Structure and stability of VO2+ in aqueous solution: a Car-Parrinello and static ab initio study

Quantum chemical calculations have been carried out to get some insight concerning the effects of temperature and solvent acidity on the structure and stability of solvated VO2+ as the elementary chemical unit involved in the nucleation of vanadophosphates. First, because some recent theoretical studies have suggested a tendency of density functional theory (DFT) to favor lower coordination numbers for such systems, static calculations have been performed on [VO2(H2O)(4-n)]+.nH2O (n=0-2) conformers at the MP2 and DFT level of theory, using two different combinations of basis sets. The results of two pure-GGA (BP86 and PBEPBE), two hybrid-GGA (PBE1PBE and mPWPW91), and two hybrid-meta-GGA (mPW1B95 and B1B95) functionals were analyzed on these systems. The comparison of the results indicates that the stability differences between the two methodologies are resolved when hydration energy is taken into account, provided that some amount of HF exchange is introduced in the DFT calculations. In a second step, Car-Parrinello simulations have been carried out starting from VO2(H2O)4+ surrounded by water molecules. The calculations at 300 K show the natural tendency of VO2(H2O)4+ to decompose to VO2(OH)2- and the requirements to work with an already acidified medium to be able to investigate the coordination sphere of VO2+ for an extended period of time. Under such conditions, we have obtained a clear preference for a five-coordinated vanadium. The molecular dynamics simulations performed at 500 K starting from hydrated VO2+ in a protonated medium found VO(OH)3 to be the most stable structure, whereas this ideal candidate for oxolation reactions is expected to be a very minor species at room temperature.     

Generation of gas-phase VO2+, VOOH+, and VO2+-nitrile complex ions by electrospray ionization and collision-induced dissociation

Cationic metal species normally function as Lewis acids, accepting electron density from bound electron-donating ligands, but they can be induced to function as electron donors relative to dioxygen by careful control of the oxidation state and ligand field. In this study, cationic vanadium(IV) oxohydroxy complexes were induced to function as Lewis bases, as demonstrated by addition of O2 to an undercoordinated metal center. Gas-phase complex ions containing the vanadyl (VO2+), vanadyl hydroxide (VOOH+), or vanadium(V) dioxo (VO2+) cation and nitrile (acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile, or benzonitrile) ligands were generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) for study by multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry. The principal species generated by ESI were complexes with the formula [VO(L)n]2+, where L represents the respective nitrile ligands and n=4 and 5. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [VO(L)5]2+ eliminated a single nitrile ligand to produce [VO(L)4]2+. Two distinct fragmentation pathways were observed for the subsequent dissociation of [VO(L)4]2+. The first involved the elimination of a second nitrile ligand to generate [VO(L)3]2+, which then added neutral H2O via an association reaction that occurred for all undercoordinated vanadium complexes. The second [UO(L)4]2+ fragmentation pathway led instead to the formation of [VOOH(L)2]+ through collisions with gas-phase H2O and concomitant losses of L and [L+H]+. CID of [VOOH(L)2]+ caused the elimination of a single nitrile ligand to generate [VOOH(L)]+, which rapidly added O2 (in addition to H2O) by a gas-phase association reaction. CID of [VONO3(L)2]+, generated from spray solutions created by mixing VOSO4 and Ba(NO3)2 (and precipitation of BaSO4), caused elimination of NO2 to produce [VO2(L)2]+. CID of [VO2(L)2]+ produced elimination of a single nitrile ligand to form [VO2(L)]+, a V(V) analogue to the O2-reactive V(IV) species [VOOH(L)]+; however, this V(V) complex was unreactive with O2, which indicates the requirement for an unpaired electron in the metal valence shell for O2 addition. In general, the [VO2(L)2]+ species required higher collisions energies to liberate the nitrile ligand, suggesting that they are more strongly bound than the [VOOH(L)2]+ counterparts.     

