A mass spectrometric study of metal binding to osteocalcin

Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was used to investigate Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and La(3+) binding to bovine bone osteocalcin (OCN). OCN was shown to bind 3 mol Ca(2+) per mol protein. There was also evidence for the presence of four additional metal binding sites. Ca(2+) increased the formation of the OCN dimer. Mg(2+) bound to OCN to the same extent as Ca(2+) but did not induce the dimerization of OCN. La(3+) bound to a lesser extent than either Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) to OCN and, like Mg(2+), did not influence dimerization. Each Gla residue of OCN participates in Ca(2+) binding, whereas Mg(2+) binding may occur preferentially at sites other than Gla residues. This implies that the different natures of Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-containing OCN complexes influence the tendency of OCN to form a dimer.     

Aqueous divalent metal-nitrate interactions: hydration versus ion pairing

Nitrate aqueous solutions, Mg(NO(3))(2), Ca(NO(3))(2), Sr(NO(3))(2), and Pb(NO(3))(2), are investigated using Raman spectroscopy and free energy profiles from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Analysis of the in-plane deformation, symmetric stretch, and asymmetric stretch vibrational modes of the nitrate ions reveal perturbation caused by the metal cations and hydrating water molecules. Results show that Pb(2+) has a strong tendency to form contact ion pairs with nitrate relative to Sr(2+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+), and contact ion pair formation decreases with decreasing cation size and increasing cation charge density: Pb(2+) > Sr(2+) > Ca(2+) > Mg(2+). In the case of Mg(2+), the Mg(2+)-OH(2) intermolecular modes indicate strong hydration by water molecules and no contact ion pairing with nitrate. Free energy profiles provide evidence for the experimentally observed trend and clarification between solvent-separated, solvent-shared, and contact ion pairs, particularly for Mg(2+) relative to other cations.     

Evaluation of the metal binding properties of a histidine-rich fusogenic peptide by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICRMS) was used to investigate metal ion interactions of the 18 amino acid peptide fragment B18 (LGLLLRHLRHHSNLLANI), derived from the membrane-associated protein bindin. The peptide sequence B18 represents the minimal membrane-binding motif of bindin and resembles a putative fusion peptide. The histidine-rich peptide has been shown to self-associate into distinct supramolecular structures, depending on the presence of Zn(2+) and Cu(2+). We examined the binding of B18 to the metal ions Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+) and La(3+). For Cu(2+), we compared the metal binding affinities of the wild-type B18 peptide with those of its mutants in which one, two or three histidine residues have been replaced by serines. Upon titration of B18 with Cu(2+) ions, we found sequential binding of two Cu(2+) ions with dissociation constants of approximately 34 and approximately 725 micro M. Mutants of B18, in which one histidine residue is replaced by serine, still exhibit sequential binding of two copper ions with affinities for the first Cu(2+) ion comparable to that of wild-type B18 peptide, but with a greatly reduced affinity for the second Cu(2+) ion in mutants H112S and H113S. For mutants in which two histidines are replaced by serines, the affinity for the first Cu(2+) ion is reduced approximately 3-10 times in comparison with B18. The mutant in which all three histidine residues are replaced by serines exhibits an approximately 14-fold lower binding for the first Cu(2+) ion compared with B18. For the other metal ions under investigation (Zn(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+) and La(3+)), a modest affinity to B18 was detected binding to the peptide in a 1 : 1 stoichiometry. Our results show a high affinity of the wild-type fusogenic peptide B18 for Cu(2+) ions whereas the Zn(2+) affinity was found to be comparable to that of other di- and trivalent metal ions.     

