The potential and challenges of elemental speciation by capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electrospray or ion spray mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) and electrospray (ES) or ion spray (IS) mass spectrometry (MS) are recently introduced techniques for elemental speciation. Both techniques have the potential for rapid elemental speciation with low detection limits. Examples of the use of CE-ICP-MS for elemental speciation of positive, neutral and negative species are discussed. Issues in interfacing CE and ICP-MS are considered briefly. The potential advantages and disadvantages of laminar flow in CE-ICP-MS are examined. Potential difficulties in CE-ICP-MS including loss of sample, chemical matrix effects and changes in speciation during separation are discussed. The interpretation of ES or IS-MS spectra and analysis of complex mixtures are considered. Calibration and chemical matrix effects are assessed. Potential pitfalls of interpreting bare metal ion spectra as elemental analysis are discussed. The need for fundamental understanding of the processes that control ES and IS-MS signals is examined. High conductivity samples currently present difficulties for CE-ICP-MS or ES and IS-MS.     

Complexation studies with lanthanides and humic acid analyzed by ultrafiltration and capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

For the long-term storage of radioactive waste, detailed information about geo-chemical behavior of radioactive and toxic metal ions under environmental conditions is necessary. Humic acid (HA) can play an important role in the immobilisation or mobilisation of metal ions due to complexation and colloid formation. Therefore, we investigate the complexation behavior of HA and its influence on the migration or retardation of selected lanthanides (europium and gadolinium as homologues of the actinides americium and curium). Two independent speciation techniques, ultrafiltration and capillary electrophoresis coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) have been compared for the study of Eu and Gd interaction with (purified Aldrich) HA. The degree of complexation of Eu and Gd in 25 mg l(-1) Aldrich HA solutions was determined with a broad range of metal loading (Eu and Gd total concentration between 10(-6) and 10(-4) mol l(-1)), ionic strength of 10 mM (NaClO4) and different pH-values. From the CE-ICP-MS electropherograms, additional information on the charge of the Eu species was obtained by the use of 1-bromopropane as neutral marker. To detect HA in the ICP-MS and separate between HA complexed and non complexed metal ions in the CE-ICP-MS, we have halogenated the HA with iodine as ICP-MS marker.     

Metal ion binding modes of hypoxanthine and xanthine versus the versatile behaviour of adenine

The metal coordination patterns of hypoxanthine, xanthine and related oxy-purines have been reviewed on the basis of the structural information available in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), including also the most recent reports founded in SciFinder. Attention is paid to the metal ion binding modes and interligand interactions in mixed-ligand metal complexes, as well as the possibilities of metal binding of the exocyclic-O atoms. The information in CSD is also reviewed for the complexes of adenine in cationic, neutral and anionic forms with every metal ion. In contrast to the scarce structural information about hypoxanthine and related complexes, large structural information is available for adenine complexes with a variety of metals that reveals some correlations between the crystal–chemical properties of metal ions. Three aspects are studied in deep: the coordination patterns, the interligand interactions influencing the molecular recognition in mixed-ligand metal complexes and the connectivity between metals for different adenine species, thus supporting its unique versatility as ligand. When possible, the overall behaviour showed by adenine metal complexes is discussed according to the HSAB Pearson criteria and the tautomeric behaviour observed for each protonated species of adenine. The differences between the roles of adenine and the referred oxypurines ligands are underlined.     

Disequilibrium effects in metal speciation by capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS); theory, simulations and experiments

A theoretical-experimental approach to evaluate disequilibrium effects in capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) is presented. Electrophoresis requires metal ligand (ML) complexes to be stable on the time scale of separation and detection. By expressing ML complex stability in terms of half-life during a CE separation, an evaluation of separation artifacts can be made. Kinetically slow metals like Cr, Al or Fe form complexes that are stable on the time scale of electrophoretic separations. Kinetically fast metals, like Pb, Hg, Cu, Cd and REE, however tend to form labile complexes which unless complexed by strong chelators will dissociate during CE separations. A reactive transport simulation model of CE separations involving ML complexes allows a more detailed prediction of disequilibrium bias and identifies kinetically limited from mobility-limited types of dissociation. Complementary experimental results are given for kinetic and equilibrium binding experiments of Sm with humic acid. The equilibrium logK for Sm-Leonardite humic acid (HA) binding at pH 7 and 0.01 mol L(-1) ionic strength was determined to be 13.04. Kinetic rates of formation and dissociation for SmHA were 5.9 10(8) and 5.3 10(-5) mol s(-1).     

