC protein of Pseudomonas syringae. Crystal structures of fully loaded Cu(I)Cu(II) forms

CopC is a small soluble protein expressed in the periplasm of Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato as part of its copper resistance response (cop operon). Equilibrium competition reactions confirmed two separated binding sites with high affinities for Cu(I) (10(-7) > or = K(D) > or = 10(-13) M) and Cu(II) (K(D) = 10(-13(1)) M), respectively. While Cu(I)-CopC was converted cleanly by O2 to Cu(II)-CopC, the fully loaded form Cu(I)Cu(II)-CopC was stable in air. Variant forms H1F and H91F exhibited a lower affinity for Cu(II) than does the wild-type protein while variant E27G exhibited a higher affinity. Cation exchange chromatography detected each of the four different types of intermolecular copper transfer reactions possible between wild type and variant forms: Cu(I) site to Cu(II) site; Cu(II) site to Cu(I) site; Cu(I) site to Cu(I) site; Cu(II) site to Cu(II) site. The availability of an unoccupied site of higher affinity induced intermolecular transfer of either Cu(I) or Cu(II) in the presence of O2 while buffering concentrations of cupric ion at sub-picomolar levels. Crystal structures of two crystal forms of wild-type Cu(I)Cu(II)-CopC and of the apo-H91F variant demonstrate that the core structures of the molecules in the three crystal forms are conserved. However, the conformations of the amino terminus (a Cu(II) ligand) and the two copper-binding loops (at each end of the molecule) differ significantly, providing the structural lability needed to allow transfer of copper between partners, with or without change of oxidation state. CopC has the potential to interact directly with each of the four cop proteins coexpressed to the periplasm.     

The local environment of Cu+ in Cu-Y zeolite and its relationship to the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate

Cu-exchanged Y zeolite was investigated in order to determine the location of the copper cations relative to the zeolite framework and to determine which Cu cations are active for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Cu-Y zeolite was prepared by vapor-phase exchange of H-Y with CuCl. The oxidation state, local coordination, and bond distances of Al and Cu were determined using Al K-edge and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Complimentary information was obtained by H2 temperature-programmed reduction and by in-situ infrared spectroscopy. Cu-Y has a Cu/Al ratio of unity and very little occluded CuCl. The average Al-O and Al-Cu bond distances are 1.67 angstroms and 2.79 angstroms, respectively, and the average Cu-O and Cu-Si(Al) bond distances are 1.99 angstroms and 3.13 angstroms, respectively. All of the Cu exchanged is present as Cu+ in sites I', II, and III'. Cu-Y is active for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol, and at low reactant contact time produces DMC as the primary product. With increasing reactant contact time, DMC formation decreases in preference to the formation of dimethoxy methane (DMM) and methylformate (MF). The formation of DMM and MF is attributed to the hydrogenation of DMC and the hydrogenolysis of DMM, respectively. Observation of the catalyst under reaction conditions reveals that most of the copper cations remain as Cu+, but some oxidation of Cu+ to Cu2+ does occur. It is also concluded that only those copper cations present in site II and III' positions are accessible to the reactants, and hence are catalytically active. The dominant adsorbed species on the surface are methoxy groups, and adsorbed CO is present as a minority species. The relationship of these observations to the kinetics of DMC synthesis is discussed.     

Redox-driven intramolecular anion translocation between a metal centre and a hydrogen-bond-donating compartment

Dicationic ligands incorporating two 2,2'-bipyridine units and two imidazolium moieties, [1](2+) and [2](2+), form stable chelate complexes with Cu(II) and Cu(I) in acetonitrile solution. Each Cu(II) complex binds two X(-) ions according to two stepwise equilibria, the first involving the Cu(II) centre and the second involving the bis-imidazolium compartment. Cu(I) complexes are able to host only one NO(3)(-) ion in the bis-imidazolium cavity, while other anions induce demetallation. Thus, in the presence of one equivalent of NO(3)(-), the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox change makes the anion translocate quickly and reversibly from one binding site to the other within the [Cu(II,I)(1)](4+/3+) system, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis experiments.     

Distal metal effects in cobalt porphyrins related to CcO

Cobalt(II) porphyrins were studied to determine the influence of distal site metalation and superstructure upon dioxygen reactivity in active site models of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO). Monometallic, Co(II)(P) complexes when ligated by an axial imidazole react with dioxygen to form reversible Co-superoxide adducts, which were characterized by EPR and resonance Raman (RR). Unexpectedly, certain Co porphyrins with Cu(I) metalated imidazole pickets do not form mu-peroxo Co(III)/Cu(II) products even though the calculated intermetallic distance suggests this is possible. Instead, cobalt-porphyrin-superoxide complexes are obtained with the distal copper remaining as Cu(I). Moreover, distal metals (Cu(I) or Zn(II)) greatly enhance the stability of the dioxygen adduct, such that Co superoxides of bimetallic complexes demonstrate minimal reversibility. The "trapping" of dioxygen by a second metal is attributed to structural and electrostatic changes within the distal pocket upon metalation. EPR evidence suggests that the terminal oxygen in these bimetallic Co-superoxide systems is H-bonded to the NH of an imidazole picket amide linker, which may contribute to enthalpic stabilization of the dioxygen adduct. Stabilization of the dioxygen adduct in these bimetallic systems suggests one possible role for the distal copper in the Fe/Cu bimetallic active site of terminal oxidases, which form a heme-superoxide/copper(I) adduct upon oxygenation.     