Factors governing the substitution of La3+ for Ca2+ and Mg2+ in metalloproteins: a DFT/CDM study

Trivalent lanthanide cations are extensively being used in biochemical experiments to probe various dication-binding sites in proteins; however, the factors governing the binding specificity of lanthanide cations for these binding sites remain unclear. Hence, we have performed systematic studies to evaluate the interactions between La3+ and model Ca2+ - and Mg2+ -binding sites using density functional theory combined with continuum dielectric methods. The calculations reveal the key factors and corresponding physical bases favoring the substitution of trivalent lanthanides for divalent Ca2+ and Mg2+ in holoproteins. Replacing Ca2+ or Mg2+ with La3+ is facilitated by (1) minimizing the solvent exposure and the flexibility of the metal-binding cavity, (2) freeing both carboxylate oxygen atoms of Asp/Glu side chains in the metal-binding site so that they could bind bidentately to La3+, (3) maximizing the number of metal-bound carboxylate groups in buried sites, but minimizing the number of metal-bound carboxylate groups in solvent-exposed sites, and (4) including an Asn/Gln side chain for sites lined with four Asp/Glu side chains. In proteins bound to both Mg2+ and Ca2+, La3+ would prefer to replace Ca2+, as compared to Mg2+. A second Mg2+-binding site with a net positive charge would hamper the Mg2+ --> La3+ exchange, as compared to the respective mononuclear site, although the La3+ substitution of the first native metal is more favorable than the second one. The findings of this work are in accord with available experimental data.     

Hybrid organic-inorganic framework structures: influence of cation size on metal-oxygen-metal connectivity in the alkaline earth thiazolothiazoledicarboxylates

We report the synthesis of four organic-inorganic frameworks of alkaline earth cations with the organic ligand 2,5-thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazoledicarboxylate (C6N2S2O4(2-), Thz(2-)). Structures with remarkably different connectivities result when Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), and Ba(2+) react with Thz(2-). Mg(Thz)(H2O)4 (I) forms a 1-D coordination polymer in which one carboxylate oxygen on each terminus of the ligand connects individual MgO6 octahedra from their axial positions, while the remaining equatorial sites are coordinated by water molecules. Ca2(Thz)2(H2O)8 (II) forms a 1-D coordination polymer in which dimeric clusters with 7-fold Ca coordination are connected via the ligand in a linear fashion, with a second, uncoordinated Thz(2-) providing charge balance. Sr(Thz)(H2O)3 (III) has 1-D infinite inorganic connectivity built from edge-sharing SrO7N polyhedra having one carboxylate oxygen and one water molecule acting as M-O-M bridges. Ba2(Thz)2(H2O)7 (IV) has 2-D inorganic connectivity based upon face- and edge-sharing BaO9N polyhedra. One carboxylate oxygen and all water molecules act as bridges between each Ba(2+) and its three neighbors. We shall discuss the manner in which the increasing coordination requirements of the cations (MgO6 < CaO7 < SrO7N < BaO9N) lead to an increase in inorganic connectivity through the series.     

Classical simulations with the POLIR potential describe the vibrational spectroscopy and energetics of hydration: divalent cations, from solvation to coordination complex

POLIR, a polarizable water potential optimized for vibrational and intermolecular spectroscopy in pure water but not optimized for solvation, is used to describe solutions of the divalent metal cations Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Cu(2+). The spectral shifts in the O-H stretch region obtained from classical simulations are in agreement with experiment. The water-ion binding energies are dominated by classical electrostatics, even though the Cu(2+) case might be considered to involve an intermediate-strength chemical bond. Three-body energies of the ion with the first solvation shell are in agreement with ab initio calculations. Our results indicate the importance of polarization in the development of accurate, transferable, force fields and the power of classical methods when it is carefully included.     

Cation [M = H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, and NMe4+] interactions with the aromatic motifs of naturally occurring amino acids: a theoretical study

Ab initio (HF, MP2, and CCSD(T)) and DFT (B3LYP) calculations were done in modeling the cation (H(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), NH(4)(+), and NMe(4)(+)) interaction with aromatic side chain motifs of four amino acids (viz., phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine). As the metal ion approaches the pi-framework of the model systems, they form strongly bound cation-pi complexes, where the metal ion is symmetrically disposed with respect to all ring atoms. In contrast, proton prefers to bind covalently to one of the ring carbons. The NH(4)(+) and NMe(4)(+) ions have shown N-H...pi interaction and C-H...pi interaction with the aromatic motifs. The interaction energies of N-H...pi and C-H...pi complexes are higher than hydrogen bonding interactions; thus, the orientation of aromatic side chains in protein is effected in the presence of ammonium ions. However, the regioselectivity of metal ion complexation is controlled by the affinity of the site of attack. In the imidazole unit of histidine the ring nitrogen has much higher metal ion (as well as proton) affinity as compared to the pi-face, facilitating the in-plane complexation of the metal ions. The interaction energies increase in the order of 1-M < 2-M < 3-M < 4-M < 5-M for all the metal ion considered. Similarly, the complexation energies with the model systems decrease in the following order: Mg(2+) > Ca(2+) > Li(+) > Na(+) > K(+) congruent with NH(4)(+) > NMe(4)(+). The variation of the bond lengths and the extent of charge transfer upon complexation correlate well with the computed interaction energies.     

