Characterization of potassium and sodium-potassium alloy solutions containing metal anions and complexed cations by means of NMR and ESR techniques

The influence of a complexing agent, kind of solvent and temperature on the stability and ionic composition of potassium and sodium-potassium alloy solutions containing metal anions and complexed cations as well as solvated electrons are discussed basing on the analysis of alkali metal NMR and ESR spectra. Surprisingly it seems that the stability of metal solutions in tetrahydrofuran at ambient temperature is inversely proportional to the durability of K+ complex in the case of five studied ligands. The most stable metal solutions were obtained using 15-crown-5. It was shown that the characteristic blue colour of metal solutions is not connected with the presence of solvated electrons but with metal anions.     

Benchmarking approximate density functional theory. I. s/d excitation energies in 3d transition metal cations

The performance of a number of different implementations of density functional theory (DFT) for predicting the s/d interconfigurational energies of the 3d transition metal cations is investigated. Systematic comparisons of computed results with experimental data indicate that gradient corrected correlation functionals, like the LYP GGA, efficiently correct the flaws of the LDA, but reveal shortcomings in the treatment of exchange by currently available GGAs. The admixture of exact exchange in hybrid functionals eventually leads to largely reduced errors. Several basis sets available for the 3d elements are tested in combination with the B3LYP functional. Finally, the influence of variations of the admixture of exact exchange is systematically tested. The results reveal that computed s/d excitation energies obtained for the individual ions depend in markedly different ways on the amount of exact exchange admixture and that there is no single optimal and transferable exchange parameter to create a hybrid functional that yields improved results for all ions alike. Several of the recently devised functionals perform as good as or slightly better than the B3LYP functional in the present study. But given the fact that the B3LYP functional has been identified as the most successful DFT method in an overwhelming number of systematic investigations in very many areas of chemical research, there is no persuasive motivation to recommend its replacement by one of the other functionals, as much less is known about their robustness.     

Benchmarking approximate density functional theory for s/d excitation energies in 3d transition metal cations

Holthausen has recently provided a comprehensive study of density functional theory for calculating the s/d excitation energies of the 3d transition metal cations. This study did not include the effects of scalar relativistic effects, and we show here that the inclusion of scalar relativistic effects significantly alters the conclusions of the study. We find, contrary to the previous study, that local functionals are more accurate for the excitation energies of 3d transition method cations than hybrid functionals. The most accurate functionals, of the 38 tested, are SLYP, PBE, BP86, PBELYP, and PW91.     

Photochemical reduction of transition metal substituted heteropoly anions in nonpolar solutions

Photochromism of [SiW11O39Ni(X)]6- as a tetraheptylammonium salt in various solvents under broadband UV light is observed in the presence of alcohols. The reaction proceeds faster with benzyl alcohol than with ethanol. Benzaldehyde is identified as the oxidized product of benzyl alcohol. Photochemistry is a reliable means to produce stable reduced transition metal substituted heteropoly tungstates in nonpolar media, where they hold promise as multielectron reduction catalysts. Preliminary reactivity toward CO2 reduction is demonstrated.     

Gas-phase ion/ion reactions of transition metal complex cations with multiply charged oligodeoxynucleotide anions

Multiply deprotonated hexadeoxyadenylate anions, (A6-nH)(n-), where n = 3-5, have been subjected to reaction with a range of divalent transition-metal complex cations in the gas phase. The cations studied included the bis- and tris-1,10-phenanthroline complexes of CuII, FeII, and CoII, as well as the tris-1,10-phenanthroline complex of RuII. In addition, the hexadeoxyadenylate anions were subjected to reaction with the singly charged FeIII and CoIIIN,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato) complexes. The major competing reaction channels are electron-transfer from the oligodeoxynucleotide anion to the cation, the formation of a complex between the anion and cation, and the incorporation of the transition-metal into the oligodeoxynucleotide. The latter process proceeds via the anion/cation complex and involves displacement of the ligand(s) in the transition-metal complex by the oligodeoxynucleotide. Competition between the various reaction channels is governed by the identity of the transition-metal cation, the coordination environment of the metal complex, and the oligodeoxynucleotide charge state. In the case of the divalent metal phenanthroline complexes, competition between electron-transfer and metal ion incorporation is particularly sensitive to the coordination number of the reagent metal complexes. Both electron-transfer and metal ion incorporation occur to significant extents with the bis-phenanthroline ions, whereas the tris-phenanthroline ions react predominantly by metal ion incorporation. To our knowledge this work reports the first observations of the gas-phase incorporation of multivalent transition-metal cations into oligodeoxynucleotide anions and represents a means for the selective incorporation of transition-metal counter-ions into gaseous oligodeoxynucleotides.     

