Role of solvation in the reduction of the uranyl dication by water: a density functional study

We have studied the solvation of uranyl, UO(2)(2+), and the reduced species UO(OH)(2+) and U(OH)(2)(2+) systematically using three levels of approximation: direct application of a continuum model (M1); explicit quantum-chemical treatment of the first hydration sphere (M2); a combined quantum-chemical/continuum model approach (M3). We have optimized complexes with varying numbers of aquo ligands (n = 4-6) and compared their free energies of solvation. Models M1 and M2 have been found to recover the solvation energy only partially, underestimating it by approximately 100 kcal/mol or more. With our best model M3, the calculated hydration free energy Delta(h)G degrees of UO(2)(2+) is about -420 kcal/mol, which shifts to about -370 kcal/mol when corrected for the expected error of the model. This value agrees well with the experimentally determined interval, -437 kcal/mol < Delta(h)G degrees < -318 kcal/mol. Complexes with 5 and 6 aquo ligands have been found to be about equally favored with models M2 and M3. The same solvation models have been applied to a two-step reduction of UO(2)(2+) by water, previously theoretically studied in the gas phase. Our results show that the solvation contribution to the reaction free energy, about 60 kcal/mol, dominates the endoergicity of the reduction.     

Rates and mechanisms of water exchange of UO2(2+)(aq) and UO2(oxalate)F(H2O)2-: a variable-temperature 17O and 19F NMR study

This study consists of two parts: The first part comprised an experimental determination of the kinetic parameters for the exchange of water between UO2(H2O)5(2+) and bulk water, including an ab initio study at the SCF and MP2 levels of the geometry of UO2(H2O)5(2+), UO2(H2O)4(2+), and UO2(H2O)6(2+) and the thermodynamics of their reactions with water. In the second part we made an experimental study of the rate of water exchange in uranyl complexes and investigated how this might depend on inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions. The experimental studies, made by using 17O NMR, with Tb3+ as a chemical shift reagent, gave the following kinetic parameters at 25 degrees C: kex = (1.30 +/- 0.05) x 10(6) s(-1); deltaH(not equal to) = 26.1 +/- 1.4 kJ/mol; deltaS(not equal to) = -40 +/- 5J J/(K mol). Additional mechanistic indicators were obtained from the known coordination geometry of U(VI) complexes with unidentate ligands and from the theoretical calculations. A survey of the literature shows that there are no known isolated complexes of UO2(2+) with unidentate ligands which have a coordination number larger than 5. This was corroborated by quantum chemical calculations which showed that the energy gains by binding an additional water to UO2(H2O)4(2+) and UO2(H2O)5(2+) are 29.8 and -2.4 kcal/mol, respectively. A comparison of the change in deltaU for the reactions UO2(H2O)5(2+)--> UO2(H2O)4(2+) + H2O and UO2(H2O)5(2+) + H2O --> UO2(H2O)6(2+) indicates that the thermodynamics favors the second (associative) reaction in gas phase at 0 K, while the thermodynamics of water transfer between the first and second coordination spheres, UO2(H2O)5(2+) --> UO2(H2O)4(H2O)2+ and UO2(H2O)5(H2O)2+ --> UO2(H2O)6(2+), favors the first (dissociative) reaction. The energy difference between the associative and dissociative reactions is small, and solvation has to be included in ab initio models in order to allow quantitative comparisons between experimental data and theory. Theoretical calculations of the activation energy were not possible because of the excessive computing time required. On the basis of theoretical and experimental studies, we suggest that the water exchange in UO2(H2O)5(2+) follows a dissociative interchange mechanism. The rates of exchange of water in UO2(oxalate)F(H2O)2- (and UO2(oxalate)F2(H2O)2- studied previously) are much slower than in the aqua ion, kex = 1.6 x 10(4) s(-1), an effect which we assign to hydrogen bonding involving coordinated water and fluoride. The kinetic parameters for the exchange of water in UO2(H2O)52+ and quenching of photo excited *UO2(H2O)5(2+) are very near the same, indicating similar mechanisms.     

Theoretical study of the oxygen exchange in uranyl hydroxide. An old riddle solved?

