Binding of pertechnetate to uranyl(VI) in aqueous solution. A density functional theory molecular dynamics study

According to constrained Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic integration, the free binding energy between uranyl hydrate and pertechnetate in aqueous solution is significantly lower than that between uranyl and nitrate, namely, by 1.7 kcal mol(-1). This is the first study of the differential binding of these two ligands to uranyl, which can have implications for the separability of uranium and technetium during the reprocessing of nuclear waste.     

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).     

Effect of hydration on coordination properties of uranyl(VI) complexes. A first-principles molecular dynamics study

Results from Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations are reported for [UO2(OH2)5]2+, UO2(NO3)2(OH2)2, and UO2(NO3)2(eta2-tmma) (tmma = tetramethylmalonamide) in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. The distances between uranyl and neutral ligands such as water and tmma are decreased by up to 0.2 angstroms upon hydration, whereas those between uranyl and the nitrate ion are increased by up to 0.08 angstroms. According to pointwise thermodynamic integration involving constrained molecular dynamics simulations, solvation facilitates the transition of the chelating nitrate ligand to a eta1-bonding mode: the free energy of UO2(eta2-NO3)(eta1-NO3)(OH2)2 relative to the bis-chelating minimum drops from 3.9 kcal/mol in vacuo to 1.4 kcal/mol in water. Optimizations in a polarizable continuum (specifically, the conductor-like screening model in conjunction with the zero-order regular approximation and triple-zeta Slater basis sets) can qualitatively reproduce the geometrical changes from explicit hydration.     

Coordination mode of nitrate in uranyl(VI) complexes: a first-principles molecular dynamics study

According to Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations for [UO(2)(NO(3))(3)](-), [UO(2)(NO(3))(4)](2-), and [UO(2)(OH(2))(4-)(NO(3))](+) complexes in the gas phase and in aqueous solution, the nitrate coordination mode to uranyl depends on the interplay between ligand-metal attractions, interligand repulsions, and solvation. In the trinitrate, the eta(2)-coordination is clearly favored in water and in the gas phase, leading to a coordination number (CN) of 6. According to pointwise thermodynamic integration involving constrained molecular dynamics simulations, a change in free energy of +6 kcal/mol is predicted for eta(2)- to eta(1)-transition of one of the three nitrate ligands in the gas phase. In the gas phase, the mononitrate-hydrate complex also prefers a eta(2)-binding mode but with a CN of 5, one H(2)O molecule being in the second shell. This contrasts with the aqueous solution where the nitrate binds in a eta(1)-fashion and uranyl coordinates to four H2O ligands. A driving force of ca. -3 kcal/mol is predicted for the eta(2)- to eta(1)- transition in water. This structural preference is interpreted in terms of steric arguments and differential solvation of terminal vs uranyl-coordinated O atoms of the nitrate ligands. The [UO(2)(NO(3))(4)](2-) complex with two eta(2)- and two eta(1)- coordinated nitrates, observed in the solid state, is stable for 1-2 ps in the gas phase and in solution. In the studied series, the modulation of uranyl-ligand distances upon immersion of the complex in water is found to depend on the nature of the ligand and the composition of the complex.     

Ab initio study of the mechanism for photoinduced Yl-oxygen exchange in uranyl(VI) in acidic aqueous solution