Molecular and supramolecular features of oxo-peroxovanadium complexes containing O3N, O2N2 and ON3 donor sets

The complexes [VO(O2)Hbpa]+ (1a), [VO(O2)bpa] (1b, Hbpa = bis(picolyl)-beta-alanine), [VO(O2)heida]- (2, H2heida =N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid), [VO(O2)(3OH-pic)2]- (3a), [VO(O2)(3OH-pic)2]-/[V(O2)2(3OH-pic)2]- (3b, 3OH-pic = 3-hydroxypicolinic acid), [VO(O2)(3OH-pa)2] (6, 3OH-pa = 3-hydroxypicolylamide), [VO2(3OH-pic)2]- (4), [VO(tBuO2)(3OH-pic)2] (5) and [VO(tBuO2)(3OH-pa)2]2+ (7) have been characterised. The structures of 21a[ClO4].1b.2.25H2O, K.2H2O, [NH4].H2O and [nBu4]3b are reported. Supramolecular patterns arise from intermolecular hydrogen bonds, the relevance of which for the peroxo/hydroperoxo intermediates in oxo transfer reactions catalysed by vanadate-dependent haloperoxidases is addressed. Specific solution patterns have been analysed by 51V and 17O NMR.     

Definition of magneto-structural correlations for the MnII ion

The electronic properties of the high spin mononuclear MnII complexes [Mn(tpa)(NCS)2] (1) (tpa=tris-2-picolylamine), [Mn(tBu3-terpy)2](PF6)2 (2) (tBu3-terpy=4,4',4'-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) and [Mn(terpy)2](I)2 (3) (terpy=2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) with an N6 coordination sphere have been determined by multifrequency EPR spectroscopy. The X-ray structures of 1.CH3CN and 2.C4H10 O.0.5 C2H5OH.0.5 CH3OH reveal that the MnII ion lies at the center of a distorted octahedron. The D-values of 1-3 all fall in the narrow range of 0.041 to 0.105 cm(-1). The comparison of the results reported here and those found in the literature is consistent with the following observation: the D value is sensitive to the coordination number (6 or 5) of the MnII ion as long as the coordination sphere involves only nitrogen and/or oxygen based ligands. This magneto-structural correlation has been analyzed in this work though DFT model calculations. The zero-field splitting (zfs) parameters of 1-3 have been calculated and are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. Hypothetical simplified models [Mn(NH3)x(OH2)y]2+ (x+y=5 or 6 and [Mn(NH3)5X]+ (X=OH, Cl)) have been constructed to investigate the origin of the zfs. This investigation reveals i) that D is sensitive to the coordination number (5 or 6) of the MnII ion, ii) for the five coordinate systems the major contribution to D is the spin-orbit coupling part, iii) for the six coordinate systems the major contribution to D is the spin-spin interaction and iv) the deprotonation of a water ligand leads to an increase of D, consistent with the relative ligand fields of OH(-) versus H2O.     

Interaction of methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside with metal ions: density functional theory study of cationic and neutral bridging and pendant complexes

Density functional theory calculations on complexes of 4C1, 1C4 and 2SO ring conformations of methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside 1 with divalent metal cations, M = Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+, are presented. Bridging and pendant cationic, [M(H2O)41]2+ and [M(H2O)(5)1]2+, as well as neutral complexes, [M(OH)2(H2O)(2)1] and [M(OH)2(H2O)(3)1], and neutral complexes involving a doubly deprotonated sugar, [M(H2O)(4)1(2-)], are considered. In aqueous and chloroform solution the stability of cationic and pendant neutral complexes is greatly diminished compared with gas-phase results. In contrast, bridging neutral complexes [M(OH)2(H2O)(2)1] and those of type [M(H2O)(4)1(2-)], are stabilized with increasing solvent polarity. Solvation also profoundly influences the preferred binding position and ring conformation. Compared with complexes of bare metal cations, additional ligands, e.g., H2O or OH-, significantly reduce the stability of 1C4 ring complexes. Irrespective of the cation, the most stable structure of bridging complexes [M(H2O)(4)1]2+ results from coordination of the metal to O3 and O4 of methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside in its 4C1 ring conformation.     