A multistep mechanism for the experimentally observed oxygen exchange [Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 1456] of UO2(2+) cations in highly alkaline solutions is suggested and probed computationally. It involves an equilibrium between [UO2(OH)4](2-) and [UO2(OH)5](3-), followed by formation of the stable [UO3(OH)3 x H2O](3-) intermediate that forms from [UO2(OH)5](3-) through intramolecular water elimination. The [UO3(OH)3 x H2O](3-) intermediate facilitates oxygen exchange through proton shuttling, retaining trans-uranyl structures throughout, without formation of the cis-uranyl intermediates proposed earliar. Alternative cis-uranyl pathways have been explored but were found to have activation energies that are too high. Relativistic density functional theory (DFT) has been applied to obtain geometries and vibrational frequencies of the different species (reactants, intermediates, transition states, products) and to calculate reaction paths. Two different relativistic methods were used: a scalar four-component all-electron relativistic method and the zeroeth-order regular approximation. Calculations were conducted for both gas phase and condensed phase, the latter treated using the COSMO continuum model. An activation energy of 12.5 kcal/mol is found in solution for the rate-determining step, the reaction of changing the four-coordinated uranyl hydroxide to the five-coordinated one. This compares favorably to the experimental value of 9.8 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol. Activation energies of 7.8 and 5.1 kcal/mol are found for the hydrogen transfer between equatorial and axial oxygens through a water molecule in [UO3(OH)3 x H2O](3-) in the gas phase and condensed phase, respectively. Contrary to previously proposed mechanisms that resulted in high activation barriers, we find energies that are low enough to facilitate the reaction at room temperature. For the activation energies, two approximate DFT methods, B3LYP and PBE, are compared. The differences in activation energies are only about 1-2 kcal/mol for these methods.     

Calculation of solvation free energies of charged solutes using mixed cluster/continuum models

We derive a consistent approach for predicting the solvation free energies of charged solutes in the presence of implicit and explicit solvents. We find that some published methodologies make systematic errors in the computed free energies because of the incorrect accounting of the standard state corrections for water molecules or water clusters present in the thermodynamic cycle. This problem can be avoided by using the same standard state for each species involved in the reaction under consideration. We analyze two different thermodynamic cycles for calculating the solvation free energies of ionic solutes: (1) the cluster cycle with an n water cluster as a reagent and (2) the monomer cycle with n distinct water molecules as reagents. The use of the cluster cycle gives solvation free energies that are in excellent agreement with the experimental values obtained from studies of ion-water clusters. The mean absolute errors are 0.8 kcal/mol for H(+) and 2.0 kcal/mol for Cu(2+). Conversely, calculations using the monomer cycle lead to mean absolute errors that are >10 kcal/mol for H(+) and >30 kcal/mol for Cu(2+). The presence of hydrogen-bonded clusters of similar size on the left- and right-hand sides of the reaction cycle results in the cancellation of the systematic errors in the calculated free energies. Using the cluster cycle with 1 solvation shell leads to errors of 5 kcal/mol for H(+) (6 waters) and 27 kcal/mol for Cu(2+) (6 waters), whereas using 2 solvation shells leads to accuracies of 2 kcal/mol for Cu(2+) (18 waters) and 1 kcal/mol for H(+) (10 waters).     

Quantum chemical calculations of reduction potentials of AnO2(2+)/AnO2+ (An = U, Np, Pu, Am) and Fe3+/Fe2+ couples

The reduction potentials of the AnO(2)(H(2)O)(5)(2+)/AnO(2)(H(2)O)(5)(+) couple (An = U, Np, Pu, and Am) and Fe(H(2)O)(6)(3+) to Fe(H(2)O)(6)(2+) in aqueous solution were calculated at MP2, CASPT2, and CCSD(T) levels of theory. Spin-orbit effects for all species were estimated at the CASSCF level. Solvation of the hydrated metal cations was modeled both by polarizable conductor model (PCM) calculation and by solvating the solutes with over one thousand TIP3P water molecules in the QM/MM framework. The redox reaction energy calculated by QM/MM method agreed well with the PCM method after corrections using the classical Born formula for the contribution from the rest of the solvation sphere and correction for dynamic response of solvent polarization in the MM region. Calculated reduction potentials inclusive of spin-orbit effect, zero-point energy, thermal corrections, entropy effect, and PCM solvation energy were found to be comparable with experimental data. The difference between CASPT2 calculated and experimental reduction energies were less than 35 kJ/mol in all cases, which ensures that CASPT2 (and CCSD(T)) calculations provide reasonable estimates of the thermochemistry of these reactions.     