Selective oxo functionalization of the uranyl ion with 3d metal cations

The linear uranyl dication [UO2]2+ can be bound in one of two coordination sites in the ditopic Pacman-shaped pyrrolic macrocyle H4L. Incorporation of Mn2+, Fe2+, or Co2+ cations in the second donor compartment affords the first uranyl complexes with a transition-metal-functionalized oxo group.     

Divalent transition metal phosphonates with new structure containing hydrogen-bonded layers of phosphonate anions

A series of divalent transition metal phosphonates containing hydrogen-bonded layers of phosphonate anions, namely [M(phen)₃]·C₆H₅PO₃·11H₂O [M=Co(1), Ni(2), Cu(3)] and [Cd(phen)₃]·C₆H₅PO₃H·Cl·7H₂O (4) have been synthesized, structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. These compounds all crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P-1. The lattice parameters are a=12.1646(5), b=12.4155(6), c=15.4117(10) Å, α=78.216(2), β=79.735(3), γ=77.8380(3)°, V=2205.1(2) Å³, Z=2 for 1; a=12.097(2), b=12.606(3), c=15.742(3) Å, α=76.66(3), β=80.04(3), γ=77.75(3)°, V=2263.4(8) Å³, Z=2 for 2; a=12.058(2), b=12.518(3), c=15.781(3) Å, α=77.77(3), β=80.02(3), γ=77.91(3)°, V=2255.5(8) Å³, Z=2 for 3 and a=12.47680(10), b=12.6693(2), c=16.1504(3) Å, α=82.600(1), β=71.122(1), γ=77.355(1)°, V=2352.37(6) Å³, Z=2 for 4. All structures are refined by full-matrix least-squares methods [for 1, R1=0.0602 using 6458 independent reflections with I>2σ(I); for 2, R1=0.0632 using 4657 independent reflections with I>2σ(I); for 3, R1=0.0634 using 6221 independent reflections with I>2σ(I); for 4, R1=0.0400 using 7930 independent reflections with I>2σ(I)]. In the crystal structures, the phenylphosphonate anions and water molecules are hydrogen-bonded to form layers, and there exist the cationic species [M(phen)₃]²⁺ between the adjacent layers of anions and water. Luminescence, thermal analysis as well as IR spectroscopic studies are also presented.     

XPS study of the electronic structure of binuclear 3d transition metal pivalate complexes

Binuclear pivalate complexes of 3d transition metals (manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel) with the same ligand environment and a lantern structure have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The M2p, M3s, C1s, O1s, and N1s X-ray photoelectron spectra have been examined. A redistribution of electron density in the OCO group has been revealed. It has been shown that the theory fits the experimental data on the energy separation between the high- and low-spin components in the M3s spectra and between the spin doublet components in the M2p spectra. It has been demonstrated that the iron, cobalt, and nickel complexes are paramagnetic at room temperature, whereas the manganese complex exhibits antiferromagnetic properties. There is a correlation between the size of the 3d subshell of the transition metal atom and the M-O and M-N bond lengths.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of maleonitriledithiolate metal complexes with N-methylacridine as cations

The synthesis of [N-MeA]₂[M(mnt)₂] (N-MeA=N-methylacridine; M=Ni (II), Zn (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II); mnt=maleonitriledithiolate) and crystal structure analysis of the Ni (1) and Zn (2) complexes are reported. The conductivities of almost all the complexes under 4 MPa pressure are above 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹, which are characteristic of intrinsic semi-conductors. The complexes exhibit charge transfer transitions in both their absorption spectra and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Aerobic oxidation of alcohols over hydrotalcite-supported gold nanoparticles: the promotional effect of transition metal cations

Chromium (III)-containing hydrotalcites show strong synergy with gold nanoparticles in achieving high activity in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols.     

The association of cyanine dye cations with phenol red anions in aqueous solutions

The interaction of pinacyanol (PNC) and quinaldine red (QR) cyanine dye cations with single-and doubly charged phenol red (PR) anions in aqueous solution was investigated in detail. In spite of fundamentally different geometries, noticeable interaction between the counterions leads to the formation of ion associates. The energies of PNC, QR, PR, and their associates were calculated. The addition of cationic or anionic surfactants destroyed the associates. The nontrivial character of for the destruction of the PNC⁺-PR^? associate offers promise for the development of quantitative and test methods for the determination of cationic surfactants in solution.     

