Redox chemistry of tantalum clusters on silica characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

SiO(2)-supported clusters of tantalum were synthesized from adsorbed Ta(CH(2)Ph)(5) by treatment in H(2) at 523 K. The surface species were characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES)) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The EXAFS data show that SiO(2)-supported tantalum clusters were characterized by a Ta-Ta coordination number of approximately 2, consistent with the presence of tritantalum clusters, on average. When these were reduced in H(2) and reoxidized in O(2), the cluster nuclearity remained essentially unchanged, although reduction and oxidation occurred, respectively, as shown by XANES and UV-vis spectra; in the reoxidation, the tantalum oxidation state change was approximately two electronic charges per tritantalum cluster. The data demonstrate an analogy between the chemistry of group 5 metals on the SiO(2) support and their chemistry in solution, as determined by the group of Cotton.     

Lanthanide complexes of macrocyclic polyoxovanadates by VO4 units: synthesis, characterization, and structure elucidation by X-ray crystallography and EXAFS spectroscopy

Reactions of a tetravanadate anion, [V(4)O(12)](4-), with a series of lanthanide(III) salts yield three types of lanthanide complexes of macrocyclic polyoxovanadates: (Et(4)N)(6)[Ln(III)V(9)O(27)] [Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3), Gd (4), Tb (5), Dy (6)], (Et(4)N)(5)[(H(2)O)Ho(III)(V(4)O(12))(2)] (7), and (Et(4)N)(7)[Ln(III)V(10)O(30)] [Ln = Er (8), Tm (9), Yb (10), Lu (11)]. Lanthanide complexes 1-11 are isolated and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). Lanthanide complexes 1-6 are composed of a square-antiprism eight-coordinated Ln(III) center with a macrocyclic polyoxovanadate that is constructed from nine VO(4) tetrahedra through vertex sharing. The structure of 7 is composed of a seven-coordinated Ho(III) center, which exhibits a capped trigonal-prism coordination environment by the sandwiching of two cyclic tetravanadates with a capping H(2)O ligand. Lanthanide complexes 8-11 have a six-coordinated Ln(III) center with a 10-membered vanadate ligand. The structural trend to adopt a larger coordination number for a larger lanthanide ion among the three types of structures is accompanied by a change in the vanadate ring sizes. These lanthanide complexes are examined by EXAFS spectroscopies on lanthanide L(III) absorption edges, and the EXAFS oscillations of each of the samples in the solid state and in acetonitrile are identical. The Ln-O and Ln···V bond lengths obtained from fits of the EXAFS data are consistent with the data from the single-crystal X-ray studies, reflecting retention of the structures in acetonitrile.     

Molecular structure of a supported VO4 cluster and its interfacial geometry as a function of the SiO2, Nb2O5, and ZrO2 support

The influence of the support oxide on the molecular structure of a VO(4) cluster and its interfacial geometry has been determined for SiO(2), Nb(2)O(5), and ZrO(2) as supports. Raman, IR, UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance, electron spin resonance, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies were used to characterize the supported vanadium oxide clusters after dehydration. It has been found that for all supports under investigation the vanadium ion is tetrahedral coordinated and consists of one V=O and three V-O bonds. For a VO(4)/SiO(2) catalyst it has been established that only one O neighbor is shared with the SiO(2) support via a V-O(b)-Si(support) bond with an angle of approximately 101 degrees (+/-0.5 degrees ) and a V...Si distance of 2.61 A. The absence of a second vanadium atom in the vicinity of the vanadium oxide cluster further subverts the classical assignment of the 920 cm(-1) Raman band to a V-O-V related vibration. The EXAFS results combined with structural modeling using Cerius(2) software lead to structural constraints, which imply a similar V-O(b)-M(support) interaction for Nb(2)O(5) and ZrO(2) as well. The V-O(b) and the V...M(support) distances depend on the geometry of each support surface. The results show that the classical model with three V-O(b)-M(support) bonds could not be experimentally observed with EXAFS under the applied measuring conditions. Additional experiments with IR and Raman spectroscopy under experimental conditions mimicking those of the EXAFS measurements reveal the presence of V-OH groups, giving further support for the presence of a O=V(OH)(2)-O(b)-M moiety at the support surface.     