Study of Hg22+ and complexes of NpO2+ and UO22+ in solution. examples of cation-cation interactions

Density functional theory (BPW91/TZ2P) is used to explore the nature of cation-cation interactions (CCIs) that exist between two actinyl cations in solution. Solvation, which is modeled using COSMO, favors the complexes (ONpO-ONpO)2+ and (ONpO-OUO)3+ over separated NpO2+(aq) and UO2(2+)(aq) cations because of the quadratic dependence of solvation on charge. For (OUO-OUO)4+, solvation effects, even though very large, are unable to overcome intrinsic electrostatic repulsion between the units. The actinyl-actinyl complexes are T-shaped, with the oxygen of one unit coordinated to the actinide metal of the other unit. The association free energies of (ONpO-ONpO)2+ and (ONpO-OUO)3+ are calculated as -42.1 and -29.2 kcal/mol. Explicit consideration of the first solvation shell at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level suggests that the free energies of binding may be overestimated. The Hg2(2+) dication, though not considered a "traditional" CCI, is very similar to the actinyl-actinyl interaction. The binding free energy of Hg2(2+) in solution is calculated as -16.0 kcal/mol.     

Coordination environment of aqueous uranyl(VI) ion

Water dissociation from [UO2(OH2)5]2+ is studied with Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations (using the BLYP density functional) in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. Free energies, DeltaA, are estimated from pointwise thermodynamic integration using one U-O(H2) distance as a reaction coordinate. While an isomeric, four-coordinate complex, [UO2(OH2)4]2+.H2O, is more stable than the five-coordinate reactant in the gas phase (DeltaA = -2.2 kcal/mol), the former is strongly disfavored in water (DeltaA = +8.7 kcal/mol).     

The heat of formation of the uranyl dication: theoretical evaluation based on relativistic density functional calculations

By using a set of model reactions, we estimated the heat of formation of gaseous UO2(2+) from quantum-chemical reaction enthalpies and experimental heats of formation of reference species. For this purpose, we performed relativistic density functional calculations for the molecules UO2(2+), UO2, UF6, and UF5. We used two gradient-corrected exchange-correlation functionals (revised Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBEN) and Becke-Perdew (BP)) and we accounted for spin-orbit interaction in a self-consistent fashion. Indeed, spin-orbit interaction notably affects the energies of the model reactions, especially if compounds of U(IV) are involved. Our resulting theoretical estimates for delta fH(o)0 (UO2(2+)), 365+/-10 kcal mol(-1) (PBEN) and 370+/-12 kcal mol(-1) (BP), are in quantitative agreement with a recent experimental result, 364+/-15 kcal mol(-1). Agreement between the results of the two different exchange-correlation functionals PBEN and BP supports the reliability of our approach. The procedure applied offers a general means to derive unknown enthalpies of formation of actinide species based on the available well-established data for other compounds of the element in question.     

Theoretical studies on the effects of methods and parameterization on the calculated free energy of hydration for small molecules

Free energies of hydration (FEH) have been computed for 13 neutral and nine ionic species as a difference of theoretically calculated Gibbs free energies in solution and in the gas phase. In‐solution calculations have been performed using both SCIPCM and PCM polarizable continuum models at the density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP and ab initio Hartree–Fock levels with two basis sets (6‐31G* and 6‐311++G**). Good linear correlation has been obtained for calculated and experimental gas‐phase dipole moments, with an increase by ～30% upon solvation due to solute polarization. The geometry distortion in solution turns out to be small, whereas solute polarization energies are up to 3 kcal/mol for neutral molecules. Calculation of free energies of hydration with PCM provides a balanced set of values with 6‐31G* and 6‐311++G** basis sets for neutral molecules and ionic species, respectively. Explicit solvent calculations within Monte Carlo simulations applying free energy perturbation methods have been considered for 12 neutral molecules. Four different partial atomic charge sets have been studied, obtained by a fit to the gas‐phase and in‐solution molecular electrostatic potentials at in‐solution optimized geometries. Calculated FEH values depend on the charge set and the atom model used. Results indicate a preference for the all‐atom model and partial charges obtained by a fit to the molecular electrostatic potential of the solute computed at the SCIPCM/B3LYP/6‐31G* level. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

A theoretical study of the fluoride exchange between UO2F+(aq) and UO2 2+(aq)