The mechanism for the photochemically induced isotope-exchange reaction U(17/18)O2(2+)(aq) + H2(16)O <==> U(16)O2(2+)(aq) + H2(17/18)O has been studied using quantum-chemical methods. There is a dense manifold of states between 22,000 and 54,000 cm(-1) that results from excitations from the sigma(u) and pi(u) bonding orbitals in the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state to the nonbonding f(delta) and f(phi) orbitals localized on uranium. On the basis of investigations of the reaction profile in the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state and the excited states (3)Delta(g) (the lowest triplet state) and (3)Gamma(g) (one of the several higher triplet states), the latter two of which have the electron configurations sigma(u)f(delta) and pi(u)f(phi), respectively, we suggest that the isotope exchange takes place in one of the higher triplet states, of which the (3)Gamma(g) state was used as a representative. The geometries of the luminescent (3)Delta(g) state, the lowest in the sigma(u)f(delta,phi) manifold (the "sigma" states), and the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state are very similar, except that the bond distances are slightly longer in the former. This is presumably a result of transfer of a bonding electron to a nonbonding f orbital, which makes the excited state in some respects similar to uranyl(V). As is the case for all of the states of the pi(u)f(delta,phi) manifold (the "pi" states), the geometry of the (3)Gamma(g) state is very different from that of the (3)Delta(g) "sigma" state and has nonequivalent U-O(yl) distances of 1.982 and 1.763 A; in the (3)Gamma(g) state, the yl-exchange takes place by transfer of a proton or hydrogen from water to the more distant yl-oxygen. The activation barriers for proton/hydrogen transfer in the ground state and the (3)Delta(g) and (3)Gamma(g) states are 186, 219, and 84 kJ/mol, respectively. The relaxation energy for the (3)Gamma(g) state in the solvent after photoexcitation is -86 kJ/mol, indicating that the energy barrier can be overcome; the "pi" states are therefore the most probable route for proton/hydrogen transfer. They can be populated after UV irradiation but are too high in energy (approximately 36,000-40,000 cm(-1)) to be reached by a single-photon absorption at 436 nm (22,900 cm(-1)), where experimental data have demonstrated that exchange can take place. Okuyama et al. [Bull. Res. Lab. Nucl. React. (Tokyo Inst. Technol.) 1978, 3, 39-50] have demonstrated that an intermediate is formed when an acidic solution of UO2(2+)(aq) is flash-photolyzed in the UV range. The absorption spectrum of this short-lived intermediate (which has a maximum at 560 nm) indicates that this species arises from 436 nm excitation of the luminescent (3)Delta(g) state (which has a lifetime of approximately 2 x 10(-6) s); this is sufficient to reach the reactive "pi" states. It has been speculated that the primary reaction in acidic solutions of UO2(2+)(aq) is the formation of a uranyl(V) species; our results indicate that the structure in the luminescent state has some similarity to that of UO2(+) but that the reactive species in the "pi" states is a cation radical with a distinctly different structure.     

A density functional study of uranyl monocarboxylates

We studied uranium(VI) monocarboxylate complexes by a relativistic density functional method using simple carboxylic acids as ligands, i.e. [UO2(OOCR)]+ (R = H, CH3, CH2CH3). These complexes exist in aqueous solution and, for R = CH3 and CH2CH3, may also be considered as models of uranyl complexated by humic substances. We investigated mono- and bidentate coordination modes. Short-range solvent effects were accounted for explicitly via aqua ligands of the first hydration shell and long-range electrostatic interactions were described via a polarizable continuum model. The calculated results for the uranyl U=O bond, the bond to aqua ligands, and the averaged uranium distances to equatorial oxygen atoms, U-Oeq, agreed quite well with EXAFS-derived interatomic distances. However, the uranyl-carboxylate bond was calculated to be notably shorter than the experimentally determined value. Experimental differences between mono- and bidentate coordination, obtained mainly from crystal structures, were qualitatively reproduced for the U-C distance but not for the average bond length, U-Oeq. We discuss these discrepancies between calculated and experimental results in some detail and suggest changes in the coordination number rather than variations of the coordination geometry as the main source of the experimentally observed variation of the U-Oeq distance.     

Water exchange dynamics of lithium(I) ion in aqueous solution

The water exchange dynamics of the fourfold coordinated first hydration shell of the lithium(I) ion was studied by both direct and umbrella sampling QM/MM-MD and classical MD simulations. The structural changes and energetics accompanying the activation process are discussed. The overall exchange rate constant was found to be k(ex) = 5.8 x 10(9) s(-1) from classical MD simulations. QM/MM-MD umbrella sampling simulations predict an exchange rate constant of k(TST) = 1.01 x 10(10) s(-1) as obtained from classical transition-state theory. First-shell ligands exchange preferably via an associatively activated mode.     