Structural characterization of U(VI) surface complexes on kaolinite in the presence of humic acid using EXAFS spectroscopy

To determine the influence of humic acid (HA), pH, and presence of atmospheric CO2 on the sorption of U(VI) onto kaolinite, the structure of the surface complexes was studied by U L III-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The best fits to the experimental EXAFS data were obtained by including two uranium coordination shells with two axial (O ax) and five equatorial (O eq) oxygen atoms at 1.77+/-0.02 and 2.34+/-0.02 A, respectively, and two coordination shells with one Al/Si atom each at 3.1 and 3.3 A. As in the case of the binary system U(VI)-kaolinite, uranium forms inner-sphere surface complexes by edge sharing with aluminum octahedra and/or silicon tetrahedra. HA and atmospheric CO2 as well as pH had no influence on the EXAFS structural parameters in the pH range of 5-8. Despite the presence of HA, U(VI) prefers to sorb directly onto kaolinite and not to HA that is bound to the clay surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements of kaolinite particles that had been exposed to HA suspensions showed that significant parts of the kaolinite surface are not covered by HA.     

In situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure study during selective alcohol oxidation over Pd/Al2O3 in supercritical carbon dioxide

High-pressure in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data are reported during the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in supercritical carbon dioxide over a Pd/Al(2)O(3) catalyst (shell impregnated). For this purpose, a continuous-flow system with a spectroscopic cell suitable for in situ X-ray absorption studies on heterogeneous catalysts up to 200 degrees C and 200 bar has been developed. Due to the high contribution of the dense fluid to the overall X-ray absorption, high stability of the process pressure is mandatory, particularly when recording EXAFS spectra. According to EXAFS and XANES results, the palladium particles were fully reduced after exposure to benzyl alcohol in scCO(2). In contrast to Pd-catalyzed liquid-phase oxidation, a higher oxygen tolerance of the catalyst was observed. Palladium was partially oxidized on the surface under typical reaction conditions (0.9 mol % benzyl alcohol/0.5 mol % O(2) in carbon dioxide), which gradually increased when the concentration of oxygen in the feed was raised. Both XANES and EXAFS data uncovered that palladium is mainly oxidized on the surface or within the outermost layers. These results are in accordance with simulations of the XANES data using the FEFF8.20 code (program for ab initio calculations on multiple scattering XAS) and EXAFS data fitting/simulation.     

Spectroscopic study of the electric field induced valence change of Fe-defect centers in SrTiO3

The electrochemical changes induced by an electric field in Fe-doped SrTiO(3) have been investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Raman spectroscopy. A detailed study of the Fe dopant in the regions around the anode and cathode reveals new insights into the local structure and valence state of Fe in SrTiO(3) single crystals. The ab initio full multiple-scattering XANES calculations give an evidence of the oxygen vacancy presence in the first coordination shell of iron. Differences in the length and disorder of the Fe-O bonds as extracted from EXAFS are correlated to the unequivocal identification of the defect type by complementary spectroscopical techniques to identify the valence state of the Fe-dopant and the presence of the Fe - V(?) complexes. Through this combinatorial approach, novel structural information on Fe - V(?) complexes is provided by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and the relation of Fe-O bond length, doping level and oxidation state in SrTi(1-x)Fe(x)O(3) is briefly discussed.     

Np(IV)/Np(V) valence determinations from Np L3 edge XANES/EXAFS

X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy for in situ metal valence determination has become a powerful analytical tool in heterogeneous systems. This is in part because it is applicable without prior separation procedures. For some systems, however, determining the oxidation state from XANES spectra is not straightforward and caution must be used. We show that the analysis of L3,2 edge EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectra is better suited to distinguish between Np(IV) and Np(V) than from their XANES spectra. Whereas evidence for the oxidation of Np(IV) in solution samples from their Np L3 XANES is unclear, their EXAFS data unequivocally reveals Np(V) formation in the solutions.     