Experimental data on the thermodynamics and reaction mechanism of the inner-sphere fluoride exchange reaction U17O2(2+) + UO2F+ <==> U17O2F+ + UO2(2+) have been compared with different intimate reaction mechanisms using quantum chemical methods. Two models have been tested that start from the outer sphere complexes, (H2O)[U(A)O2F(OH2)4+]...[U(B)O2(OH2)5(2+)] and [U(A)O2F(OH2)4+]...[U(B)O2(OH2)5(2+)]; the geometry and energies of the intermediates and transition states along possible reaction pathways have been calculated using different ab initio methods, SCF, B3LYP and MP2. Both the experimental data and the theoretical results suggest that the fluoride exchange takes place via the formation and breaking of a U-F-U bridge that is the rate determining step. The calculated activation enthalpy DeltaH( not equal) = 30.9 kJ mol(-1) is virtually identical to the experimental value 31 kJ mol(-1); however this agreement may be a coincidence as we do not expect a larger accuracy than 10 kJ mol(-1) with the methods used. The calculations show that the fluoride bridge is formed as an insertion of U(A)O2)F(OH2)4+ into U(B)O2(OH2)5(2+) followed by a subsequent transfer of water from the first to the second coordination sphere of U(B).     

The reaction of tricarbon with acetylene: an ab initio/RRKM study of the potential energy surface and product branching ratios

Ab initio calculations of the potential energy surface for the C3(1Sigmag+)+C2H2(1Sigmag+) reaction have been performed at the RCCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) + ZPE[B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)] level with extrapolation to the complete basis set limit for key intermediates and products. These calculations have been followed by statistical calculations of reaction rate constants and product branching ratios. The results show the reaction to begin with the formation of the 3-(didehydrovinylidene)cyclopropene intermediate i1 or five-member ring isomer i7 with the entrance barriers of 7.6 and 13.8 kcal/mol, respectively. i1 rearranges to the other C5H2 isomers, including ethynylpropadienylidene i2, singlet pentadiynylidene i3, pentatetraenylidene i4, ethynylcyclopropenylidene i5, and four- and five-member ring structures i6, i7, and i8 by ring-closure and ring-opening processes and hydrogen migrations. i2, i3, and i4 lose a hydrogen atom to produce the most stable linear isomer of C5H with the overall reaction endothermicity of approximately 24 kcal/mol. H elimination from i5 leads to the formation of the cyclic C5H isomer, HC2C3, +H, 27 kcal/ mol above C3+C2H2. 1,1-H2 loss from i4 results in the linear pentacarbon C5+H2 products endothermic by 4 kcal/mol. The H elimination pathways occur without exit barriers, whereas the H2 loss from i4 proceeds via a tight transition state 26.4 kcal/mol above the reactants. The characteristic energy threshold for the reaction under single collision conditions is predicted be in the range of approximately 24 kcal/mol. Product branching ratios obtained by solving kinetic equations with individual rate constants calculated using RRKM and VTST theories for collision energies between 25 and 35 kcal/mol show that l-C5H+H are the dominant reaction products, whereas HC2C3+H and l-C5+H2 are minor products with branching ratios not exceeding 2.5% and 0.7%, respectively. The ethynylcyclopropenylidene isomer i5 is calculated to be the most stable C5H2 species, more favorable than triplet pentadiynylidene i3t by approximately 2 kcal/mol.     

Accurate computational determination of the binding energy of the SO3 x H2O complex

Reliable thermochemical data for the reaction SO3 + H2O<-->SO3 x H2O (1a) are of crucial importance for an adequate modeling of the homogeneous H2SO4 formation in the atmosphere. We report on high-level quantum chemical calculations to predict the binding energy of the SO3 x H2O complex. The electronic binding energy is accurately computed to De = 40.9+/-1.0 kJ/mol = 9.8+/-0.2 kcal/mol. By using harmonic frequencies from density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ and TPSS/def2-TZVP), zero-point and thermal energies were calculated. From these data, we estimate D0 = -Delta H(1a)0(0 K) = 7.7+/-0.5 kcal/mol and Delta H(1a)0(298 K) = -8.3+/-1.0 kcal/mol.     