Divalent cation-induced cluster formation by polyphosphoinositides in model membranes

Polyphosphoinositides (PPIs) and in particular phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PI4,5P2), control many cellular events and bind with variable levels of specificity to hundreds of intracellular proteins in vitro. The much more restricted targeting of proteins to PPIs in cell membranes is thought to result in part from the formation of spatially distinct PIP2 pools, but the mechanisms that cause formation and maintenance of PIP2 clusters are still under debate. The hypothesis that PIP2 forms submicrometer-sized clusters in the membrane by electrostatic interactions with intracellular divalent cations is tested here using lipid monolayer and bilayer model membranes. Competitive binding between Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) to PIP2 is quantified by surface pressure measurements and analyzed by a Langmuir competitive adsorption model. The physical chemical differences among three PIP2 isomers are also investigated. Addition of Ca(2+) but not Mg(2+), Zn(2+), or polyamines to PIP2-containing monolayers induces surface pressure drops coincident with the formation of PIP2 clusters visualized by fluorescence, atomic force, and electron microscopy. Studies of bilayer membranes using steady-state probe-partitioning fluorescence resonance energy transfer (SP-FRET) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) also reveal divalent metal ion (Me(2+))-induced cluster formation or diffusion retardation, which follows the trend: Ca(2+) ? Mg(2+) > Zn(2+), and polyamines have minimal effects. These results suggest that divalent metal ions have substantial effects on PIP2 lateral organization at physiological concentrations, and local fluxes in their cytoplasmic levels can contribute to regulating protein-PIP2 interactions.     

Letter: collision-induced dissociation of [metal(L)(2)](2+) complexes (metal = Cu, Ca and Mg) of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine allows distinction of the acyl groups at the sn1 and sn2 positions

The collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of the divalent metal complexes of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine, [Metal(lI)(L)(2)](2+) (where metal = Cu(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), L = [16:0/18:1GPCho]), formed by electrospray ionization, reveal interesting metal dependant fragmentation chemistry. Six main classes of reaction are observed corresponding to: two competing carboxylate abstraction pathways (from the sn1 and sn2 positions); phosphate abstraction; competing losses of the two different carboxylic acids from the sn1 and sn2 positions; loss of a protonated ligand, [L + H](+). The relative ratios of the competing carboxylate abstraction reactions are dependant on the metal, with the Cu and Ca complexes favouring the abstraction of the larger carboxylate (18:1) and the Mg complex favoring the abstraction of the smaller carboxylate (16:0).     

Analysis of the role of Mg²⁺ on conformational change and target recognition by ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus centrin

The binding of Mg(2+) with the Euplotes octocarinatus centrin (EoCen) and the effect of Mg(2+) on the binding of EoCen with the peptide melittin were examined by spectroscopic methods. In this study, it was found that Mg(2+) may bind with Ca(2+)-binding sites, at least partly, on EoCen, which displays ～10-fold weaker affinity than Ca(2+). In the presence of Mg(2+), Ca(2+)-saturated EoCen undergoes significant conformational changes resulting in decreased exposure of hydrophobic surfaces on the protein. Additionally, excess Mg(2+) did not change the stoichiometry, but rather reduced the affinity of EoCen to melittin. The Mg(2+)-dependent decrease in the affinities of EoCen to melittin is an intrinsic property of Mg(2+), rather than a nonspecific ionic effect. The inhibitory effect of Mg(2+) on the formation of complexes between EoCen and melittin may contribute to the specificity of EoCen in target activation in response to cellular Ca(2+) concentration fluctuations.     

