Redox energetics and kinetics of uranyl coordination complexes in aqueous solution

Detailed voltammetric results for five uranyl coordination complexes are presented and analyzed using digital simulations of the voltammetric data to extract thermodynamic (E(1/2)) and heterogeneous electron-transfer kinetic (k(0) and alpha) parameters for the one-electron reduction of UO(2)(2+) to UO(2)(+). The complexes and their corresponding electrochemical parameters are the following: [UO(2)(OH(2))(5)](2+) (E(1/2) = -0.169 V vs Ag/AgCl, k(0) = 9.0 x 10(-3) cm/s, and alpha = 0.50); [UO(2)(OH)(5)](3-) (-0.927 V, 2.8 x 10(-3) cm/s, 0.46); [UO(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(3)](-) (-0.396 V, approximately 0.1 cm/s, approximately 0.5); [UO(2)(CO(3))(3)](4-) (-0.820 V, 2.6 x 10(-5) cm/s, 0.41); [UO(2)Cl(4)](2-) (-0.065 V, 9.2 x 10(-3) cm/s, 0.30). Differences in the E(1/2) values are attributable principally to differences in the basicity of the equatorial ligands. Differences in rate constants are considered within the context of Marcus theory of electron transfer, but no specific structural change(s) in the complexes between the two oxidation states can be uniquely identified with the underlying variability in the heterogeneous rate constants and electron-transfer coefficients.     

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.     

Electron transfer in uranyl(VI)-uranyl(V) complexes in solution

The rates and mechanisms of the electron self-exchange between U(V) and U(VI) in solution have been studied with quantum chemical methods. Both outer-sphere and inner-sphere mechanisms have been investigated; the former for the aqua ions, the latter for binuclear complexes containing hydroxide, fluoride, and carbonate as bridging ligand. The calculated rate constant for the self-exchange reaction UO(2)(+)(aq) + UO(2)(2+)(aq) <=>UO(2)(2+)(aq) + UO(2)(+)(aq), at 25 degrees C, is k = 26 M(-1) s(-1). The lower limit of the rate of electron transfer in the inner-sphere complexes is estimated to be in the range 2 x 10(4) to 4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), indicating that the rate for the overall exchange reaction may be determined by the rate of formation and dissociation of the binuclear complex. The activation energy for the outer-sphere model calculated from the Marcus model is nearly the same as that obtained by a direct calculation of the precursor- and transition-state energy. A simple model with one water ligand is shown to recover 60% of the reorganization energy. This finding is important because it indicates the possibility to carry out theoretical studies of electron-transfer reactions involving M(3+) and M(4+) actinide species that have eight or nine water ligands in the first coordination sphere.     

On the "yl" bond weakening in uranyl(VI) coordination complexes

The U-O(yl) triple bonds in the UO(2)(2+) aquo ion are known to be weakened by replacing the first shell water with organic or inorganic ligands. Weakening of the U-O(yl) bond may enhance the reactivity of "yl" oxygens and uranyl(VI) cation-cation interactions. Density functional theory calculations as well as previously published vibrational spectroscopic data have been used to study the origin of the U-O(yl) bond weakening in uranyl(VI) coordination complexes. Natural population analyses (NPA) revealed that the electron localization on the O(yl) 2p orbital is a direct measure of the U-O(yl) bond weakening, indicating that the bond weakening is correlated to the weakening of the U-O(yl) covalent bond and not that of the ionic bond. The Mulliken analysis gives poor results for uranium to ligand electron partitioning and is thus unreliable. Further analyses of molecular orbitals near the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) show that both the σ and π donating abilities of the ligands may account for the U-O(yl) bond weakening. The mechanism of the bond weakening varies with coordinating ligand so that each case needs to be examined independently.     

Theoretical study of electron transfer in uranyl(VI)–uranyl(V) complexes in solution

The rates of the electron self‐exchange between uranyl(VI) and uranyl(V) complexes in solution have been investigated in detail with quantum chemical methods. The calculations have shown that the bond length of U? Oyl is elongated by 0.1 Å when the extra electron is localized on the sites. The diabatic potential surfaces are obtained. The inner reorganization energies are 212.6 and 226.8 kJ mol^?1 for hydroxide and fluoride bridge systems, respectively. The solvent reorganization energies are 28.12 and 31.60 kJ mol^?1 for hydroxide and fluoride bridge systems, respectively. The nuclear frequency factors are 3.17 × 10¹³ and 3.12 × 10¹³ s^?1 for hydroxide and fluoride bridge systems, respectively. The electronic coupling matrix elements are 1.89 and 4.06 kJ mol^?1 for hydroxide and fluoride bridge systems, respectively. The electron‐transfer rates of our calculations are 12.95 and 0.819 M^?1 s^?1 for hydroxide and fluoride bridge systems, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Squarete complexes of uranyl ions in aqueous solution

The stability constants of UO ₂ ²⁺ -squarate complexes are measured at ionic strengths of 0.05M, 0.06M, 0.075M, 0.09M, 0.1M (squaric acid-perchloric acid) using a solvent extraction method at a pH of 1.1 and a temperature of 25 °C. The extractant used is dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid in n-heptane. The aqueous phase was made of a mixture of squaric and perchloric acid and²³³U radio tracer. The stability constants of squarate complexes of UO ₂ ²⁺ is seen to decrease linearly with the square root of the ionic strength.     