Mechanism of the hydration of carbon dioxide: direct participation of H2O versus microsolvation

Thermochemical parameters of carbonic acid and the stationary points on the neutral hydration pathways of carbon dioxide, CO 2 + nH 2O --> H 2CO 3 + ( n - 1)H 2O, with n = 1, 2, 3, and 4, were calculated using geometries optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Coupled-cluster theory (CCSD(T)) energies were extrapolated to the complete basis set limit in most cases and then used to evaluate heats of formation. A high energy barrier of approximately 50 kcal/mol was predicted for the addition of one water molecule to CO 2 ( n = 1). This barrier is lowered in cyclic H-bonded systems of CO 2 with water dimer and water trimer in which preassociation complexes are formed with binding energies of approximately 7 and 15 kcal/mol, respectively. For n = 2, a trimeric six-member cyclic transition state has an energy barrier of approximately 33 (gas phase) and a free energy barrier of approximately 31 (in a continuum solvent model of water at 298 K) kcal/mol, relative to the precomplex. For n = 3, two reactive pathways are possible with the first having all three water molecules involved in hydrogen transfer via an eight-member cycle, and in the second, the third water molecule is not directly involved in the hydrogen transfer but solvates the n = 2 transition state. In the gas phase, the two transition states have comparable energies of approximately 15 kcal/mol relative to separated reactants. The first path is favored over in aqueous solution by approximately 5 kcal/mol in free energy due to the formation of a structure resembling a (HCO 3 (-)/H 3OH 2O (+)) ion pair. Bulk solvation reduces the free energy barrier of the first path by approximately 10 kcal/mol for a free energy barrier of approximately 22 kcal/mol for the (CO 2 + 3H 2O) aq reaction. For n = 4, the transition state, in which a three-water chain takes part in the hydrogen transfer while the fourth water microsolvates the cluster, is energetically more favored than transition states incorporating two or four active water molecules. An energy barrier of approximately 20 (gas phase) and a free energy barrier of approximately 19 (in water) kcal/mol were derived for the CO 2 + 4H 2O reaction, and again formation of an ion pair is important. The calculated results confirm the crucial role of direct participation of three water molecules ( n = 3) in the eight-member cyclic TS for the CO 2 hydration reaction. Carbonic acid and its water complexes are consistently higher in energy (by approximately 6-7 kcal/mol) than the corresponding CO 2 complexes and can undergo more facile water-assisted dehydration processes.     

Oxidation studies of dipositive actinide ions, An2+ (An = Th, U, Np, Pu, Am) in the gas phase: synthesis and characterization of the isolated uranyl, neptunyl, and plutonyl ions UO2(2+)(g), NpO2(2+)(g), and PuO2(2+)(g)

Reactions of atomic and ligated dipositive actinide ions, An2+, AnO2+, AnOH2+, and AnO2(2+) (An = Th, U, Np, Pu, Am) were systematically studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Kinetics were measured for reactions with the oxidants, N2O, C2H4O (ethylene oxide), H2O, O2, CO2, NO, and CH2O. Each of the five An2+ ions reacted with one or more of these oxidants to produce AnO2+, and reacted with H2O to produce AnOH2+. The measured pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants, k, revealed disparate reaction efficiencies, k/k(COL): Th2+ was generally the most reactive and Am2+ the least. Whereas each oxidant reacted with Th2+ to give ThO2+, only C2H4O oxidized Am2+ to AmO2+. The other An2+ exhibited intermediate reactivities. Based on the oxidation reactions, bond energies and formation enthalpies were derived for the AnO2+, as were second ionization energies for the monoxides, IE[AnO+]. The bare dipositive actinyl ions, UO2(2+), NpO2(2+), and PuO2(2+), were produced from the oxidation of the corresponding AnO2+ by N2O, and by O2 in the cases of UO2+ and NpO2+. Thermodynamic properties were derived for these three actinyls, including enthalpies of formation and electron affinities. It is concluded that bare UO2(2+), NpO2(2+), and PuO2(2+) are thermodynamically stable toward Coulomb dissociation to [AnO+ + O+] or [An+ + O2+]. It is predicted that bare AmO2(2+) is thermodynamically stable. In accord with the expected instability of Th(VI), ThO(2+) was not oxidized to ThO2(2+) by any of the seven oxidants. The gas-phase results are compared with the aqueous thermochemistry. Hydration enthalpies were derived here for uranyl and plutonyl; our deltaH(hyd)[UO2(2+)] is substantially more negative than the previously reported value, but is essentially the same as our deltaH(hyd)[PuO2(2+)].     