Investigation of Dienophile-TiCl(4) Complexation by Means of X-ray Absorption and (13)C-NMR Spectroscopies

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) techniques, in combination with (13)C-NMR spectroscopy, have been used to study the complexation of methyl acrylate (1), N-acryloylbenzylamine (2), O-acryloyl-(R)-pantolactone (3), methyl N-acryloyl-(S)-prolinate (4), and methyl N-acryloyl-(S)-phenylalaninate (5) with excess TiCl(4) in solution. The results obtained show that TiCl(4) has a great tendency to coordinate with two ester ligands, but this tendency is not so marked with amides, which is related to the greater basicity of the latter. Complexation increases the Ti-Cl bond distance, in comparison with TiCl(4), which is clearly shown by the EXAFS spectra. Chelate complexes are formed with bidentate ligands, but comparison between the EXAFS spectra, obtained with different TiCl(4)/dienophile ratios, shows that chelation is more difficult with methyl N-acryloyl-(S)-phenylalaninate (5).     

Structural study on highly oxidized states of a water oxidation complex [RuIII(bpy)2(H2O)]2(mu-O)4+ by ruthenium K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

The oxidation-induced structural change of a water-oxidizing diruthenium complex, [(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)Ru(III)(micro-O)Ru(III)(OH(2))(bpy)(2)](4+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), was investigated by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Ru K-edge XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) spectra from the acidic solution and solid precipitates obtained by oxidation showed that the absorption edge shifts toward higher energy with a preedge feature slightly more enhanced than those of the lower oxidation states. This indicates that the higher oxidation state has a lower symmetry due to shortening of the Ru-O bonds that originated from the water ligands. The EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) spectra were similar to those of the lower oxidation states, whose analysis revealed the existence of short Ru-O double bonds and an almost linear Ru-O-Ru angle (169 +/- 2 degrees ). Ab initio EXAFS simulations for several possible structural models suggest that the dimeric structure is maintained during the water oxidation reaction.     

Synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of manganese(III) and manganese(V)-oxo corrolazines

The structural and physicochemical properties of the manganese-corrolazine (Cz) complexes (TBP8Cz)Mn(V)O (1) and (TBP8Cz)Mn(III) (2) (TBP = p-tert-butylphenyl) have been determined. Recrystallization of 2 from toluene/MeOH resulted in the crystal structure of (TBP8Cz)Mn(III)(CH3OH) (2 x MeOH). The packing diagram of 2 x MeOH reveals hydrogen bonds between MeOH axial ligands and meso N atoms of adjacent molecules. Solution binding studies of 2 with different axial ligands (Cl-, Et3PO, and Ph3PO) reveal strong binding, corroborating the preference of the Mn(III) ion for a five-coordinate environment. High-frequency and field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy of solid 2 x MeOH shows that 2 x MeOH is best described as a high-spin (S = 2) Mn(III) complex with zero-field splitting parameters typical of corroles. Structural information on 1 was obtained through an X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES)/extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) study and compared to XANES/EXAFS data for 2 x MeOH. The XANES data for 1 shows an intense pre-edge transition characteristic of a high-valent metal-oxo species, and a best fit of the EXAFS data gives a short Mn-O bond distance of 1.56 A, confirming the structure of the metal-oxo unit in 1. Detailed spectroelectrochemical studies of 1 and 2 were performed revealing multiple reversible redox processes for both complexes, including a relatively low potential for the Mn(V) --> Mn(IV) process in 1 (near 0.0 V vs saturated calomel reference electrode). Chemical reduction of 1 results in the formation of a Mn(III)Mn(IV)(mu-O) dimer as characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Electrochemical and complexation behavior of neptunium in aqueous perchlorate and nitrate solutions

Electrochemical and complexation properties of neptunium (Np) are investigated in aqueous perchlorate and nitrate solutions by means of cyclic voltammetry, bulk electrolysis, UV-visible absorption, and Np L(III)-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopies. The redox reactions of Np(III)/Np(IV) and Np(V)/Np(VI) couples are reversible or quasi-reversible, while the electrochemical reaction between Np(III/IV) and Np(V/VI) is irreversible because they undergo structural rearrangement from spherical coordinating ions (Np(3+) and Np(4+)) to transdioxoneptunyl ions (NpO2(n+), n = 1 for Np(V) and 2 for Np(VI)). The redox reaction of the Np(V)/Np(VI) couple involves no structural rearrangement on their equatorial planes in acidic perchlorate and nitrate solutions. A detailed analysis on extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra suggests that Np(IV) forms a decaaquo complex of [Np(H2O)10](4+) in 1.0 M HClO4, while Np(V) and Np(VI) exist dominantly as pentaaquoneptunyl complexes, [NpO2(H2O)5](n+) (n = 1 for Np(V) and 2 for Np(VI)). A systematic change is observed on the Fourier transforms of the EXAFS spectra for all of the Np oxidation states as the nitrate concentration is increased in the sample, revealing that the hydrate water molecules are replaced by bidentate-coordinating nitrate ions on the primary coordination sphere of Np.     