Effect of metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+) and water coordination on the structure and properties of L-arginine and zwitterionic L-arginine

Interactions between metal ions and amino acids are common both in solution and in the gas phase. The effect of metal ions and water on the structure of L-arginine is examined. The effects of metal ions (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+)) and water on structures of Arg x M(H2O)m , m = 0, 1 complexes have been determined theoretically by employing the density functional theories (DFT) and using extended basis sets. Of the three stable complexes investigated, the relative stability of the gas-phase complexes computed with DFT methods (with the exception of K(+) systems) suggests metallic complexes of the neutral L-arginine to be the most stable species. The calculations of monohydrated systems show that even one water molecule has a profound effect on the relative stability of individual complexes. Proton dissociation enthalpies and Gibbs energies of arginine in the presence of the metal cations Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+) were also computed. Its gas-phase acidity considerably increases upon chelation. Of the Lewis acids investigated, the strongest affinity to arginine is exhibited by the Cu(2+) cation. The computed Gibbs energies DeltaG(o) are negative, span a rather broad energy interval (from -150 to -1500 kJ/mol), and are appreciably lowered upon hydration.     

Studies of polyfunctional O-ligands: Formation and stability of Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) complexes of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid in aqueous solution at 25 degrees

The stabilities of the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) complexes with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (pyromellitic acid) were studied potentiometrically, at 25 degrees . The species ML, MHL, MH(2)L, and M(2)L [L = pyromellitate(4-); M = Ca(2+), Mg(2+)] were found to be present in solution (for Mg(2+) the species MH(3)L was also found). The dependence of the formation constants on ionic strength, and the stability trends of the Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) complexes with carboxylate ligands, are discussed.     

Oxidative cyclization of thiosemicarbazone: an optical and turn-on fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu(II)

A weakly fluorescent thiosemicabazone (L(1)H) was found to be a selective optical and "turn-on" fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu(2+) ion in aqueous medium. A significant fluorescence enhancement along with change in color was only observed for Cu(2+) ion; among the other tested metal ions (viz. Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cr(3+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Pb(2+), Ag(+), Ni(2+), Co(2+), Fe(3+) and Mn(2+)). The Cu(2+) selectivity resulted from an oxidative cyclization of the weak fluorescent L(1)H into highly fluorescent rigid 4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-4-(naphthalen-5-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione (L(2)). The signaling mechanism has been confirmed by independent synthesis with detail characterization of L(2).     

Kinetics of metal ion exchange between citric acid and serum transferrin

The exchange of Fe(3+), Tb(3+), In(3+), Ga(3+), and Al(3+) between the C-terminal metal-binding site of the serum iron transport protein transferrin and the low-molecular-mass serum chelating agent citrate has been studied at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C. The removal of Ga(3+), In(3+), and Al(3+) follows simple saturation kinetics with respect to the citrate concentration. In contrast, removal of both Fe(3+) and Tb(3+) shows a combination of saturation and first-order kinetic behavior with respect to the citrate concentration. The saturation component is consistent with a mechanism for metal release in which access to the bound metal is controlled by a rate-limiting conformational change in the protein. The first-order kinetic pathway is very rapid for Tb(3+), and this is attributed to a direct attack of the citrate on the Tb(3+) ion within the closed protein conformation. It is suggested that this pathway is more readily available for Tb(3+) because of the larger coordination number for this cation and the presence of an aquated coordination site in the Tb(3+)-CO(3)-Tf ternary complex. There is relatively little variation in the k(max) values for the saturation pathway for Tb(3+), Ga(3+), Al(3+), and In(3+), but the k(max) value for Fe(3+) is significantly smaller. It is suggested that protein interactions across the interdomain cleft of transferrin largely control the release of the first group of metal ions, while the breaking of stronger metal-protein bonds slows the rate of iron release. The rates of metal binding to apotransferrin are clearly controlled in large part by the hydrolytic tendencies of the free metal ions. For the more amphoteric metal ions Al(3+) and Ga(3+), there is rapid protein binding, and the addition of citrate actually retards this reaction. In contrast, the nonamphoteric In(3+) ion binds very slowly in the absence of citrate, presumably due to the rapid formation of polymeric In-hydroxo complexes upon addition of the unchelated metal ion to the pH 7.4 protein solution. The addition of citrate to the reaction accelerates the binding of In(3+) to apoTf, presumably by forming soluble, mononuclear In-citrate complexes.     

