Equilibria and kinetics for p H-dependent axial ligation of alkyl(aquo) cobaloximes with aromatic and aliphatic N-donor ligands

Equilibria and kinetics of the reaction of bromomethyl(aquo) cobaloxime with histamine, histidine, glycine and ethyl glycine ester and iodomethyl(aquo) cobaloxime with cyanide, imidazole and substituted imidazoles were studied as a function ofpH at 25°C, 10 M ionic strength (KCl) by spectrophotometry technique. The rate of substitution of H₂O varies with thepKa of the incoming ligand, thus establishing the existence of nucleophilic participation of the ligand in the transition state. Dissociation kinetic reactions were also studied as a function ofpH. Binding and kinetic data were interpreted based on the basicity, steric crowd of the entering ligand and HSAB principle. To compare the rate constants of the entering ligandspH independent second-order rate constants were calculated.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on ligand substitution reactions of chloromethyl(aquo)cobaloxime with aromatic and aliphatic N-donor ligands

Equilibria and kinetics of the reactions of chloromethyl(aquo)cobaloxime with histamine, histidine, glycine and ethyl glycine ester were studied as a function of pH at 25°C, 10 M ionic strength (KCl) by spectrophotometric techniques. Comparison of equilibrium constants and rate constants tells that the order isK _Hisdn >K _Hiamn >K _Gly >K _EtGlyest. The rate of substitution of H₂O varies with the pKa of the incoming ligand and nucleophilic participation of the ligand in the transition state. The rate constants and equilibrium constants are correlated to the hardness and softness of the ligands and the Co(III) of cobaloxime.     

Biomimetic Model of Coenzyme B12: Aquabis(ethane‐1,2‐diamine‐κN,κN′)ethylcobalt(III) – Its Kinetic and Binding Studies with Imidazoles and Amino Acids and Interactions with CT DNA

Pseudo‐first‐order reaction kinetics and binding studies of trans‐[Co(en)₂(Et)H₂O] complex with 1H‐imidazole, substituted 1H‐imidazoles, histidine, histamine, glycine and glycine ethyl ester were investigated by means of spectrophotometric techniques. Equilibrium constants were determined as a function of pH at 25°. Binding and kinetic studies were correlated to basicity and steric hindrance. From the equilibrium data, it was found that the entering nucleophile is participating in the transition state, an I_d mechanism is proposed. The effect of the incoming ligands on the complex was studied by molecular mechanics. The interaction of trans‐[Co(en)₂(Et)H₂O] with CT DNA was studied spectrophotometrically.     

Equilibria and kinetics for pH-dependent axial ligation of bromomethyl(aquo)cobaloxime by aliphatic amine ligands

Kinetics and equilibria of axial ligation of bromomethyl(aquo) cobaloxime by a series of straight chain primary amines (methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine, pentylamine, hexylamine), cycloamines (cyclopentylamine, cyclohexylamine, cycloheptylamine) and secondary amines (N,N-dimethylamine, N,N-diethylamine) have been measured as functions of pH by spectrophotometric technique in aqueous solution, ionic strength 1 M (KCl) at 25°C. The rate of substitution of H₂O varies with the pKa of incoming ligand, thus establishing nucleophilic participation of the ligand in the transition state. Binding and kinetic data are interpreted based on the basicity and steric influence of the entering ligand. To compare the rate constants of the entering ligands, pH independent second-order rate constants (k _on ) are calculated.     

Determination of acidity constants of enolisable compounds by capillary electrophoresis

Research on the structure–activity relationships of molecules with acidic carbon atoms led us to undertake a feasibility study on the determination of their acidity constants by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The studied molecules had diverse structures and were tetronic acid, acetylacetone, diethylmalonate, Meldrums acid, 3-methylrhodanine, nitroacetic acid ethyl ester, pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione, 3-oxo-3-phenylpropionic acid ethyl ester, 1-phenylbutan-1,3-dione, 5,5-dimethylcyclohexan-1,3-dione and homophthalic anhydride. The pK_a range explored by CE was therefore very large (from 3 to 12) and pK_a values near 12 were evaluated by mathematical extrapolations. The analyses were carried out in CZE mode using a fused silica capillary grafted (or not) with hexadimethrine. Owing to the electrophoretic behaviour of these compounds according to the pH, their acidity constants could be evaluated and appeared in perfect agreement with the literature data obtained, a few decades ago, by means of potentiometry, spectrometry or conductimetry. The pK_a of homophthalic anhydride and 3-methylrhodanine were evaluated for the first time.     