A new structural motif for biological iron: iron K-edge XAS reveals a [Fe4-mu-(OR)5(OR)(9-10)] cluster in the ascidian Perophora annectens

The Phlebobranch ascidian Perophora annectens surprisingly exhibited a biological Fe/V ratio of approximately 15:1 on multichannel X-ray fluorescence analysis of two independent collections of organisms. Iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicated a single form of iron. The XAS K-edge of the first collection of blood cells was shifted approximately +1 eV relative to that of the second, indicating redox activity with average iron oxidation states of 2.67+ and 2.60+. The first-derivative iron XAS K-edge features at 7120.5, 7124, and 7128 eV resembled the XAS of magnetite but not of ferritin or of dissolved Fe(II) or Fe(III). Pseudo-Voigt fits to blood-cell iron K-edge XAS spectra yielded 12.4 integrated units of preedge intensity, indicating a noncentrosymmetric environment. The non-phase-corrected extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) Fourier transform spectrum showed a first-shell O/N peak at 1.55 angstroms and an intense Fe-Fe feature at 2.65 angstroms. Fits to the EXAFS required a split first shell with two O at 1.93 angstroms and three O at 2.07 angstroms, consistent with terminal and bridging alkoxide ligands, respectively. More distant shells included three C at 2.87 angstroms, two Fe at 3.08 angstroms, three O at 3.29 angstroms, and one Fe at 3.8 angstroms. Structural models consistent with these findings include a [Fe4(OR)13](2-/3-) broken-edged Fe4O5 cuboid or a [Fe4(OR)14](3-/4-) "Jacob's ladder" with three edge-fused Fe2(OR)2 rhombs. Either of these models represents an entirely new structural motif for biological iron. Vanadium domination of blood-cell metals cannot be a defining trait of Phlebobranch tunicates so long as P. annectens is included among them.     

An EXAFS and TRLFS investigation on uranium(VI) sorption to pristine and leached albite surfaces

Uranium(VI) was sorbed to freshly ground and leached albite in batch and flow-through systems in the pH range 5.0-6.4. The uranium(VI) surface complexes were studied by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The EXAFS analysis of uranium(VI) sorbed on albite at pH 5.8 and 5 x 10(-6) M U(VI) showed one silicon atom at a USi distance of 3.09 A, which is indicative of the formation of an inner-sphere, mononuclear, bidentate uranium(VI) surface complex, Si(O)2UO2, on the silicate tetrahedra of albite. Two additional uranium(VI) sorption complexes were detected by TRLFS at higher initial aqueous U(VI) concentrations. However, the structure of these surface complexes could not be derived from EXAFS, since the measured EXAFS spectra represent the average of two surface complex structures. In order to simulate U(VI) sorption onto weathered feldspar surfaces, albite was leached with 0.01 M HClO4, resulting in surface material similar to amorphous silica gel. EXAFS showed that the equatorial oxygen shell of uranium(VI) sorbed on this material at pH 5.0 and 5.8 was split in two distances of 2.23 and 2.44 A. This indicates the formation of an inner-sphere surface complex.     

X-ray absorption, photoemission spectroscopy, and Raman scattering analysis of amorphous tantalum oxide with a large extent of oxygen nonstoichiometry

The electronic structure and modification of the local interatomic structure of a reactive sputtered amorphous tantalum oxide (a-TaO(x)) thin film with the variation of oxygen nonstoichiometry, x in a-TaO(x) have been investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), Raman scattering spectroscopy, and Rutherford back scattering spectroscopy. A parallel chemical shift of Ta4f(7/2) and O1s core levels observed with the variation of x indicates the Fermi level shift by reduction and oxidation in the framework of the rigid band model. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) suggests both the increase of average coordination number of the first Ta-O shell in polyhedra and a considerable reduction of the average Ta-O bond length with the increase of x. The relative intensity of Raman shift peaks at 670 cm(-1) and 815 cm(-1), corresponding to Ta-O stretching of TaO(6) octahedra and TaO(5) probably with a pyramidal form, respectively, drastically changes between x = 2.47 to 1.86, suggesting the change in the predominant polyhedron from TaO(6) to TaO(5) with a modification in multiplicity of oxygen by the reorganization of the polyhedral network.     