Simulation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ solvation using polarizable atomic multipole potential

The alkaline earth metals calcium and magnesium are critically involved in many biomolecular processes. To understand the hydration thermodynamics of these ions, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations using a polarizable potential. Particle-mesh Ewald for point multipoles has been applied to the calculation of electrostatic interactions. The parameters in this model have been determined from an ab initio quantum mechanical calculation of dimer interactions between ions and water. Two methods for ion solvation free energy calculation, free energy perturbation, and the Bennett acceptance ratio have been compared. Both predict results consistent with other theoretical estimations while the Bennett approach leads to a much smaller statistical error. Based on the Born theory and the ion-oxygen radial distribution functions, we estimate the effective size of the ions in solution, concluding that K(+) > Na(+) congruent with Ca(2+) > Mg(2+). There appears to be much stronger perturbation in water structure, dynamics, and dipole moment around the divalent cations than the monovalent K(+) and Na(+). The average water coordination numbers for Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) are 7.3 and 6, respectively. The lifetime of water molecules in the first solvation shell of Mg(2+) is on the order of hundreds of picoseconds, in contrast to only few picoseconds for Ca(2+), K(+), or Na(+).     

A controlled supramolecular approach toward cation-specific chemosensors: alkaline earth metal ion-driven exciton signaling in squaraine tethered podands

Three different squaraine tethered bichromophoric podands 3a-c with one, two, and three oxygen atoms in the podand chain and an analogous monochromophore 4a were synthesized and characterized. Among these, the bichromophores 3a-c showed high selectivity toward alkaline earth metal cations, particularly to Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) ions, whereas they were optically silent toward alkali metal ions. From the absorption and emission changes as well as from the Job plots, it is established that Mg(2+) ions form 1:1 folded complexes with 3a and 3b whereas Ca(2+) ions prefer to form 1:2 sandwich dimers. However, 3c invariably forms weak 1:1 complexes with Mg(2+), Ca(2+), and Sr(2+) ions. The signal output in all of these cases was achieved by the formation of a sharp blue-shifted absorption and strong quenching of the emission of 3a-c. The signal transduction is achieved by the exciton interaction of the face-to-face stacked squaraine chromophores of the cation complex, which is a novel approach of specific cation sensing. The observed cation-induced changes in the optical properties are analogous to those of the "H" aggregates of squaraine dyes. Interestingly, a monochromophore 4a despite its binding, as evident from (1)H NMR studies, remained optically silent toward Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) ions. While the behavior of 4a toward Mg(2+) ion is understood, its optical silence toward Ca(2+) ion is rationalized to the preferential formation of a "Head-Tail-Tail-Head" arrangement in which exciton coupling is not possible. The present study is different from other known reports on chemosensors in the sense that cation-specific supramolecular host-guest complexation has been exploited for controlling chromophore interaction via cation-steered exciton coupling as the mode of signaling.     

Hydration energies and structures of alkaline earth metal ions, M2+(H2O)n, n = 5-7, M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba

The evaporation of water from hydrated alkaline earth metal ions, produced by electrospray ionization, was studied in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Zero-pressure-limit dissociation rate constants for loss of a single water molecule from the hydrated divalent metal ions, M(2+)(H(2)O)(n) (M = Mg, Ca, and Sr for n = 5-7, and M = Ba for n = 4-7), are measured as a function of temperature using blackbody infrared radiative dissociation. From these values, zero-pressure-limit Arrhenius parameters are obtained. By modeling the dissociation kinetics using a master equation formalism, threshold dissociation energies (E(o)) are determined. These reactions should have a negligible reverse activation barrier; therefore, E(o) values should be approximately equal to the binding energy or hydration enthalpy at 0 K. For the hepta- and hexahydrated ions at low temperature, binding energies follow the trend expected on the basis of ionic radii: Mg > Ca > Sr > Ba. For the hexahydrated ions at high temperature, binding energies follow the order Ca > Mg > Sr > Ba. The same order is observed for the pentahydrated ions. Collisional dissociation experiments on the tetrahydrated species result in relative dissociation rates that directly correlate with the size of the metals. These results indicate the presence of two isomers for hexahydrated magnesium ions: a low-temperature isomer in which the six water molecules are located in the first solvation shell, and a high-temperature isomer with the most likely structure corresponding to four water molecules in the inner shell and two water molecules in the second shell. These results also indicate that the pentahydrated magnesium ions have a structure with four water molecules in the first solvation shell and one in the outer shell. The dissociation kinetics for the hexa- and pentahydrated clusters of Ca(2+), Sr(2+), and Ba(2+) are consistent with structures in which all the water molecules are located in the first solvation shell.     

Metal ion-binding properties of 1-methyl-4-aminobenzimidazole (=9-methyl-1,3-dideazaadenine) and 1,4-dimethylbenzimidazole (=6,9-dimethyl-1,3-dideazapurine). quantification of the steric effect of the 6-amino group on metal ion binding at the N7 site of the adenine residue

The stability constants of the 1:1 complexes formed between Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), or Cd(2+) (=M(2+)) and 1-methyl-4-aminobenzimidazole (MABI) or 1,4-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMBI) were determined by potentiometric pH titrations in aqueous solution (25 degrees C; I = 0.5 M, NaNO(3)). Some of the stability constants were also measured by UV spectrophotometry. The acidity constants of the species H(2)(MABI)(2+) and H(DMBI)(+) were determined by the same methods, some twice. Comparison of the stability constants of the M(MABI)(2+) and M(DMBI)(2+) complexes with those calculated from log versus p straight-line plots, which were established previously for sterically unhindered benzimidazole-type ligands (=L), reveals that the stabilities of the M(MABI)(2+) and M(DMBI)(2+) complexes are significantly reduced due to steric effects of the C4 substituents on metal ion binding at N3. This effect is more pronounced in the M(DMBI)(2+) complexes. Considering the steric equivalence of methyl and (noncoordinating) amino groups (as they occur in adenines), it is concluded that the same extent of steric inhibition by the (C6)NH(2) group is to be expected on metal ion binding at N7 with adenine derivatives. The basicity of the amino group in MABI is significantly higher than in its corresponding adenine derivative. Indeed, it is concluded that in the M(MABI)(2+) complexes chelate formation involving the amino group occurs to some extent. The formation degrees of these "closed" species are calculated; they vary for the complexes of Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), or Cd(2+) between about 50 and 90%. The stability of the M(MABI)(2+) and M(DMBI)(2+) complexes with the alkaline earth ions is very low but unaffected by the C4 substituent; this probably indicates that in these instances outersphere complexes (with a water molecule between N3 and the metal ion) are formed.     

Comprehensive study on the solvation of mono- and divalent metal cations: Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+

Hydration of mono- and divalent metal ions (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Be(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)) has been studied using the DFT (B3LYP), second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) and CCSD(T) perturbation theory as well as the G3 quantum chemical methods. Double-zeta and triple-zeta basis sets containing both (multiple) polarization and diffuse functions were applied. Total and sequential binding energies are evaluated for all metal-water clusters containing 1-6 water molecules. Total binding energies predicted at lower levels of theory are compared with those from the high level G3 calculations, whereas the sequential binding energies are compared with available experimental values. An increase in the quality of the basis set from double-zeta to triple-zeta has a significant effect on the sequential binding energies, irrespective of the geometries used. Within the same group (I or II), the sequential binding energy predictions at the MP2 and B3LYP vary appreciably. We noticed that, for each addition of a water molecule, the change of the M-O distance in metal-water clusters is higher at the B3LYP than at the MP2 level. The charge of the metal ion decreases monotonically as the number of water molecules increase in the complex.