Hydrophobic N‐Diazeniumdiolates and the Aqueous Interface of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Micelles

Zwitterionic diazeniumdiolates of the form RN[N(O)NO^?](CH₂)₂NH₂⁺R, where R=CH₃ ( 1 ), (CH₂)₃CH₃ ( 2 ), (CH₂)₅CH₃ ( 3 ), and (CH₂)₇CH₃ ( 4 ) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding diamines with nitric oxide. Spectrophotometrically determined pK_a(O) values, attributed to protonation at the terminal oxygen of the diazeniumdiolate group, show shifts to higher values in dependence of the chain lengths of R. The pH dependence of the decomposition of NO donors 1 – 3 was studied in buffered solution between pH 5 and 8 at 22 °C, from which pK_a(N) values for protonation at the amino nitrogen, leading to release of NO, were estimated. It is shown that the decomposition of these diazeniumdiolates is markedly catalyzed by anionic SDS micelles. First‐order rate constants for the decay of 1 – 4 were determined in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 22 °C as a function of SDS concentration. Micellar binding constants, K_SM, for the association of diazeniumdiolates 1 – 3 with the SDS micelles were also determined, again showing a significant increase with increasing length of the alkyl side chains. The decomposition of 1 – 3 in micellar solution is quantitatively described by using the pseudo‐phase ion‐exchange (PIE) model, in which the degree of micellar catalysis is taken into account through the ratio of the second‐order rate constants (k_2m/k_2w) for decay in the micelles and in the bulk aqueous phase. The decay kinetics of 1 – 3 were further studied in the presence of cosolvents and nonionic surfactants, but no effect on the rate of NO release was observed. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of association to the micelle–aqueous phase interface of the negatively charged micelles. The apparent interfacial pH value of SDS micelles was evaluated from comparison of the pH dependence of the first‐order decay rate constants of 2 and 3 in neat buffer and the rate data obtained for the surfactant‐mediated decay. For a bulk phase of pH 7.4, an interfacial pH of 5.7–5.8 was determined, consistent with the distribution of H⁺ in the vicinity of the negatively charged micelles. The data demonstrate the utility of 2 and 3 as probes for the determination of the apparent pH value in the Stern region of anionic micelles.     

Laws of complex formation in a series of azo-substituted pyrocatechol derivatives and their tin(II) complexes

Physicochemical properties of new reagents, azo-substituted pyrocatechol derivatives and their tin(II) complexes, are studied. The acid-base properties of the hydroxy groups (pK′_i, pK″_i), parameters of complex formation reactions (pH, temperature, time), and instability constants of the complexes formed (pK _i) are determined. Quantitative correlations between the dissociation constants (pK′_a) of the functional analytical group, and the electronic Hammett constant σ for a substituent (pK′_a-pH₅₀ of the complex formation reaction), as well as between pK′_a and instability constants of the complexes (pK _a), are established. The quantitative correlations established allow the prediction of the physicochemical properties of the reagents and tin(II) complexes with new reagents of this class with the same functional analytical group (FAG) but other substituents.     

Determination of thermodynamic pKa values of pharmaceuticals from five different groups using capillary electrophoresis

A determination of the thermodynamic acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of 22 frequently used pharmaceuticals using capillary electrophoresis in aqueous media is presented in this work. The investigated pharmaceuticals belong to different pharmacological groups: macrolides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, β‐lactams, tetracyclines, and other miscellaneous pharmaceuticals. The electrophoretic mobilities of the investigated analytes were monitored in a pH range from 2.00 to 10.82. The data were fitted with an appropriate mathematical model using a nonlinear regression analysis to obtain pK_a values. Experimentally obtained data were well described by the mathematical model chosen for each analyte that was confirmed by r² values higher than 0.99 for most of the investigated analytes. Extrapolations to zero ionic strength were used to determine the thermodynamic pK_a values. Experimentally obtained acid dissociation constants were interpreted using structural formulae of investigated analytes and the moieties corresponding to specific pK_a were identified.     