Hyphenated techniques for the characterization and quantification of metallothionein isoforms

Recent developments in the coupling of highly selective separation techniques such as capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to element-specific and molecule-specific detectors, such as inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) for the characterization and quantification of metallothioneins (MTs) are critically reviewed and discussed. This review gives an update based on the literature over the last five years. The coupling of CE to ICP-MS is especially highlighted. As a result of progress in new interface technologies for CE-ICP-MS, research topics presented in the literature are changing from "the characterization of interfaces by metallothioneins" to the "characterization of metallothioneins by CE-ICP-MS". New applications of CE-ICP-MS to the analysis of MTs in real samples are summarized. The potential of the on-line isotope dilution technique for the quantification of MTs and for the determination of the stoichiometric composition of metalloprotein complexes is discussed. Furthermore, a selection of relevant papers dealing with HPLC-ICP-MS for MT analysis are summarized and compared to those dealing with CE-ICP-MS. In particular, the use of size-exclusion (SE)-HPLC as a preliminary separation step for metallothioneins in real samples prior to further chromatographic or electrophoretic separations is considered. Additionally, the application of electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) for the identification of metallothionein isoforms following electrophoretic or chromatographic separation is discussed.     

Visible absorption spectra of metal-catecholate and metal-tironate complexes

Interactions between metals and catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) or other ortho-dihydroxy moieties are being found in an increasing number of biological systems with functions ranging from metal ion internalization to biomaterial synthesis. Although metal-catecholate interactions have been studied in the past, we present the first systematic study of an array of these compounds, all prepared under identical conditions. We report the ultraviolet-visible absorption (UV-vis) spectra for catecholate and tironate complexes of the first row transition elements. Generation and identification of these species were accomplished by preparing aqueous solutions with varied ligand:metal ratios and subsequently titrating with base (NaOH). Controlled ligand deprotonation and metal binding resulted in sequential formation of complexes with one, two, and sometimes three catecholate or tironate ligands bound to a metal ion. We prepared the mono-, bis- and tris-catecholates and -tironates of Fe(3+), V(3+), V(4+)and Mn(3+), the mono- and bis-catecholates and -tironates of Cu(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Cr(2+) and Mn(2+), and several Ti(4+) and Cr(3+) species. The UV-vis spectra of each complex are described, some of which have not been reported previously. These data can now be applied to characterization of biological metal-catecholate systems.     

Determination of Dynamic Metal Complexes and their Diffusion Coefficients in the Presence of Different Humic Substances by Combining Two Analytical Techniques

The combined use of a competing ligand exchange (CLE) method and a diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) technique in a quasi-labile system provides a better understanding of dynamic metal (Cu and Ni) complexes in the presence of humic substances of different origins. The CLE and DGT techniques provide total labile (dynamic) metal complexes (Cu and Ni) and their dissociation rate constants in environmental systems. DGT was found to estimate lower concentrations of labile metal complexes than CLE. These discrepancies were caused by diffusion controlled metal flux (towards the binding resin gel) in the diffusive gel of DGT. The interactions of Cu and Ni with humic acids are stronger than their interactions with fulvic acid and natural organic matter. Changes in the lability of Ni and Cu complexes (complexed with humic substances of different origins) with the changing analytical detection window indicate that the complexes of these metals were formed with different binding sites with diverse binding energies in the humic substances. The combination of these two techniques was found to be very useful in determining diffusion coefficients of labile metal-humate complexes in quasi-labile systems. The values of diffusion coefficients of labile Ni and Cu complexes determined in this study are in good agreement with limited results from the literature. This finding is novel and can be very useful in further improving our understanding of the metal-humate interactions in natural environments.     

Investigation of DNA Binding Interaction of Newly Synthesized Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes Containing Ferrocenyl Schiff Base Ligand

New complexes of nickel(II) and palladium(II) were synthesized using the ferrocenyl imine ligand, which was formed by the condensation of 2‐aminothiophenol and acetylferrocene. This bidentate Schiff base ligand was coordinated to the metal ions through the NS donor atoms. Monomeric complexes of nickel(II) and palladium(II) were synthesized by the reactions of the Schiff base ligand with nickel(II) and palladium(II) chloride in a 2:1 M ratio. In these complexes, the thiol group was deprotonated and coordinated to the metals. The molar conductivity values of the complexes in DMSO showed the presence of non‐electrolyte species. The fluorescence characteristics of the Schiff base ligand and its complexes were studied in DMSO. The synthesized complexes were characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, UV–vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and conductometry. Furthermore, the binding interactions of the complexes with DNA were investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, and the intrinsic binding constant (K _b) was calculated. Moreover, viscosity and melting temperature (T _m) were investigated in order to further explore the nature of interactions between the complexes and DNA.     