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).     

H- and C-NMR as tools to study aluminium coordination chemistry—aqueous Al(III)-citrate complexes

Based on the use thermodynamic and solid state structure data, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR is a very useful tool to understand the conformational and dynamic behavior of complexes containing organic ligands in solution. In this paper we describe shortly the possibilities of the assignation of the spectra by means of modern NMR techniques. From the assigned spectra the scalar and dipolar couplings make it possible to determine the orientation of the ligand around the metal ion and the distances between hydrogen atoms in space. Aluminium-citrate complexes are reviewed as examples. It is shown that with the armory of correlation NMR spectroscopy unique insight can be obtained in the behavior of Al-citrate species even if oligomers are present in the solution.     

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.     

Probing the local coordination environment and nuclearity of uranyl(VI) complexes in non-aqueous media by emission spectroscopy

We describe the synthesis, solid state and solution properties of two families of uranyl(VI) complexes that are ligated by neutral monodentate and anionic bidentate P=O, P=NH and As=O ligands bearing pendent phenyl chromophores. The uranyl(VI) ions in these complexes possess long-lived photoluminescent LMCT (3)Π(u) excited states, which can be exploited as a sensitive probe of electronic structure, bonding and aggregation behaviour in non-aqueous media. For a family of well defined complexes of given symmetry in trans-[UO(2)Cl(2)(L(2))] (L = Ph(3)PO (1), Ph(3)AsO (2) and Ph(3)PNH (3)), the emission spectral profiles in CH(2)Cl(2) are indicative of the strength of the donor atoms bound in the equatorial plane and the uranyl bond strength; the uranyl LMCT emission maxima are shifted to lower energy as the donor strength of L increases. The luminescence lifetimes in fluid solution mirror these observations (0.87-3.46 μs) and are particularly sensitive to vibrational and bimolecular deactivation. In a family of structurally well defined complexes of the related anion, tetraphenylimidodiphosphinate (TPIP), monometallic complexes, [UO(2)(TPIP)(thf)] (4), [UO(2)(TPIP)(Cy(3)PO)] 5), a bimetallic complex [UO(2)(TPIP)(2)](2) (6) and a previously known trimetallic complex, [UO(2)(TPIP)(2)](3) (7) can be isolated by variation of the synthetic procedure. Complex 7 differs from 6 as the central uranyl ion in 7 is orthogonally connected to the two peripheral ones via uranyl → uranium dative bonds. Each of these oligomers exhibits a characteristic optical fingerprint, where the emission maxima, the spectral shape and temporal decay profiles are unique for each structural form. Notably, excited state intermetallic quenching in the trimetallic complex 7 considerably reduces the luminescence lifetime with respect to the monometallic counterpart 5 (from 2.00 μs to 1.04 μs). This study demonstrates that time resolved and multi-parametric luminescence can be of value in ascertaining solution and structural forms of discrete uranyl(VI) complexes in non-aqueous solution.     

Anion coordination chemistry in aqueous solution of polyammonium receptors

The behavior of polyamines as receptors of selected families of anions in water is explored. First metallocyanide interaction with saturated polyammonium hosts is analyzed both in solution and in the solid state. The utility of potentiometry, multinuclear NMR, microcalorimetry and cyclic voltammetry to describe solution features of this chemistry is described for selected systems. Sulfate, phosphate, polyphosphate and nucleotide interactions with large polyammonium receptors are then reviewed. Hydrogen bond formation is discussed from a thermodynamic point of view. The influence of the presence of aromatic fragments within the structure on the binding strength is discussed. Factors affecting ATP hydrolytic cleavage by macrocyclic polyammonium receptors is revisited. Metal complexes are analyzed as anion receptors through formation of mixed complexes. Finally, an example of the influence of anion in crystal growing is provided.     