OH radical reactions with ethanolamines: formation of reducing as well as oxidizing radicals

The reaction of OH radicals with ethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine was studied at pH values below and above the pK_a values of these compounds. The rate constants were found to be lower for the protonated amines than those for their neutral forms. The OH radical reaction led to the formation of both oxidizing as well as reducing species, as observed by their reactions with methyl viologen and ascorbic acid. The oxidizing species formed by OH radical reaction at the amine site was not found to react with the parent molecules and thereby no secondary yield of reducing species was obtained as in the case of glycine (except in the case of triethanolamine at pH 9.2).     

Mechanism of the hydrolysis of the sulfamate EMATE—an irreversible steroid sulfatase inhibitor

The kinetics of hydrolysis of the medicinally important sulfamate ester EMATE have been probed over a wide pH range and into moderately strong base (H_ region). Analysis of the pH/H_-rate profile, measurements of pK_as, solvent-reactivity, kinetic isotope effects and determination of activation data reveal that in the pH range from ∼1 to ∼8 an S_N2 (S) solvolytic mechanism is followed and after the pK_a of EMATE (pK_a ∼9) is passed, a second pathway showing a first-order dependence on base operates and an E1cB mechanism is supported.     

Hydrogen bond interactions at the TiO2 surface: Their contribution to the pH dependent photo-catalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol

We have obtained pK_a values of p-nitrophenol–TiO₂ by measuring the adsorption equilibrium constants of p-nitrophenol (PNP) on the TiO₂ surface at different pH values. These values have been obtained from Langmuir isotherms and from a plot of 1/rate vs. 1/[PNP]_o obtained during TiO₂ catalyzed solar light photo-degradation of PNP. Two limit equilibrium constants are readily obtained depending on the solution pH: at pH 5 at which the TiO₂ surface is mainly positively charged and at pH 8 when it is negatively charged. With these and other adsorption equilibrium constants and the PNP pK_a value in solution, thermodynamic cycles are established in order to obtain the PNP pK_a when it is adsorbed on positively charged, neutral and negatively charged TiO₂ surfaces. From these pK_a values useful information on the PNP–TiO₂ interaction is readily obtained. For instance, the PNP nitro group interacts with the TiO₂ surface via a hydrogen bond, arising from the complex of water molecules with the Ti⁴⁺ ions on its surface. The weaker the hydrogen bond donor, the stronger the oxygen nitro group basicity. Therefore, pK_a changes on the phenolic hydroxyl group result from these interactions. Linear free energy correlations, maximum PNP adsorption capacity values (Q_L) and FTIR ATR, spectrum support this proposal. A k_obs vs. pH degradation profile of p-nitrophenol is also provided.     

Determination of acidity constants,ionic mobilities,and hydrodynamic radii of carborane-based inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been applied for determination of the thermodynamic acidity constants (pK_a) of the sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups, the actual and limiting ionic mobilities and hydrodynamic radii of important compounds, eight carborane-based inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases, which are potential new anticancer drugs. Two types of carboranes were investigated, (i) icosahedral cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1-) ion with sulfamidoalkyl moieties, and (ii) 7,8-nido-dicarbaundecaborate with sulfonamidoalkyl side chains. First, the mixed acidity constants, pK_a^mix, of the sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups of the above carboranes and their actual ionic mobilities were determined by nonlinear regression analysis of the pH dependences of their effective electrophoretic mobility measured by capillary electrophoresis in the pH range 8.00−12.25, at constant ionic strength (25 mM), and constant temperature (25°C). Second, the pK_a^mix were recalculated to the thermodynamic pK_as using the Debye–Hückel theory. The sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups were found to be very weakly acidic with the pK_as in the range 10.78−11.45 depending on the type of carborane cluster and on the position and length of the alkyl chain on the carborane scaffold. These pK_as were in a good agreement with the pK_as (10.67−11.27) obtained by new program AnglerFish (freeware at https://echmet.natur.cuni.cz ), which provides thermodynamic pK_as and limiting ionic mobilities directly from the raw CE data. The absolute values of the limiting ionic mobilities of univalent and divalent carborane anions were in the range 18.3−27.8 TU (Tiselius unit, 1 × 10⁻⁹ m²/Vs), and 36.4−45.9 TU, respectively. The Stokes hydrodynamic radii of univalent and divalent carborane anions varied in the range 0.34−0.52 and 0.42−0.52 nm, respectively.     