On the viability of small endohedral hydrocarbon cage complexes: X@C4H4, X@C8H8, X@C8H14, X@C10H16, X@C12H12, AND X@C16H16

Small hydrocarbon complexes (X@cage) incorporating cage-centered endohedral atoms and ions (X = H(+), H, He, Ne, Ar, Li(0,+), Be(0,+,2+), Na(0,+), Mg(0,+,2+)) have been studied at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) hybrid HF/DFT level of theory. No tetrahedrane (C(4)H(4), T(d)()) endohedral complexes are minima, not even with the very small hydrogen atom or beryllium dication. Cubane (C(8)H(8), O(h)()) and bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (C(8)H(14), D(3)(h)()) minima are limited to encapsulating species smaller than Ne and Na(+). Despite its intermediate size, adamantane (C(10)H(16), T(d)()) can enclose a wide variety of endohedral atoms and ions including H, He, Ne, Li(0,+), Be(0,+,2+), Na(0,+), and Mg(2+). In contrast, the truncated tetrahedrane (C(12)H(12), T(d)()) encapsulates fewer species, while the D(4)(d)() symmetric C(16)H(16) hydrocarbon cage (see Table of Contents graphic) encapsulates all but the larger Be, Mg, and Mg(+) species. The host cages have more compact geometries when metal atoms, rather than cations, are inside. This is due to electron donation from the endohedral metals into C-C bonding and C-H antibonding cage molecular orbitals. The relative stabilities of endohedral minima are evaluated by comparing their energies (E(endo)) to the sum of their isolated components (E(inc) = E(endo) - E(cage) - E(x)) and to their exohedral isomer energies (E(isom) = E(endo) - E(exo)). Although exohedral binding is preferred to endohedral encapsulation without exception (i.e., E(isom) is always exothermic), Be(2+)@C(10)H(16) (T(d)(); -235.5 kcal/mol), Li(+)@C(12)H(12) (T(d)(); 50.2 kcal/mol), Be(2+)@C(12)H(12) (T(d)(); -181.2 kcal/mol), Mg(2+)@C(12)H(12) (T(d)(); -45.0 kcal/mol), Li(+)@C(16)H(16) (D(4)(d)(); 13.3 kcal/mol), Be(+)@C(16)H(16) (C(4)(v)(); 31.8 kcal/mol), Be(2+)@C(16)H(16) (D(4)(d)(); -239.2 kcal/mol), and Mg(2+)@C(16)H(16) (D(4)(d)(); -37.7 kcal/mol) are relatively stable as compared to experimentally known He@C(20)H(20) (I(h)()), which has an E(inc) = 37.9 kcal/mol and E(isom) = -35.4 kcal/mol. Overall, endohedral cage complexes with low parent cage strain energies, large cage internal cavity volumes, and a small, highly charged guest species are the most viable synthetic targets.     

The mechanism for water exchange in [UO(2)(H(2)O)(5)](2+) and [UO(2)(oxalate)(2)(H(2)O)](2-), as studied by quantum chemical methods.

The mechanisms for the exchange of water between [UO(2)(H(2)O)(5)](2+), [UO(2)(oxalate)(2)(H(2)O)](2)(-)(,) and water solvent along dissociative (D), associative (A) and interchange (I) pathways have been investigated with quantum chemical methods. The choice of exchange mechanism is based on the computed activation energy and the geometry of the identified transition states and intermediates. These quantities were calculated both in the gas phase and with a polarizable continuum model for the solvent. There is a significant and predictable difference between the activation energy of the gas phase and solvent models: the energy barrier for the D-mechanism increases in the solvent as compared to the gas phase, while it decreases for the A- and I-mechanisms. The calculated activation energy, Delta U(++), for the water exchange in [UO(2)(H(2)O)(5)](2+) is 74, 19, and 21 kJ/mol, respectively, for the D-, A-, and I-mechanisms in the solvent, as compared to the experimental value Delta H(++) = 26 +/- 1 kJ/mol. This indicates that the D-mechanism for this system can be ruled out. The energy barrier between the intermediates and the transition states is small, indicating a lifetime for the intermediate approximately 10(-10) s, making it very difficult to distinguish between the A- and I-mechanisms experimentally. There is no direct experimental information on the rate and mechanism of water exchange in [UO(2)(oxalate)(2)(H(2)O)](2-) containing two bidentate oxalate ions. The activation energy and the geometry of transition states and intermediates along the D-, A-, and I-pathways were calculated both in the gas phase and in a water solvent model, using a single-point MP2 calculation with the gas phase geometry. The activation energy, Delta U(++), in the solvent for the D-, A-, and I-mechanisms is 56, 12, and 53 kJ/mol, respectively. This indicates that the water exchange follows an associative reaction mechanism. The geometry of the A- and I-transition states for both [UO(2)(H(2)O)(5)](2+) and [UO(2)(oxalate)(2)(H(2)O)](2-) indicates that the entering/leaving water molecules are located outside the plane formed by the spectator ligands.     