Ion exchange of some transition metal cations on hydrated titanium dioxide in aqueous ammonia solutions

The adsorption of transition metal cations on hydrated titanium dioxide in complexing ammonia and amine solutions has been studied as a function of ammonia (amine) concentration. The relationships between the distribution coefficients and ammonia concentration as well as the effects of various amines on sorption of transition metals indicate that a coordinate bond is formed between the metal ions and the hydroxy groups of the sorbent. The distribution coefficients of silver(I) and cobalt(III), which form strong ammonia complexes in aqueous solutions, decrease with increasing concentration of ammonia already at concentrations exceeding 10^–3. mol·dm^–3. Cations of zinc, manganese and mercury which form much weakerammonia complexes do not exhibit any effect of ammonia concentration in the whole range investigated. In the case of sorption of macroamounts of ammonia or amine complexes of silver, the molecular sieve effect plays an important role. The differences in the affinity of hydrated titanium dioxide for ammonia solvates of various transition metal ions can serve as a tool for effective separation of these ions in ammonia solutions.     

EPR and DFT studies of the structure of phosphinyl radicals complexed by a pentacarbonyl transition metal

Paramagnetic complexes M(CO)5P(C6H5)2, with M = Cr, Mo, W, have been trapped in irradiated crystals of M(CO)5P(C6H5)3 (M = Cr, Mo, W) and M(CO)5PH(C6H5)2 (M = Cr, W) and studied by EPR. The radiolytic scission of a P-C or a P-H bond, responsible for the formation of M(CO)5P(C6H5)2, is consistent with both the number of EPR sites and the crystal structures. The g and 31P hyperfine tensors measured for M(CO)5P(C6H5)2 present some of the characteristics expected for the diphenylphosphinyl radical. However, compared to Ph2P*, the 31P isotropic coupling is larger, the dipolar coupling is smaller, and for Mo and W compounds, the g-anisotropy is more pronounced. These properties are well predicted by DFT calculations. In the optimized structures of M(CO)5P(C6H5)2 (M = Cr, Mo, W), the unpaired electron is mainly confined in a phosphorus p-orbital, which conjugates with the metal d(xz) orbital. The trapped species can be described as a transition metal-coordinated phosphinyl radical.     

Acetate stabilization of metal nanoparticles and its role in the preparation of metal nanoparticles in ethylene glycol

Acetate-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by the NaBH4 reduction of the metal precursor salt at room temperature. Nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.20 nm and a standard deviation of 1.03 nm could be obtained under experimental conditions. The Ru nanoparticles so obtained could be easily extracted to a toluene solution of alkylamine, giving rise to alkylamine-stabilized Ru nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.96 nm and a standard deviation of 0.92 nm. The new found role of acetate stabilization was used to formulate a mechanism for the formation of metal (Pt, Ru) nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. In this mechanism metal nanoparticles are stabilized in ethylene glycol by adsorbed acetate ions, which are produced as a product of the OH- catalyzed reaction between the metal precursor salt and ethylene glycol.     

Formation and structure of self-assembled silica nanoparticles in basic solutions of organic and inorganic cations

The phase behavior of silica solutions containing organic and inorganic cations was studied at room temperature using conductivity, pH, and small-angle scattering experiments. A critical aggregation concentration (cac) was observed at approximately 1:1 ratio of SiO(2)/OH(-) for all cation solutions from conductivity and pH studies. From this cac, a phase diagram of the system was developed with three distinct phase regions in pseudoequilibrium: a monomer/oligomer region (I), a monomer/oligomer/nanoparticle region (II), and a gel region (III). Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS) on solutions of region II formed with tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) revealed that the nanoparticles have a core-shell structure. Structure analysis of the SAXS and SANS data was best fit by a core-shell oblate ellipsoid model. A polydisperse set of core-shell spheres also fit the data well although with lower agreement factors. Similar nanoparticle morphologies were found in solutions of TMAOH, CsOH, and NaOH.     

Thermodynamic properties of the solvent extraction of ion pairs of metal chelate cations with some anions

Thermodynamic quantities were determined for the extraction of ion pairs of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) and tris(2,2'-bipyridine)iron(II) chelate cations with halide, pseudohalide and polythionate anions from aqueous phase into nitrobenzene. Ion pairs with larger anions have more negative enthalpy changes with higher extractability. No clear trend was observed for the entropy changes. Linear relationships were observed between the free energy changes and the reciprocal radii of monovalent counter anions.