Copper and nickel speciation in mine effluents by combination of two independent techniques

To control potentially toxic metals in water resources it is necessary to know metal speciation and changes in the metal speciation that occur after aqueous effluents containing metals are discharged into freshwaters. This work explores the speciation of nickel and copper in metal-mining aqueous effluents. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique and competing ligand exchange (CLE) method have been applied to determine the speciation of nickel and copper. The results of this investigation demonstrate that combination of two analytical techniques having complementary analytical capabilities can provide a better physicochemical picture of metal speciation than either one of the analytical technique can do alone. The combined use of these techniques revealed that copper formed labile complexes having slow diffusion coefficient along with the presence of small labile copper complexes. Nickel-dissolved organic complexes (DOC) complexes in the aqueous effluent have been found to have fast diffusion coefficient. The results are likely to have environmental significance for providing a link between the metal species in mine aqueous effluent and their bioavailability by determining the characteristics of copper and nickel complexes in metal-mine aqueous effluents. This knowledge is expected to promote a better understanding of the lability of DOC complexes of copper and nickel in mining effluents.     

Adsorption of NO and CO over transition-metal-incorporated mesoporous catalytic materials

Novel high-surface-area mesoporous catalysts of type Al-MCM-41 containing transition metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, zinc, copper, and cobalt were prepared and characterized using techniques such as BET, FTIR, ICP-MS, XPS, and XRD. The XPS measurements indicated that the transition-metal particles are located in the bulk or pore channels of the Al-MCM-41 materials. A detailed in situ FTIR investigation undertaken on the adsorption and disproportionation of NO and CO over the transition-metal-Al-MCM-41 mesoporous catalysts indicated the formation of various NO/CO species or complexes with active metal sites. The structure and dynamics of the metal activated complex and reactive species formed during the CO/NO reaction together with advantages of these catalysts and the influence of reaction temperature and pressure have been studied. NO adsorption at room temperature leads to the formation of adsorbed N(2)O, NO(2), MNO(2), MNO, and [M(NO)(2)] complexes. CO adsorption at room temperature leads to the formation of physisorbed carbon dioxide and cationic Lewis acid carbonyl moieties as well as transition-metal carbonyl complexes. The copper mesoporous catalysts prepared by different procedures (ion exchanged and as-synthesized) were compared for their interactions with CO and NO probe molecules.     

Comparative studies of gas chromatographic properties of new packings with chemically bonded complexes

Specific interactions of aliphatic linear and branched hydrocarbons as well as cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons with new packings containing chemically bonded complexes of transition metals are studied. The possibility of using these packings to separate these compounds is also discussed. The packings under study contain complexes of Cu(II) and Cr(III) chemically bonded to the silica surface. Chlorides of these metals are bonded to the silica surface by the use of the ketoimine group originally from 2-(3-triethoxysililpropylimino)-3-(n-buthyl)-pentanon-4. In order to determine an influence of the performed modification to gas chromatographic properties of the packings, such retention parameters as retention factor, retention index, molecular retention index, and specific retention volume are measured for these compounds. Based on the obtained values, a trial is taken to determine an influence of the nature of the bonded metal from the complex on the retention of the adsorbates under study and a dependence between a structure of an adsorbate molecule and values of charge-transfer interactions with the bonded metal complexes.     

Coordinative supramolecular assembly of electrochromic thin films

The article is concerned with the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of electrochromic films using coordinative interactions between compounds. At first the concepts of coordinative supramolecular assembly are explained and examples are presented. Subsequently electrochromic LbL assemblies prepared upon electrostatic and/or coordinative interactions are briefly discussed. In the focus of the article are films of terpyridine(tpy)-functionalized polyiminoarylene metal ion complexes, which are prepared upon coordinative LbL assembly of the tpy-substituted polyiminoarylenes and metal ions. The films exhibit reversible electrochromic behavior with high contrast and fast response times. It is demonstrated that the electrochromic behavior of the films can be modified by a variation of polymer structure, metal ions, and counterions.     

Characterization of host-guest complexes of cucurbit[n]uril (n = 6, 7) by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

When an intramolecular cavity exists in a molecule, it can trap another chemical species to form a host-guest complex. We examine the formation of such an inclusion complex with cucurbit[n]uril (CBn, n = 6, 7) as the host to trap alkali metal or ammonium ions as the guest, by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results show that the inclusion complexes are formed between the three-dimensional cylinder of CBn hosts and the guest cations. Selectivity of the complex formation is dependent both on (1) ion-dipole interactions between the cylindrical portal of the CBn hosts and the guest cations and (2) the hydrophobic interactions at the inner cavity of CBn.     