Aqueous coordination chemistry and photochemistry of uranyl(VI) oxalate revisited: a density functional theory study

Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we revisited a classical problem of uranyl(VI) oxalate photochemical decomposition. Photoreactivities of uranyl(VI) oxalate complexes are found to correlate largely with ligand-structural arrangements. Importantly, the intramolecular photochemical reaction is inhibited when oxalate is bound to uranium exclusively in chelate binding mode. Previously proposed mechanisms involving a UO(2)(C(2)O(4))(2)(2-) (1:2) complex as the main photoreactive species are thus unlikely to apply, because the two oxalic acids are bound to uranium in a chelating binding mode. Our DFT results suggest that the relevant photoreactive species are UO(2)(C(2)O(4))(3)(4-) (1:3) and (UO(2))(2)(C(2)O(4))(5)(6-) (2:5) complexes binding uranium in an unidentate fashion. These species go through decarboxylation upon excitation to the triplet state, which ensues the release of CO(2) and reduction of U(vi) to U(v). The calculations also suggest an alternative intermolecular pathway at low pH via an electron transfer between the excited state *UO(2)(2+) and hydrogen oxalate (HC(2)O(4)(-)) which eventually leads to the production of CO and OH(-) with no net reduction of U(VI). The calculated results are consistent with previous experimental findings that CO is only detected at low pH while U(IV) is detected only at high pH.     

Coordination of uranyl(VI) carbonate species in aqueous solutions

There are very few examples in nature for U(VI) compounds with carbonate ligands other than the well known tricarbonates. Especially examples of U(VI) dicarbonato compounds are nearly completely missing. Even in aqueous solutions, the dicarbonato complex was found as a species of minorimportance only. On the basis of structural data on the ligands H₂O and carbonate as well as the available data on U(VI) coordination compounds, steric requirements of equatorial coordination are studied for aqueous solution species. A pentagonally coordinated monocarbonato species [UO₂CO₃(H₂O)₃] is found as the most likely coordination. For the dicarbonato species, hexagonally coordinated [UO₂(CO₃)₂(H₂O)₂] with D_2h symmetry is found as most probable structure. Possible causes of the instability of U(VI) dicarbonato species are discussed.     

A Raman spectroscopy study of hydroxo and carbonato species of the uranyl (VI) ion

The Raman spectra of a number of uranyl species in carbonate and alkaline solutions have been obtained as well as those of solids obtained from carbonate media. The frequency of the UO₂−ν₁ symmetric stretching vibration of these species can be used to complement evidence derived by other means in their identification. Thus, the existence of uranyl hemicarbonate, (UO₂)₂CO₃(OH)₃⁻, has been demonstrated as well as that of anionic hydroxo species, such as UO₂(OH)₄²⁻. The conversion of UO₂(CO)₃²⁻ into UO₂(CO₃)₃⁴⁻ by addition of HCO₃⁻ was followed by Raman spectroscopy and ¹³C NMR. Solid solutions with compositions within that of UO₂CO₃ and sodium uranate have been detected. A correlation was observed between the ν₁ frequency and the number and nature of the ligands surrounding the uranyl ion.     

The oxo exchange reaction mechanism of americyl(VI): a density functional theory study

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - This work concerned the oxo exchange of americyl(VI) ([AmO2]2+) in alkaline solution by means of B3LYP calculations. Four possible reaction...     

Comparative study of uranyl(VI) and -(V) carbonato complexes in an aqueous solution