Synthesis and characterization of vanadium(IV) complexes with cis-inositol in aqueous solution and in the solid-state

The complex formation of vanadium(IV) with cis-inositol (ino) and the corresponding trimethyl ether 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-trimethoxy-cis-inositol (tmci) was studied in aqueous solution and in the solid-state. With increasing pH, the formation of [VO(H-2L)], [(VO)2L2H-5]-, [VO(H-3L)]- (L = ino) or [(VO)2L2H-6]2- (L = tmci), [V(H-3L)2]2-, and [VO(H-3L)(OH)2]3- was observed. For the vanadium(IV)/ino system, [(VO)2L2H-7]3- was observed as an additional dinuclear species. The formation constants of these complexes were determined by potentiometric titrations (25 degrees C, 0.1 M KCl). In addition, the vanadium(IV)/ino system was investigated by means of UV-vis spectrophotometric methods. EPR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry confirmed this complexation scheme. EPR measurements indicated the formation of three distinct isomers of the non-oxo complex [V(H-3ino)2]2- in weakly basic solution. This type of isomerism, which is not observed for the vanadium(IV)/tmci system, was assigned to the ability of ino to bind the vanadium(IV) center with three alkoxo groups having either a 1,3,5-triaxial or an 1,2,3-axial-equatorial-axial arrangement. The structures of [V(H-3ino)2][K2(ino)2].4H2O (1) and [Na6V(H-3ino)2](SO4)2.6H2O (2) were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In both compounds, the coordination of each ino molecule to the vanadium(IV) center via three axial deprotonated oxygen donors was confirmed. The centrosymmetric structure of the coordination spheres corresponds to an almost regular octahedral geometry with a twist angle of 60 degrees. The crystal structure of the potassium complex 1 represents an unusual 1:1 packing of [V(H-3ino)2]2- dianions and [K2(ino)2]2+ dications, in which both K+ ions have a coordination number of nine and are bonded simultaneously to a 1,3,5-triaxial and an 1,2,3-axial-equatorial-axial site of ino. In 2, the [V(H-3ino)2]2- complexes are surrounded by six Na+ counterions that are bonded to the axial alkoxo oxygens and to the equatorial hydroxy oxygens of the cis-inositolato moieties. The six Na+ centers are further interlinked by bridging sulfate ions. According to EPR spectroscopy, the D3d symmetric structure of the [V(H-3ino)2]2- anion is retained in H2O, in dimethylformamide, and in a mixture of CHCl3/toluene 60:40 v/v.     

Theoretical investigation on the protonation reactions and products of the stable [N,C,C,S] isomers

A theoretical study on the protonation system of [N,C,C,S], [H,N,C,C,S]+, was performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2p) (single point) levels of theory. On the doublet [H,N,C,C,S]+ surface, 24 species were located as energy minima and 10 of them were considered as kinetically stable species. The species HNCCS+ with 2A' state and a shallow W-shaped skeleton was predicted to be the global minimum and kinetically the most stable species, being in good agreement with previous experimental findings. Furthermore, the protonation reactions of the stable [N,C,C,S] isomers were investigated in detail. The calculation results indicated that the [N,C,C,S] isomers may be significantly stabilized upon protonation. Finally, the possible covalent structures of the [H,N,C,C,S]+ isomers with considerable stability were briefly discussed.     

Particle and surface characterization of a natural illite and study of its copper retention

Illite clays are known to have a strong affinity for metallic pollutants in the environment and can be applied as low-cost adsorbents for industrial waste treatment. A crucial factor in the development of such applications, however, is the understanding of the chemical, mineralogical, and colloidal properties of these clays. It is also important to understand the mechanisms involved in the surface adsorption of metals by these adsorbants. In order to study the retention of transition metals on illite clays, we have applied surface characterization techniques such as FPIA, SEM-EDX, XRD, N2 (77 K) adsorption, and FTIR. In addition to these experimental techniques, we have also employed a theoretical model that accounts for the chemistry of transition metal ions, and considers the global retention process to be the sum of several single retention processes. This model adequately fits the experimental data and allows for the speciation of metal retention on illite surfaces. Between pH values of 2.53 and 3.01 the only adsorption processes are the electrostatic sorption of [Cu(H2O)6]2+, and the surface complexation of [Cu(H2O)6]2+ and [Cu(OH)(H2O)5]+ ions. Surface complexation of [Cu(OH)(H2O)5]+ ions increases with pH, overcoming [Cu(H2O)6]2+ retention, and thus contributing to the surface precipitation of Cu(OH)2.     