Reactivity of the "yl"-bond in uranyl(VI) complexes. 1. Rates and mechanisms for the exchange between the trans-dioxo oxygen atoms in (UO2)2(OH)2 2+ and mononuclear UO2(OH)n 2-n complexes with solvent water

The stoichiometric mechanism, rate constant, and activation parameters for the exchange of the "yl"-oxygen atoms in the dioxo uranium(VI) ion with solvent water have been studied using 17O NMR spectroscopy. The experimental rate equation, (-->)v= k(2obs)[UO2(2+)]tot2/[H+]2, is consistent with a mechanism where the first step is a rapid equilibrium 2U(17)O2(2+) + 2H2O<==>(U(17)O2)2(OH)2(2+) + 2H+, followed by the rate-determining step (U(17)O2)2(OH)2(2+) + H2O<==>(UO2)2*(OH)2(2+) + H2(17)O, where the back reaction can be neglected because the (17)O enrichment in the water is much lower than in the uranyl ion. This mechanism results in the following rate equation (-->)v= d[(UO2)2(OH)2(2+)]/dt = k(2,2)[(UO2)2(OH)2(2+)] = k(2,2*)beta(2,2)[UO2(2+)]2/[H + ]2; with k(2,2) = (1.88 +/- 0.22) x 10(4) h(-1), corresponding to a half-life of 0.13 s, and the activation parameters DeltaH++ = 119 +/- 13 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS++ = 81 +/- 44 J mol(-1) K(-1). *Beta(2,)2 is the equilibrium constant for the reaction 2UO2(2+) + 2H2O<==>(UO2)2(OH)2(2+) + 2H+. The experimental data show that there is no measurable exchange of the "yl"-oxygen in UO2(2+), UO2(OH)+, and UO2(OH)4(2-)/ UO2(OH)5(3-), indicating that "yl"-exchange only takes place in polynuclear hydroxide complexes. There is no "yl"-exchange in the ternary complex (UO2)2(mu-OH)2(F)2(oxalate)2(4-), indicating that it is also necessary to have coordinated water in the first coordination sphere of the binuclear complex, for exchange to take place. The very large increase in lability of the "yl"-bonds in (UO2)2(OH)2(2+) as compared to those of the other species is presumably a result of proton transfer from coordinated water to the "yl"-oxygen, followed by a rapid exchange of the resulting OH group with the water solvent. "Yl"-exchange through photochemical mediation is well-known for the uranyl(VI) aquo ion. We noted that there was no photochemical exchange in UO2(CO3)3(4-), whereas there was a slow exchange or photo reduction in the UO2(OH)4(2-) / UO2(OH)5(3-) system that eventually led to the appearance of a black precipitate, presumably UO2.     

Uranyl complexes with diamide ligands: a quantum mechanics study of chelating properties in the gas phase

We report a quantum mechanical study on the complexes of UO(2)(2+) with diamide ligands L of malonamide and succinamide type, respectively, forming 6- and 7-chelate rings in their bidentate coordination to uranium. The main aims are to (i) assess how strong the chelate effect is (i.e., the preference for bi- versus monodentate binding modes of L), (ii) compare these ligands as a function of the chelate ring size, and (iii) assess the role of neutralizing counterions. For this purpose, we consider UO(2)L(2+), UO(2)L(2)(2+), UO(2)L(3)(2+), and UO(2)X(2)L type complexes with X(-) = Cl(-) versus NO(3)(-). Hartree-Fock and DFT calculations lead to similar trends and reveal the importance of saturation and steric repulsions ("strain") in the first coordination sphere. In the unsaturated UO(2)L(2+), UO(2)L(2)(2+), and UO(2)Cl(2)L complexes, the 7-ring chelate is preferred over the 6-ring chelate, and bidentate coordination is preferred over the monodentate one. However, in the saturated UO(2)(NO(3))(2)L complexes, the 6- and 7-chelating ligands have similar binding energies, and for a given ligand, the mono- and bidentate binding modes are quasi-isoenergetic. These conclusions are confirmed by the calculations of free energies of complexation in the gas phase. In condensed phases, the monodentate form of UO(2)X(2)L complexes should be further stabilized by coordination of additional ligands, as well as by interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding) of the "free" carbonyl oxygen, leading to an enthalpic preference for this form, compared to the bidentate one. We also considered an isodesmic reaction exchanging one bidentate ligand L with two monoamide analogues, which reveals that the latter are clearly preferred (by 23-14 kcal/mol at the HF level and 24-12 kcal/mol at the DFT level). Thus, in the gas phase, the studied bidentate ligands are enthalpically disfavored, compared to bis-monodentate analogues. The contrast with trends observed in solution hints at the importance of "long range" forces (e.g., second shell interactions) and entropy effects on the chelate effect in condensed phases.     