Electrochemical, complexation, and electronic properties of uranyl(VI) and -(V) carbonato complexes in an aqueous Na2CO3 solution have been investigated to define the appropriate conditions for preparing pure uranyl(V) samples and to understand the difference in coordination character between UO22+ and UO2+. Cyclic voltammetry using three different working electrodes of platinum, gold, and glassy carbon has suggested that the electrochemical reaction of uranyl(VI) carbonate species proceeds quasi-reversibly. Electrolysis of UO22+ has been performed in Na2CO3 solutions of more than 0.8 M with a limited pH range of 11.7 < pH < 12.0 using a platinum mesh electrode. It produces a high purity of the uranyl(V) carbonate solution, which has been confirmed to be stable for at least 2 weeks in a sealed glass cuvette. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements revealed the structural arrangement of uranyl(VI) and -(V) tricarbonato complexes, [UO2(CO3)3]n- [n = 4 for uranyl(VI), 5 for uranyl(V)]. The bond distances of U-Oax, U-Oeq, U-C, and U-Odist are determined to be 1.81, 2.44, 2.92, and 4.17 A for the uranyl(VI) complex and 1.91, 2.50, 2.93, and 4.23 A for the uranyl(V) complex, respectively. The validity of the structural parameters obtained from EXAFS has been supported by quantum chemical calculations for the uranyl(VI) complex. The uranium LI- and LIII-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra have been interpreted in terms of electron transitions and multiple-scattering features.     

Supermolecule density functional calculations on the water exchange of aquated Al(III) species in aqueous solution

Supermolecule density functional calculations suggest the dissociative (D) mechanism for the water exchange of aquated Al(iii) species in aqueous solution and the calculated results agree well with experimental data.     

Electrochemical behaivour of uranyl(VI) ion in different non-aqueous solvents

The electrochemical reduction of uranyl(VI) ion at platinum and/or mercury microelectrodes has been studied in different non-aqueous media by voltammetric techniques (cyclic voltammetry, de voltammetry at elactrodes with periodical renewal of diffusion layer, chronoamperometry, controlled-potential coulometry). Reproducible voltammetric responses have been obtained in dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetic anhydride, pyridine, morpholine and ethylenediamine solvents. The mechanistic aspects involved have been studied. the solvation process of uranyl(VI) ion in the various solvents has been discussed in terms of dependence of the redox potential for the U(VI)/U(V) couple on the electron—pair donor properties of the solvents.     

A density functional theory study of uranium(VI) nitrate monoamide complexes

Density functional theory calculations were performed on uranyl complexed with nitrate and monoamide ligands (L) [UO(2)(NO(3))(2)·2L]. The obtained results show that the complex stability is mainly governed by two factors: (i) the maximization of the polarizability of the coordinating ligand and (ii) the minimization of the steric hindrance effects. Furthermore, the electrostatic interaction between ligands and uranium(vi) was found to be a crucial parameter for the complex stability. These results pave the way to the definition of (quantitative) property/structure relationships for the in silico screening of monoamide ligands with improved extraction efficiency of uranium(vi) in nitrate acidic solution.     

Theoretical investigation of the energies and geometries of photoexcited uranyl(VI) ion: a comparison between wave-function theory and density functional theory

In order to assess the accuracy of wave-function and density functional theory (DFT) based methods for excited states of the uranyl(VI) UO2(2+) molecule excitation energies and geometries of states originating from excitation from the sigma(u), sigma(g), pi(u), and pi(g) orbitals to the nonbonding 5f(delta) and 5f(phi) have been calculated with different methods. The investigation included linear-response CCSD (LR-CCSD), multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASSCFCASPT2), size-extensivity corrected multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) and AQCC, and the DFT based methods time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) with different functionals and the hybrid DFTMRCI method. Excellent agreement between all nonperturbative wave-function based methods was obtained. CASPT2 does not give energies in agreement with the nonperturbative wave-function based methods, and neither does TD-DFT, in particular, for the higher excitations. The CAM-B3LYP functional, which has a corrected asymptotic behavior, improves the accuracy especially in the higher region of the electronic spectrum. The hybrid DFTMRCI method performs better than TD-DFT, again compared to the nonperturbative wave-function based results. However, TD-DFT, with common functionals such as B3LYP, yields acceptable geometries and relaxation energies for all excited states compared to LR-CCSD. The structure of excited states corresponding to excitation out of the highest occupied sigma(u) orbital are symmetric while that arising from excitations out of the pi(u) orbitals have asymmetric structures. The distant oxygen atom acquires a radical character and likely becomes a strong proton acceptor. These electronic states may play an important role in photoinduced proton exchange with a water molecule of the aqueous environment.     