Interaction of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine with ionic and neutral micelles: Electronic absorption and fluorescence studies

The binding of two antitoxoplasmosis drugs, pyrimethamine (PYR) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) to cationic cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), zwiterionic N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-ammonium-1-propanesulfonate (HPS) and neutral polyoxyethylene-dodecyl-ether (Brij-35^®) micelles was studied using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The pK_a of PYR changed in the presence of charged anionic, cationic and zwiterionic micelles, indicating that interaction is influenced by the micellar charge. For SDZ, pK_a changes were lower than 1 for all micelles, suggesting the occurrence of low binding constants in addition to a reasonable influence of the micellar charge. The values of binding constants K_b, obtained from fluorescence measurements, for PYR to CTAC micelles were very low at pH 4.0, where the drug is in a complete protonated state, increasing at pH 9.0 to long-chained CTAC and HPS micelles since this factor also favors accomodation of the neutral drug in the hydrophobic compartments. For SDZ the binding constants were determined from optical absorption measurements. Low binding constants were observed to charged surfactant micelles, with influence of micellar charge. It must be stated however that those values can be underestimated due to the relatively low sensitivity of the method based on absorption measurements.     

Determination of the deprotonation constants of seleno-DL-cystine and seleno-DL-methionine and implication to their separation by HPLC

We have determined the deprotonation constants (pK_a) of seleno-DL -cystine and seleno-DL -methionine together with those of DL -cystine and DL -methionine for comparison, by potentiometric measurements. In the case of seleno-DL -cystine, the difference between the pK_a values for the two amino groups was found to be only slightly lower than that observed for DL -cystine itself. In contrast, the difference between the two pK_a values for the carboxylic groups was found to be much smaller for seleno-DL -cystine than for DL -cystine. In both seleno-amino-acids, the zwitterionic species appear to be dominant in the pH range between 4 and 7, while positively charged protonated species are found to be present at pH values lower than 4. Based on a knowledge of the ionic species distributions as a function of pH, we have proposed an interpretation for the chromatographic separation of selenocystine and selenomethionine by HPLC. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of acid dissociation constants of flavin analogues by capillary zone electrophoresis

Acid dissociation constants (pK_a) of nine kinds of flavin analogues as molecular catalyst candidates were determined by CZE. Although some of the analogues are instable and degradable under the light exposure or in alkaline aqueous solutions, the effective electrophoretic mobility of the flavin analogue of interest has been measured with the residual substance. The pK_a values of the flavin analogues were analyzed through the changes in the effective electrophoretic mobility with varying pH of the separation buffer. One or two steps pK_a values were determined by the analysis. One of the degraded species from the flavin analogues, lumichrome, was also detected in the CZE analysis, and its pK_a values were also determined. While coexisting impurities generated over the storage conditions were found in some analogues, the pK_a values of the target analogues were successfully determined with the help of the CZE separations. A pressure-assisted CZE was utilized for the determination or the estimation of the pK_a values of such analogues as possessing carboxylic acid moiety.     