Interaction of vanadyl (VO2+) with ligands containing serine, tyrosine, and threonine

Reaction of vanadyl sulfate with an aldehyde (2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde (nap); 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde = o-vanillin (van)) and an amino acid carrying an OH group (L-tyrosine (L-tyr); L-serine (L-ser), L-threonine (L-thr)) yielded the complexes [VO(nap-D-Tyr)(H2O)] 1a, [VO(van-D,L-Tyr)(H2O)] 1c, [VO(nap-Ser)(H2O)] 2a, [VO(van-D,L-Ser)(H2O)] 2b, [VO(nap-Thr)(H2O)] 3a, and [VO(van-Thr)(H2O)] 3b. [VO(nap-L-tyr(H2O)], 1b, was obtained from the reaction between [VO(nap)(2)] and l-TyrOMe. The crystal and molecular structures of 1a.CH3OH, 1b.CH3OH, 1c.H2O, 2b.2H2O, and the Schiff base nap-D,L-TyrOMe (4) are reported. The ligands coordinate in a tridentate manner through the phenolate component of nap or van, the imine nitrogen, and the carboxylate of the amino acid. Direct coordination of the (deprotonated) OH amino acid functionality is not observed in these complexes. Instead, the OH groups are involved in hydrogen bonding, leading, along with pi-pi stacking, to extended one- and three-dimensional supramolecular networks. The relevance for the interaction between oxovanadium(IV,V) and proteins having serine, threonine, or tyrosine at their reactive sites is addressed.     

Analysis of uranium azide and nitride complexes by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) has been used to characterize the air-sensitive paramagnetic organouranium azide and nitride complexes [(C5Me5)2UN3(mu-N3)]3 and [(C5Me5)U(mu-I)2]3N, respectively. The trimetallic complex [(C5Me5)U(mu-I)2]3E had been identified by X-ray crystallography, but the data did not definitively identify E as N3- versus O2- or (OH)-, a common problem in heavy-element nitride complexes involving metals with variable oxidation states. A comparison of the 250 degrees C APCI-MS spectra of products made from NaN3 and Na15NNN showed mixed [M]+ and [M + H]+ envelopes at expected ion intensities for the 14N and 15N isotopomers. A compilation of U-C(C5Me5) and U-I bond distance data for U3+ and U4+ is also reported that shows that the ranges for the two oxidation states have significant overlap.     

Liquid ionization mass spectrometry of some triorganotin carboxylates.

and ESI, in which [M + H]+ were not observed or the spectra were complicated. The liquid ionization mass spectra of triorganotin carboxylates varied with solvents and sample concentrations. For instance, the fragment ions [M + (C4H9)3Sn]+ of dimeric ions were observed with chloroform used as a solvent, while the [M + H]+ were observed as the base peak using ethylene dichloride. Spectra useful for the differentiation of isomers [CgH7O3Sn(C4Hg)3] were obtained by the formation of characteristic adduct ions, such as [M + EA + H]+ and [M + 2EA + H]+, with a reagent like 2-aminoethanol. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra observed by ESI and LPI mass spectrometry were similar and provided less information than adduct ions did.     

Characterization of the product ions from the collision-induced dissociation of argentinated peptides

Tandem mass spectrometry performed on a pool of 18 oligopeptides shows that the product ion spectra of argentinated peptides, the [bn + OH + Ag]+ ions and the [yn - H + Ag]+ ions bearing identical sequences are virtually identical. These observations suggest strongly that these ions have identical structures in the gas phase. The structures of argentinated glycine, glycylglycine, and glycylglycylglycine were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/DZVP level of theory; they were independently confirmed using HF/LANL2DZ. For argentinated glycylglycylglycine, the most stable structure is one in which Ag+ is tetracoordinate and attached to the amino nitrogen and the three carbonyl oxygen atoms. Mechanisms are proposed for the fragmentation of this structure to the [b2 + OH + Ag]+ and the [Y2 - H + Ag]+ ions that are consistent with all experimental observations and known calculated structures and energetics. The structures of the [b2 - H + Ag]+ and the [a2 - H + Ag]+ ions of glycylglycylglycine were also calculated using DFT. These results confirm earlier suggestions that the [b2 - H + Ag]+ ion is an argentinated oxazolone and the [a2 - H + Ag]+ an argentinated immonium ion.     