Chiral self-dimerization of vanadium complexes on a SiO2 surface for asymmetric catalytic coupling of 2-naphthol: structure, performance, and mechanism

Vanadium monomers with chiral tridentate Schiff-base ligands were supported on SiO(2) through a chemical reaction with surface silanols, where we found a new chirality creation by the self-dimerization of the vanadyl complexes on the surface. The chiral self-dimerization and the role of surface silanols in the self-assembly were investigated by means of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), diffuse-reflectance ultraviolet/visible (DR-UV/VIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), electron spin resonance (ESR), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The surface vanadyl complexes had a distorted square-pyramidal conformation with a V=O bond. FT-IR spectra revealed that the Ph-O moiety of Schiff-base ligands was converted to Ph-OH by a surface-concerted reaction between the vanadium precursors and surface SiOH groups. The Ph-OH in an attached vanadyl complex interacted with a COO moiety of another vanadyl complex by hydrogen bonding to form a self-dimerized structure at the surface. The interatomic distance of V-V in the surface self-assembly was evaluated to be 0.40 +/- 0.05 nm by ESR after O(2) adsorption. The self-dimerized V structure on SiO(2) was modeled by DFT calculations, which demonstrated that two vanadium monomers with Ph-OH linked together by two hydrogen bonds and their V=O groups were directed opposite to each other. The surface self-dimerization of the vanadium precursors fixes the direction of the V=O bond and the plane of the Schiff-base ligand. Thus, a new chiral reaction field was created by two types of chirality: the chiral Schiff-base ligand and the chiral V center. We have also found that the chiral self-dimerized vanadyl complexes exhibit remarkable catalytic performance for the asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol: 96% conversion, 100% selectivity to 1,1'-binaphthol (BINOL), and 90% enantiomeric excess (ee). Increasing the vanadium loading on SiO(2) caused a dramatic swell of enantioselectivity, and the maximum 90% ee was observed on the supported catalyst with the full coverage of the vanadyl complex (3.4 wt % vanadium). This value is equivalent to the maximum ee reported in homogeneous catalysis for the coupling reaction. Furthermore, the supported vanadium dimers were reusable without loss of the catalytic performance. To our knowledge, this is the first heterogeneous catalyst for the asymmetric oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol.     

Determination of CoSi2 self-aligned nanostructures with grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Self-aligned nanostructures (SAN) made by reacting Co nanoparticles with crystalline Si substrates at high temperatures were studied with grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy (GI-XAS). The results from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) were used to identify SAN as crystalline CoSi2. Theoretical calculations of EXAFS and XANES spectra of several crystalline cobalt silicides were performed with the FEFF8 package. On the basis of these studies, the SAN samples were determined to contain nearly pure CoSi2.     

Cobalt(II) octacyanotungstate(V) organic-inorganic hybrid ferromagnetic materials with pyrazine and 4,4'-bipyridine

Two new ferromagnetic organic-inorganic hybrid materials [Co(II)3(H2O)6(pyz)3[W(V)(CN)8]2].3.5H2O (1) and [Co(II)3(H2O)4(4,4'-bpy)3[W(V)(CN)8]2].1.5(4,4'-bpy).6H2O (2) have been synthesised and characterised. The structure of the compounds have been investigated combining EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure), ES-MS (electrospray mass spectrometry), IR (infrared spectroscopy), UV-VIS electronic spectroscopy and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) coupled with QMS (quadrupole mass spectrometer) experiments. The studies reveal that both compounds consist of Co(II)-NC-W(V) and Co(II)-L-Co(II) linkages (L = pyrazine (1) or 4,4-bipyridine (2)). Both networks are created by cyano-bridged Co(II)3W(V)2 chains joined by organic linkers into a 2D architecture. A difference of cobalt coordination numbers in both compounds derived from EXAFS study is consistent with the ES-MS conclusion. The ac magnetic characterisation exhibits the transition to the ferromagnetic phase at T(C) = 26 K (1) and to the spin glass-like phase at T(G) = 16 K (2). The frequency dependent chi'(T) and chi'(T) signals indicate the presence of some disorder in spin alignment below ordering temperatures. Both networks are also characterised a by magnetic hysteresis loop of coercive field H(c) = 750 Oe (1) and 1200 Oe (2) at T = 4.2 K.     