Interaction of metal ions with biomolecular ligands: how accurate are calculated free energies associated with metal ion complexation?

To address fundamental questions in bioinorganic chemistry, such as metal ion selectivity, accurate computational protocols for both the gas-phase association of metal-ligand complexes and solvation/desolvation energies of the species involved are needed. In this work, we attempt to critically evaluate the performance of the ab initio and DFT electronic structure methods available and recent solvation models in calculations of the energetics associated with metal ion complexation. On the example of five model complexes ([M(II)(CH(3)S)(H(2)O)](+), [M(II)(H(2)O)(2)(H(2)S)(NH(3))](2+), [M(II)(CH(3)S)(NH(3))(H(2)O)(CH(3)COO)], [M(II)(H(2)O)(3)(SH)(CH(3)COO)(Im)], [M(II)(H(2)S)(H(2)O)(CH(3)COO)(PhOH)(Im)](+) in typical coordination geometries) and four metal ions (Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Cd(2+); representing open- and closed-shell and the first- and second-row transition metal elements), we provide reference values for the gas-phase complexation energies, as presumably obtained using the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ method, and compare them with cheaper methods, such as DFT and RI-MP2, that can be used for large-scale calculations. We also discuss two possible definitions of interaction energies underlying the theoretically predicted metal-ion selectivity and the effect of geometry optimization on these values. Finally, popular solvation models, such as COSMO-RS and SMD, are used to demonstrate whether quantum chemical calculations can provide the overall free enthalpy (ΔG) changes in the range of the expected experimental values for the model complexes or match the experimental stability constants in the case of three complexes for which the experimental data exist. The data presented highlight several intricacies in the theoretical predictions of the experimental stability constants: the covalent character of some metal-ligand bonds (e.g., Cu(II)-thiolate) causing larger errors in the gas-phase complexation energies, inaccuracies in the treatment of solvation of the charged species, and difficulties in the definition of the reference state for Jahn-Teller unstable systems (e.g., [Cu(H(2)O)(6)](2+)). Although the agreement between the experimental (as derived from the stability constants) and calculated values is often within 5 kcal·mol(-1), in more complicated cases, it may exceed 15 kcal·mol(-1). Therefore, extreme caution must be exercised in assessing the subtle issues of metal ion selectivity quantitatively.     

Theoretical study of [Ni (H2O)n]2+(H2O)m (n ≤ 6, m ≤ 18)

The [Ni-(H(2)O)(n)](2+)(H(2)O)(m) (n ≤ 6, m ≤ 18) complexes were studied by means of first-principles all-electron calculations performed with the BPW91 gradient corrected functional and the 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets for the H, O, and Ni atoms. Triplet states were found as low-lying states for each (n, m) combination. The estimated Ni(2+)-(H(2)O)(n) binding energies (112.8-57.4 kcal/mol for the first layer and 52.0-23.0 kcal/mol for the second one) decreases and the Ni(2+)-OH(2) bond lengths lengthen as n + m increases. With six H(2)O moieties the Ni(2+) ion furnishes its first coordination sphere of octahedral geometry. Further water addition renders the formation of the second layer. The effect of Ni(2+) on the (H(2)O)(n)···(H(2)O)(m) hydrogen bond formation for several "n" and "m" combinations was studied, revealing an enhancement of this kind of bonding, which is of key importance for the stabilization and growth of the clusters. For some n + m isomers the second layer appears before the first octahedral layer is fully formed. For example, the square planar Ni(2+)-(H(2)O)(4) core originates two-dimensional 4 + 2 and 4 + 4 isomers, where each outer water molecule accepts two H-bonds, lying 2.0 kcal/mol above the 6 and 6 + 2 ground states. The clusters were also studied by IR spectra; the OH stretching vibrational frequencies allowed us to identify the outer solvation shells by the presence of red-shifted hydrogen bond regions.