Adsorptive desulfurization of propylene derived from bio-ethanol

We studied adsorption characteristics of a series of LTA zeolite as an adsorbent for desulfurization of propylene, that was produced from bioethanol by ethanol-to-olefin (ETO) conversion. A breakthrough curve (BTC) for adsorption of methanethiol, as one of the sulfur impurities of propylene produced from bioethanol, in the presence of propylene was measured using a fixed-bed column packed with the LTA zeolite. The BTC revealed that the effect of the competitive adsorption of propylene on the LTA zeolite strongly depended on a cation species exchanged in the micropores of the zeolite. Among the cation species examined in this study, bivalent cation of zinc (Zn²⁺) was proved to be the most effective one to increase the amount of methanethiol adsorbed on the LTA zeolite under the presence of propylene. The specific interaction of methanethiol with the LTA zeolite exchanged with Zn²⁺ was confirmed by the measurement of a temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) spectrum of methanethiol.     

Supramolecular control of hetero-multinuclear polytopic binding of metal ions (Zn(II), Cu(I)) at a single calix[6]arene-based scaffold

A Calix[6]arene scaffold was functionalized to provide a tridentate binding site at the small rim and three bidentate chelate sites at the large rim of the cone to generate a heteropolytopic ligand. Its complexation to one equivalent of Zn(II) at the small rim yields a funnel complex displaying both host-guest properties and preorganization of the three chelate groups at the large rim. These two aspects allowed the full control of the binding events to regioselectively form dinuclear Zn(II) and heteropolynuclear Zn(II)/Cu(I) complexes. The heteropolynuclear systems all rely on the host-guest relationship thanks to the induced-fit behavior of the calix cavity. With the short guest MeCN, the large rim is preorganized into a trigonal tris-triazole core and accommodates a single Cu(I) ion. A long guest breaks this spatial arrangement, and three Cu(I) ions can then be bound at the tris-bidentate triazole-dimethylamine site at the large rim. In a noncoordinating solvent however, the tetranuclear complex is submitted to scrambling and the addition of exogenous π-acceptor ligands is required to control the binding of Cu(I) in a well-defined environment. Hindrance selectivity was then induced by the accessibility at the small rim site. Indeed, while CO can stabilize Cu(I) at both coordination sites, PPh(3) cannot fit into the cavity and forces Cu(I) to relocate at the large rim. The resulting well-defined symmetrical tetranuclear complex thus arises from the quite remarkable selective supramolecular assembly of nine partners (1 Zn(II), 3 Cu(I), 1 calixarene, 1 guest alkylamine, 3 PPh(3)).     

New less toxic zeolite‐encapsulated Cu(II) complex nanomaterial for dual applications in biomedical field and wastewater remediation

A new dual‐functional Cu(II) complex and its nanohybrid form encapsulated into NaY zeolite cavities were synthesized. The synthesized compounds were characterized using elemental analyses, X‐ray fluorescence, infrared, ¹H NMR, electronic, electron spin resonance and mass spectra, powder X‐ray diffraction, surface area and transmission electron microscopy in addition to conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The encapsulated Cu(II) complex was catalytically tested for degradation of industrial wastewater. The decolorization and mineralization results indicate that the Cu(II) complex encapsulated into zeolite host is an effective heterogeneous catalyst for real industrial wastewater remediation. In addition, both free and encapsulated Cu(II) complexes were tested as anti‐microbial and anti‐tumour agents. The results show that the Cu(II) complex encapsulated into zeolite has a high activity (IC₅₀ = 14.4 μg ml^?1). The results of in vivo toxicity experiments indicate that the Cu(II) complex encapsulated into zeolite is a less toxic biocompatible material (LD₅₀ = 1245 mg kg^?1). The catalytic properties, cytotoxicity and toxicity of the new nanohybrid Cu(II) complex encapsulated into zeolite make it a promising eco‐friendly and biocompatible material for water remediation and biomedical applications.     

Spectroscopic studies of metal binding and metal selectivity in Bacillus subtilis BSco, a Homologue of the Yeast Mitochondrial Protein Sco1p

Sco1 is a mitochondrial membrane protein involved in the assembly of the CuA site of cytochrome c oxidase. The Bacillus subtilis genome contains a homologue of yeast Sco1, YpmQ (hereafter termed BSco), deletion of which leads to a phenotype lacking in caa3 (CuA-containing) oxidase activity but expressing normal levels of aa3 (quinol) oxidase activity. Here, we report the characterization of the metal binding site of BSco in its Cu(I)-, Cu(II)-, Zn(II)-, and Ni(II)-bound forms. Apo BSco was found to bind Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) at a 1:1 protein/metal ratio. The Cu(I) protein could be prepared by either dithionite reduction of the Cu(II) derivative or by reconstitution of the apo protein with Cu(I). X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopy showed that Cu(I) was coordinated by two cysteines at 2.22 +/- 0.01 A and by a weakly bound low-Z scatterer at 1.95 +/- 0.03 A. The Cu(II) derivative was reddish-orange and exhibited a strong type-2 thiolate to Cu(II) transition around 350 nm. Multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), and electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) studies on the Cu(II) derivative provided evidence of one strongly coupled histidine residue, at least one strongly coupled cysteine, and coupling to an exchangeable proton. XAS spectroscopy indicated two cysteine ligands at 2.21 A and two O/N donor ligands at 1.95 A, at least one of which is derived from a coordinated histidine. The Zn(II) and Ni(II) derivatives were 4-coordinate with MS2N(His)X coordination. These results provide evidence that a copper chaperone can engage in redox chemistry at the metal center and may suggest interesting redox-based mechanisms for metalation of the mixed-valence CuA center of cytochrome c oxidase.