X-ray absorption study of the solvation structure of Cu2+ in methanol and dimethyl sulfoxide

The solvation structure of Cu(2+) in methanol (MeOH) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been determined by studying both the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) regions of the K-edge absorption spectra. The EXAFS technique has been found to provide a very accurate determination of the next-neighbor coordination distances, but it is inconclusive in the determination of the coordination numbers and polyhedral environment. Conversely, quantitative analysis of the XANES spectra unambiguously shows the presence of an average 5-fold coordination in both the MeOH and DMSO solution, ruling out the usually proposed octahedral Jahn-Teller distorted geometry. The EXAFS and XANES techniques provide coherent values of the Cu-O first-shell distances that are coincident in the two solvents. This investigation shows that the combined analysis of the EXAFS and XANES data allows a reliable determination of the structural properties of electrolyte solutions, which is very difficult to achieve with other experimental techniques.     

Hydration of the calcium ion. An EXAFS, large-angle x-ray scattering, and molecular dynamics simulation study.

The structure of the hydrated calcium(II) ion in aqueous solution has been studied by means of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), large-angle X-ray scattering (LAXS), and molecular dynamics (MD) methods. The EXAFS data displayed a broad and asymmetric distribution of the Ca-O bond distances with the centroid at 2.46(2) A. LAXS studies on four aqueous calcium halide solutions (1.5-2 mol dm(-)(3)) gave a mean Ca-O bond distance of 2.46(1) A. This is consistent with a hydration number of 8 determined from correlations between mean distances and coordination numbers from crystal structures. The LAXS studies showed a second coordination sphere with a mean Ca.O(II) distance of 4.58(5) A, and for the hydrated halide ions the distances Cl.O 3.25(1) A, Br.O 3.36(1) A, and I.O 3.61(1) A were obtained. Molecular dynamics simulations of CaCl(2)(aq) were performed using three different Ca(2+)-OH(2) pair potentials. The potential from the GROMOS program gave results in agreement with experiments, i.e., a coordination number of 8 and an average Ca-O distance of 2.46 A, and was used for further comparisons. Theoretical EXAFS oscillations were computed for individual MD snapshots and showed very large variations, though the simulated average spectrum from 2000 snapshots gave satisfactory agreement with the experimental EXAFS spectra. The effect of thermal motions of the coordinated atoms is inherent in the MD simulation method. Thermal disorder parameters evaluated from simulated spatial atom distribution functions of the oxygen atoms coordinated to the calcium ion were in close agreement with those from the current LAXS and EXAFS analyses. The combined results are consistent with a root-mean-square displacement from the mean Ca-O distance of 0.09(2) A in aqueous solution at 300 K.     

Determination by X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the Fe-Fe separation in the oxidized form of the hydroxylase of methane monooxygenase alone and in the presence of MMOD

The diiron active site in the hydroxylase of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) methane monooxygenase (MMOH) has been studied in the oxidized form by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Previous investigations by XAS and X-ray crystallography have identified two different distances (3.0 and 3.4 angstroms) between the two Fe atoms in the dinuclear site. The present study has employed a systematic extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) fitting methodology, utilizing known and simulated active site and relevant model structures, to determine unambiguously the Fe-Fe separation in the oxidized form of MMOH. Consistent and unique fits were only possible for an Fe-Fe distance of 3.0 angstroms. This methodology was then applied to study potential changes in the active site local structure in the presence of MMOD, a protein of unknown function in multicomponent MMO. Fe K-edge and EXAFS analyses revealed negligible changes in the diiron site electronic and geometric structure upon addition of MMOD to oxidized MMOH.