A modular approach toward regulating the secondary coordination sphere of metal ions: differential dioxygen activation assisted by intramolecular hydrogen bonds

Metal ion function depends on the regulation of properties within the primary and second coordination spheres. An approach toward studying the structure-function relationships within the secondary coordination sphere is to construct a series of synthetic complexes having constant primary spheres but structurally tunable secondary spheres. This was accomplished through the development of hybrid urea-carboxamide ligands that provide varying intramolecular hydrogen bond (H-bond) networks proximal to a metal center. Convergent syntheses prepared ligands [(N'-tert-butylureayl)-N-ethyl]-bis(N' '-R-carbamoylmethyl)amine (H(4)1R) and bis[(N'-tert-butylureayl)-N-ethyl]-(N' '-R-carbamoylmethyl)amine (H(5)2R), where R=isopropyl, cyclopentyl, and (S)-(-)-alpha-methylbenzyl. The ligands with isopropyl groups H(4)1iPr and H(5)2iPr were combined with tris[(N'-tert-butylureayl)-N-ethyl]amine (H6buea) and bis(N-isopropylcarbamoylmethyl)amine (H(3)0iPr) to prepare a series of Co(II) complexes with varying H-bond donors. [CoIIH(2)2iPr]- (two H-bond donors), [CoIIH1iPr]- (one H-bond donor), and [CoII0iPr]- (no H-bond donors) have trigonal monopyramidal primary coordination spheres as determined by X-ray diffraction methods. In addition, these complexes have nearly identical optical and EPR properties that are consistent with S=3/2 ground states. Electrochemical studies show a linear spread of 0.23 V in anodic potentials (Epa) with [CoIIH(2)2iPr]- being the most negative at -0.385 V vs [Cp2Fe]+/[Cp2Fe]. The properties of [CoIIH3buea]- (H3buea, tris[(N'-tert-butylureaylato)-N-ethyl]aminato that has three H-bond donors) appears to be similar to that of the other complexes based on spectroscopic data. [CoIIH3buea]- and [CoIIH(2)2iPr]- react with 0.5 equiv of dioxygen to afford [CoIIIH3buea(OH)]- and [CoIIIH(2)2iPr(OH)]-. Isotopic labeling studies confirm that dioxygen is the source of the oxygen atom in the hydroxo ligands: [CoIIIH3buea(16OH)]- has a -(O-H) band at 3589 cm-1 that shifts to 3579 cm-1 in [CoIIIH3buea(18OH)]-; [CoIIIH(2)2iPr(OH)]- has -(16O-H)=3661 and -(18O-H)=3650 cm-1. [CoIIH1iPr]- does not react with 0.5 equiv of O2; however, treating [CoIIH1iPr]- with excess dioxygen initially produces a species with an X-band EPR signal at g=2.0 that is assigned to a Co-O2 adduct, which is not stable and converts to a species having properties similar to those of the CoIII-OH complexes. Isolation of this hydroxo complex in pure form was complicated by its instability in solution (kint=2.5x10-7 M min-1). Moreover, the stability of the CoIII-OH complexes is correlated with the number of H-bond donors within the secondary coordination sphere; [CoIIIH3buea(OH)]- is stable in solution for days, whereas [CoIIIH(2)2iPr(OH)]- decays with a kint=5.9x10-8 M min-1. The system without any intramolecular H-bond donors [CoII0iPr]- does not react with dioxygen, even when O2 is in excess. These findings indicate a correlation between dioxygen binding/activation and the number of H-bond donors within the secondary coordination sphere of the cobalt complexes. Moreover, the properties of the secondary coordination sphere affect the stability of the CoIII-OH complexes with [CoIIIH3buea(OH)]- being the most stable. We suggest that the greater number of intramolecular H-bonds involving the hydroxo ligand reduces the nucleophilicity of the CoIII-OH unit and reinforces the cavity structure, producing a more constrained microenvironment around the cobalt ion.     

The formation of neutral CCCO2H and HCCCO2 molecules from anionic precursors in the gas phase: a joint experimental and theoretical study

Calculations at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory indicate that the anions -CCCO2H and HCCCO2(-) are stable species in their singlet states. Upon collision-induced, vertical one-electron oxidation under neutralisation-reionisation (-NR+) conditions, they produce the neutral molecules CCCO2H and HCCCO2, respectively. Some of the CCCO2H neutrals should be stable for the duration of the neutralisation-reionisation experiment (10(-6) s), while others will dissociate to CCCO and OH (requires 125 kJ mol(-1)). In contrast, neutral HCCCO2 is expected to be much less stable, and dissociate to HCC and CO2 (37 kJ mol(-1)). Neither CCCO2H nor HCCCO2 is expected to interconvert, or to rearrange to other isomers. The anions -CCCO2H and HCCCO2(-) have been formed in the ion source of the mass spectrometer by the reactions between (CH3)3Si-C[triple bond]C-CO2H and F- and HC[triple bond]C-CO2Si(CH3)3 and F-, respectively. The -NR+ spectrum of -CCCO2H shows a recovery signal and also indicates that the lowest energy dissociation pathway of neutral CCCO2H corresponds to the loss of OH. The -NR+ spectrum of HCCCO2 displays little or no recovery signal, and the spectrum is dominated by the [CO2]+ ion. The experimental observations are in agreement with the predictions of the extensive theoretical studies.     