A Flexible,Extremely Sterically Demanding Triazenide Ligand: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry

Seeking to further the investigation of extremely sterically congested main group metals, the synthesis of a new oligoaryl triazene (Dipp*₂N₃H) is reported. This was accessed by diazotization of Dipp*NH₂ to access both Dipp*I and Dipp*N₃ in high yield and with scalable preparations. These compounds are used as precursors to Dipp*₂N₃H, via a magnesium aryl, due to the difficulties in obtaining pure triazene via an aryl‐lithium species. Deprotonation of the triazene with both potassium and thallium tert‐butoxides gives the respective metal triazenides in high yield. The solid‐state structures of these complexes have been determined and three high hapticity metal arene‐π interactions, which sterically shield the metal centers, were observed in each case; spectroscopic C_2v symmetry suggests these interactions are fluxional in solution. The variability of these interactions in the solid state as well as the changes in calculated steric demand of the ligand between metals point to an adaptive, flexible coordination mode.     

Synthesis and structure of three dichromium hexacarbonyl complexes with (CPPh2)2, (CHPPh2)2, and carbazole bridges

Three dichromium hexacarbonyl complexes containing (CPPh₂)₂, (CHPPh₂)₂, and carbazole as a conjugated bridging ligand are synthesized and exhibit a variety of electronic interactions between the metal centers, which can be modified by altering either the conjugated bridging nature or the ligand bound to the metals to induce peculiar asymmetry.     

Capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry: Status report

This report focuses on the status, requirements, and potentials of CE-ICP-MS. The ultimate goal of a viable CE-ICP-MS system is to obtain quantitative elemental speciation information and isotopic ratio data for practical biological and environmental metal containing compounds. To make use of the CE separation features, the CE analyte must be introduced efficiently into the ICP. For practical samples, pre- and post-separation enrichment techniques probably are required. The features of electrospray ion sources that can be incorporated in CE-ICP-MS and the potential for microfabricated CE are discussed.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Transition Metal (Cu,Co, Fe) Complexes of 6-Methyl-5-arylhydrazono-2-thio-4-oxo-pyrimidine Ligand

The article deals with a study to synthesize transition metal complexes of copper, cobalt, and iron with the ligand 6-methyl-5-arylhydrazono-2-thio-4-oxo-pyrimidine (MATOPyr). The synthesized ligand and all metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, XRD, SEM, FTIR, ¹HNMR, UV-VIS, magnetic spectral studies, and Mössbauer measurements. The morphology of the ligand along with the complexes of all three metals was also deduced.     

How a Transition‐Metal(II) Chloride Interacts with a Eutectic AlCl3‐Based Ionic Liquid: Insights into the Speciation of the Electrolyte and Electrodeposition of Magnetic Materials

Electrostatic interactions are characteristic of ionic liquids (ILs) and play a pivotal role in determining the formation of species when solutes are dissolved in them. The formation of new species/complexes has been investigated for certain ILs. However, such investigations have not yet focused on eutectic liquids, which are a promising class of ILs. These liquids (or liquid coordination complexes, LCCs) are rather new and are composed of cationic and anionic chloro complexes of metals. To date, these liquids have been employed as electrolytes to deposit metals and as solvents for catalysis. The present study deals with a liquid that is prepared by mixing a 1.2:1 mol ratio of AlCl₃ and 1‐butylpyrrolidine. An attempt has been made to understand the interactions of FeCl₂ with the organic molecule using spectroscopy. It was found that dissolved Fe(II) species interact mainly with the IL anion and such interactions can lead to changes in the cation of the electrolyte. Furthermore, the viability of depositing thick magnetic films of Fe and Fe–Al has been explored.     

Capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry: Status report

This report focuses on the status, requirements, and potentials of CE-ICP-MS. The ultimate goal of a viable CE-ICP-MS system is to obtain quantitative elemental speciation information and isotopic ratio data for practical biological and environmental metal containing compounds. To make use of the CE separation features, the CE analyte must be introduced efficiently into the ICP. For practical samples, pre- and post-separation enrichment techniques probably are required. The features of electrospray ion sources that can be incorporated in CE-ICP-MS and the potential for microfabricated CE are discussed. Received: 21 August 1997 / Accepted: 31 October 1997     

Oligonuclear complexes as tectons in crystal engineering: structural diversity and magnetic properties

This article focuses on the employment of bi- and trinuclear complexes as building blocks in designing novel heterometallic systems. A large variety of polynuclear complexes, ranging from high-nuclearity clusters to high-dimensionality coordination polymers, can be constructed by taking advantage of the high flexibility of the multimetallic nodes. The following oligonuclear complexes are currently used as tectons in our laboratory: (a) bis(alkoxo)-bridged copper(ii) species; (b) homobinuclear species with metal ions held together by end-off, or macrocyclic compartmental ligands; (c) heterometallic complexes with dissymmetric compartmental ligands. The 3d-4f nodes are particularly interesting since the metal ions interact selectively with various spacers. The intra-node exchange interactions, as well as those between the resulting spins, generate interesting magnetic properties.