Oil-Water Partitioning of a Synthetic Tetracarboxylic Acid as a Function of pH

The oil-water partitioning of a synthetic tetraacid acting as a model compound for indigenous C₈₀-C₈₂ ARN acids has been studied as a function of pH, ionic strength and type of monovalent counterion. Experimental data obtained with ultraviolet-visible and HPLC/UV analyses have been fitted to thermodynamic models based on one, two or four dissociation steps to obtain o/w partition coefficients (K _wo ) of the fully protonated acid between chloroform and aqueous solutions, and its apparent acidity constant(s), pK _a. As the study is conducted above the CMC of the tetraacid, in general high apparent acidity constants were obtained in the range from 6 to 8 resulting from micellization equilibria. K _wo values were obtained in the range from 10^?3 to 10^?4, and decreasing with increasing salinity. At 50 mM K⁺, no conclusions could be made regarding the number of distinguishable dissociation steps, while at higher ionic strength (184 mM and 452 mM K⁺) and at 184 mM Na⁺ a model with two dissociation steps provided good fits to the experimental data. The first step was found to be given by a pK _a ≈ 6.6–6.8 and the second dissociation step at pK _a values ≈ 7.8–8.3. The two-step mechanism supports previous results obtained by potentiometric titrations. No significant difference in the o/w behavior was observed when changing the counterion from potassium to sodium. The main partitioning of the tetraacid in the aqueous phase occurred above pH 8, where the fully deprotonated acid was formed.     

A Polarographic Study of ϵ-Caprolactam Complexes of Uranium and Tellurium

The polarographic behaviour of uranium and tellurium has been studied in the presence of increasing concentration of complex forming agent viz. ?-caprolactam at pH 4.4 for U(VI) and at pH 10.0 for Te(IV) at μ=0.1 M KNO₃. In both cases the waves have been found to be diffusion controlled and irreversible. The values of kinetic parameters (σπ_a and K°_f,h) have been calculated as a function of the ligand concentration. Method is suitable for the quantitative determination of these metals individually and simultaneously with the effect of diverse ions.     

Stepwise Versus Concerted Mechanisms in General‐Base Catalysis by Serine Proteases

General‐base catalysis in serine proteases still poses mechanistic challenges despite decades of research. Whether proton transfer from the catalytic Ser to His and nucleophilic attack on the substrate are concerted or stepwise is still under debate, even for the classical Asp‐His‐Ser catalytic triad. To address these key catalytic steps, the transformation of the Michaelis complex to tetrahedral complex in the covalent inhibition of two prototype serine proteases was studied: chymotrypsin (with the catalytic triad) inhibition by a peptidyl trifluoromethane and GlpG rhomboid (with Ser‐His dyad) inhibition by an isocoumarin derivative. The sampled MD trajectories of averaged pK_a values of catalytic residues were QM calculated by the MD‐QM/SCRF(VS) method on molecular clusters simulating the active site. Differences between concerted and stepwise mechanisms are controlled by the dynamically changing pK_a values of the catalytic residues as a function of their progressively reduced water exposure, caused by the incoming ligand.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of diethyl 4‐nitrophenyl phosphate triester: Kinetics and mechanism

The reactions of diethyl 4‐nitrophenyl phosphate ( 1 ) with a series of nucleophiles: phenoxides, secondary alicyclic (SA) amines, and pyridines are subjected to a kinetic study. Under excess of nucleophile, all the reactions obey pseudo‐first‐order kinetics and are first order in the nucleophile. The nucleophilic rate constants (k_N) obtained are pH independent for all the reactions studied. The Brønsted‐type plot (log k_N vs. pK_a nucleophile) obtained for the phenolysis is linear with slope β=0.21; no break was found at pK_a 7.5, consistent with a concerted mechanism. The Brønsted‐type plots for the SA aminolysis and pyridinolysis are linear with slopes β=0.39 and 0.43, respectively, also suggesting concerted processes. The concerted mechanisms for the latter reactions are proposed on the basis of the lack of break in the Brønsted‐type plots and the instability of the hypothetical pentacoordinate intermediates formed in these reactions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 708–714, 2011     

A trans influence study in propyl (aquo)cobaloxime by imidazoles and amino acids

Substitution reactions of propyl cobaloxime with imidazole, substituted imidazoles, histidine, histamine, glycine and ethyl glycine ester are carried out as a function of pH. Trends in the formation constants are explained based on the steric hindrance, extent of π-bonding and Σ-donor capacity of the incoming ligand. Molecular mechanics is used to theoretically determine the bond length and bond strain values by MM2 parametrization and these are correlated with the experimental data.