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).     

Electrophilic attack on sulfur-sulfur bonds: coordination of lithium cations to sulfur-rich molecules studied by ab initio MO methods

Complex formation between gaseous Li+ ions and sulfur-containing neutral ligands, such as H2S, Me2Sn (n = 1-5; Me = CH3) and various isomers of hexasulfur (S6), has been studied by ab initio MO calculations at the G3X(MP2) level of theory. Generally, the formation of LiS(n) heterocycles and clusters is preferred in these reactions. The binding energies of the cation in the 29 complexes investigated range from -88 kJ mol(-1) for [H2SLi]+ to -189 kJ mol(-1) for the most stable isomer of [Me2S5Li]+ which contains three-coordinate Li+. Of the various S6 ligands (chair, boat, prism, branched ring, and triplet chain structures), two isomeric complexes containing the S5==S ligand have the highest binding energies (-163+/-1 kJ mol(-1)). However, the global minimum structure of [LiS6]+ is of C(3v) symmetry with the six-membered S(6) homocycle in the well-known chair conformation and three Li--S bonds with a length of 256 pm (binding energy: -134 kJ mol(-1)). Relatively unstable isomers of S6 are stabilized by complex formation with Li+. The interaction between the cation and the S6 ligands is mainly attributed to ion-dipole attraction with a little charge transfer, except in cations containing the six sulfur atoms in the form of separated neutral S2, S3, or S4 units, as in [Li(S3)2]+ and [Li(S2)(S4)]+. In the two most stable isomers of the [LiS6]+ complexes, the number of S--S bonds is at maximum and the coordination number of Li+ is either 3 or 4. A topological analysis of all investigated complexes revealed that the Li--S bonds of lengths below 280 pm are characterized by a maximum electron-density path and closed-shell interaction.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of chromium(III)-l-arginine complex by periodate

Oxidation of the chromium(III)-l-arginine complex [CrIII(L)2(H2O)2]+ by periodate has been investigated. In aqueous solutions, [CrIII(L)2(H2O)2]+ is oxidized by IO−4 according to the rate law: d[CrVI]/dt=k2K5[CrIII]T [IVII]T/1 +([H+]/K1)+K5[IVII]T where k2 is the rate constant for the electron transfer process, K1 the equilibrium constant for the dissociation of [CrIII(L)2- (H2O)2]+ to [CrIII(L)2(H2O)(OH)]+H+, and K5 the pre-equilibrium formation constant. Values of k2= 4.02×10−3s−1, K1=5.60×10−4m and K5=171m−1 were obtained at 30°C and I=0.2m. Thermodynamic activation parameters were calculated. It is proposed that electron transfer proceeds through an inner-sphere mechanism via coordination of IO−4 to chromium(III). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometric behavior of eight anabolic steroid glucuronides

Mass spectrometric and tandem mass spectrometric behavior of eight anabolic steroid glucuronides were examined using electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) in negative and positive ion mode. The objective was to elucidate the most suitable ionization method to produce intense structure specific product ions and to examine the possibilities of distinguishing between isomeric steroid glucuronides. The analytes were glucuronide conjugates of testosterone (TG), epitestosterone (ETG), nandrolone (NG), androsterone (AG), 5alpha-estran-3alpha-ol-17-one (5alpha-NG), 5beta-estran-3alpha-ol-17-one (5beta-NG), 17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (5alpha-MTG), and 17alpha-methyl-5beta-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (5beta-MTG), the last four being new compounds synthesized with enzyme-assisted method in our laboratory. High proton affinity of the 4-ene-3-one system in the steroid structure favored the formation of protonated molecule [M + H]+ in positive ion mode mass spectrometry (MS), whereas the steroid glucuronides with lower proton affinities were detected mainly as ammonium adducts [M + NH4]+. The only ion produced in negative ion mode mass spectrometry was a very intense and stable deprotonated molecule [M - H]- . Positive ion ESI and APCI MS/MS spectra showed abundant and structure specific product ions [M + H - Glu]+, [M + H - Glu - H2O]+, and [M + H - Glu - 2H2O]+ of protonated molecules and corresponding ions of the ammonium adduct ions. The ratio of the relative abundances of these ions and the stability of the precursor ion provided distinction of 5alpha-NG and 5beta-NG isomers and TG and ETG isomers. Corresponding diagnostic ions were only minor peaks in negative ion MS/MS spectra. It was shown that positive ion ESI MS/MS is the most promising method for further development of LC-MS methods for anabolic steroid glucuronides.     