Extraction of uranyl(VI) ion with N,N-dibutyldodecanamide in toluene

The extraction of U(VI) with newly synthesized long chain alkyl amide, N,N-dibutyldodecanamide (DBDA), in toluene has been studied. The dependence of the extraction on nitric acid and DBDA concentrations and temperature from nitric acid solution has been considered. The extracted species has also been investigated using FT-IR spectrometry. The related thermodynamic functions were calculated. The separation factor between U(VI) and Th(IV) is higher and there is no third phase formation under the conditions studied.     

Aqueous uranyl complexes. 3. Potentiometric measurements of the hydrolysis of uranyl(VI) ion at 25°C

Potentiometric titrations of uranyl(VI) solutions were conducted using a standard glasslcalomel electrode combination over the pH range 3 to 12 at 0.1 molkg^–1 ionic strength with tetramethylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate as the supporting electrolyte. The electrodes were calibrated directly on the hydrogen ion concentration scale during the initial stage of each titration. The species, UO ₂ ²⁺ , (UO₂)₂(OH) ₂ ²⁺ , (UO₂)₃(OH) ₅ ⁺ , (UO₂)₃(OH) ₇ ^– , (UO₂)₃(OH) ₈ ^2– , and (UO₂)₃(OH) ₁₀ ^4– identified in an earlier Raman study were compatible with the analysis of the titration data. Based on this analysis and application of the extended Debye-Hückel treatment, the polynuclear species indicated above were assigned overall formation constants at 25°C and at infinite dilution of –5.51±0.04, –15.3±0.1, –27.77±0.09, –37.65±0.14, and –62.4±0.3, respectively. The results are discussed in reference to hydrolysis quotients reported in the literature for the first three species. Formation quotients for the last two species have not been reported previously.     

Speciation and coordination chemistry of uranyl(VI)-citrate complexes in aqueous solution

The pH dependence of uranyl(VI) complexation by citric acid was investigated using Raman and attenuated total reflection FTIR spectroscopies and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. pH-dependent changes in the nu(s)(UO(2)) envelope indicate that three major UO(2)(2+)-citrate complexes with progressively increasing U=O bond lengths are present over a range of pH from 2.0 to 9.5. The first species, which is the predominant form of uranyl(VI) from pH 3.0 to 5.0, contains two UO(2)(2+) groups in spectroscopically equivalent coordination environments and corresponds to the [(UO(2))(2)Cit(2)](2)(-) complex known to exist in this pH range. At pH values >6.5, [(UO(2))(2)Cit(2)](2)(-) undergoes an interconversion to form [(UO(2))(3)Cit(3)](3)(-) and (UO(2))(3)Cit(2). ESI-MS studies on solutions of varying uranyl(VI)/citrate ratios, pH, and solution counteranion were successfully used to confirm complex stoichiometries. Uranyl and citrate concentrations investigated ranged from 0.50 to 50 mM.     

Nuclear magnetic shielding of the 113Cd(II) ion in aqua solution: a combined molecular dynamics/density functional theory study

We present a combined molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory investigation of the nuclear magnetic shielding constant of the (113)Cd(II) ion solvated in aqueous solution. Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out for the cadmium-water system in order to produce instantaneous geometries for subsequent determination of the nuclear magnetic shielding constant at the density functional theory level. The nuclear magnetic shielding constant is computed using a perturbation theory formalism, which includes nonrelativistic and leading order relativistic contributions to the nuclear magnetic shielding tensor. Although the NMR shielding constant varies significantly with respect to simulation time, the value averaged over increasing number of snapshots remains almost constant. The paramagnetic nonrelativistic contribution is found to be most sensitive to dynamical changes in the system and is mainly responsible for the thermal and solvent effects in solution. The relativistic correction features very little sensitivity to the chemical environment, and can be disregarded in theoretical calculations when a Cd complex is used as reference compound in (113)Cd NMR experiments, due to the mutual cancelation between individual relativistic corrections.