Mobile phase variations in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of pesticides

The effect of four different mobile phase compositions with reversed-phase methanol-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium acetate, methanol-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium formate, acetonitrile-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile-water (50:50) + 0.05 M ammonium formate were compared in filament-on thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of carbamate and chlorotriazine pesticides. In the positive-ion mode, [M + H]+ and [M + NH4]+ were generally the base peaks for the chlorotriazines and the carbamates, respectively. Depending on the mobile phase used, other adduct ions obtained corresponded to [M + CH3CN + H]+, [M + CH3OH + NH4]+, [M + CH3COONH4 + NH4 - 2H2O]+, [M + CH3CN + NH4]+, [M + CH3COONH4 + H - H2O]+ and the dimer [2M + H]+. In the negative-ion mode, [M - H]- and adducts with the ionizing additive [M + CH3COO]- or [M + HCOO]- were obtained. Other ions for the carbamates carbaryl and oxamyl corresponded to [M - CONHCH3 + CH3COOH]- and [M - CON(CH3)2 + HCOO]-, respectively. The variation of mobile phase composition provides additional structural information in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with no appreciable loss of sensitivity. Applications are reported for the determination of carbamate and chlorotriazine pesticides at the ng/g level in spiked and real soil samples, respectively.     

Coaggregation of paramagnetic d- and f-block metal ions with a podand-framework amine phenol ligand

This report covers initial studies in the coaggregation of nickel (Ni2+) and lanthanide (Ln3+) metal ions to form complexes with interesting structural and magnetic properties. The tripodal amine phenol ligand H3tam (1,1,1-tris(((2-hydroxybenzyl)amino)methyl)ethane) is shown to be particularly accommodating with respect to the geometric constraints of both transition and lanthanide metal ions, forming isolable complexes with both of these ion types. In the solid-state structure of [Ni(H2tam)(CH3CN)]PF6.2.5CH3CN.0.5CH3OH (1), the Ni(II) center has a distorted octahedral geometry, with an N3O2 donor set from the [H2tam]- ligand and a coordinated solvent (acetonitrile) occupying the sixth site. The reaction of stoichiometric amounts of H3tam with the Ni(II) ion in the presence of lanthanide(III) ions provides [LnNi2(tam)2]+ cationic complexes which contain coaggregated metal ions. These complexes are isolable and have been characterized by a variety of analytical techniques, with mass spectrometry proving to be particularly diagnostic. The solid-state structures of [LaNi2(tam)2(CH3OH)1/2(CH3CH2OH)1/2(H2O)]ClO4.0.5CH3OH.0.5CH3CH2OH.4H2O (2), [DyNi2(tam)2(CH3OH)(H2O)]ClO4.CH3OH. H2O(6), and [YbNi2(tam)2(H2O)]ClO4.2.58H2O(9) have been determined. Each complex contains two octahedral Ni(II) ions, each of which is encapsulated by the ligand tam3- in an N3O3 coordination sphere; each [Ni(tam)]-unit caps the lanthanide(III) ion via bridging phenoxy oxygen donor atoms. In 2, La3+ is eight-coordinated, while in 6, Dy(III) is seven- (to "weakly eight-") coordinated, and Yb(III) in 9 has a six-coordination environment. The complexes are symmetrically different, 2 possessing C2 symmetry and 6 and 9 having C1 symmetry. Magnetic studies of 2, 6, and 9 indicate that antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the Ni(II) and Ln(III) ions increases with decreasing ionic radius of Ln(III).