Expanding the crystal chemistry of uranyl peroxides: synthesis and structures of di- and triperoxodioxouranium(VI) complexes

Four compounds containing tri- and diperoxodioxouranium(VI) complexes have been synthesized under ambient conditions and structurally characterized. The crystal structures of Na4(UO2)(O2)3(H2O)12 (monoclinic, P21/c, a=6.7883(6) A, b=16.001(2) A, c=16.562(2) A, beta=91.917(2) degrees, V=1797.9(3) A3, Z=4) and Ca2(UO2)(O2)3(H2O)9 (orthorhombic, Pbcn, a=9.576(3) A, b=12.172(3) A, c=12.314(2) A, V=1435.4(6) A3, Z=4) contain clusters of triperoxodioxouranium(VI). These clusters are bonded through a network of H bonding to H2O groups and in the Ca compound by bonds to Ca2+ cations. In the crystal structure of Na2Rb4(UO2)2(O2)5(H2O)14 (orthorhombic, Pbcm, a=6.808(2) A, b=16.888(6) A, c=23.286(8) A, V=2677.5(16) A3, Z=4), triperoxodioxouranium(VI) polyhedra share a peroxide edge, forming dimers of polyhedra of composition (UO2)2(O2)5(6-). Adjacent dimers are linked through bonding to Rb+ cations and by H bonds to H2O groups. The crystal structure of K6[(UO2)(O2)2(OH)]2(H2O)7 (orthorhombic, Pcca, a=15.078(8) A, b=6.669(4) A, c=23.526(13) A, V=2366(2) A3, Z=4) contains diperoxodioxouranium(VI) polyhedra that include two OH groups. These polyhedra share an OH-OH edge, forming dimers of composition (UO2)2(O2)4(OH)2(6-). The dimers are linked by bonds to K+ cations and by H bonding to H2O groups.     

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.     

Mononuclear titanium(IV)-citrate complexes from aqueous solutions: pH-specific synthesis and structural and spectroscopic studies in relevance to aqueous titanium(IV)-citrate speciation

Titanium is a metal frequently employed in a plethora of materials supporting medical applications. In an effort to comprehend the involvement of titanium in requisite biological interactions with physiological ligands, synthetic efforts were launched targeting aqueous soluble species of Ti(IV). To this end, aqueous reactions of TiCl(4) with citric acid afforded expediently, under pH-specific conditions, the colorless crystalline materials Na(6)[Ti(C(6)H(4.5)O(7))(2)(C(6)H(5)O(7))].16H(2)O (1) and Na(3)(NH(4))(3)[Ti(C(6)H(4.5)O(7))(2)(C(6)H(5)O(7))].9H(2)O (2). Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, (13)C-MAS solid state and solution NMR, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P, with a = 15.511(9) A, b = 15.58(1) A, c = 9.848(5) A, alpha = 85.35(2) degrees, beta = 76.53(2) degrees, gamma = 61.97(2) degrees, V = 2042(2) A(3), and Z = 2. 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P, with a = 12.437(5) A, b = 12.440(5) A, c = 12.041(5) A, alpha = 83.08(2) degrees, beta = 81.43(2) degrees, gamma = 67.45(2) degrees, V = 1697(2) A(3), and Z = 2. The X-ray structures of 1 and 2 reveal the presence of a mononuclear complex, with Ti(IV) coordinated to three citrate ligands in a distorted octahedral geometry around Ti(IV). The citrates employ their central alkoxide and carboxylate groups to bind Ti(V), while the terminal carboxylates stay away from the Ti(IV)O(6) core. Worth noting in 1 and 2 is the similar mode of coordination but variable degree of protonation of the bound citrates, with the locus of (de)protonation being the noncoordinating terminal carboxylates. As a result, this work suggests the presence of a number of different Ti(IV)-citrate species of the same nuclearity and coordination geometry as a function of pH. This is consistent with the so far existing pool of mononuclear Ti(IV)-citrate species and provides a logical account of the aqueous speciation in the requisite binary system. Such information is vital in trying to delineate the interactions of soluble and bioavailable Ti(IV) forms promoting biological interactions in humans. To this end, chemical properties, structural attributes, and speciation links to potential ensuing biological effects are dwelled on.     

Infrared and thermal studies of uranyl(VI) complexes of antipyrine

Recently, the isolation and characterisation of a large number of uranyl(VI) complexes with neutral unidentate oxygen donor ligands having XO bonds (XC, N, P, S or As) have been reported [1–5]. Antipyrine (1-phenyl-2,3-dimethyl-5-pyrazolone), containing a polar carbonyl group, is found to form complexes with metal ions [6-13]. This communication describes the isolation and physico-chemical properties of the complexes formed by uranyl(VI) ions.     

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.     

Density functional theory study of uranium(VI) aquo chloro complexes in aqueous solution

Mixed uranyl aquo chloro complexes of the type [UO2(H2O)xCly]2-y (y = 1, 2, 3, 4; x + y = 4, 5) have been optimized at the BLYP, BP86, and B3LYP levels of density functional theory in vacuo and in a polarizable continuum modeling bulk water (PCM) and have been studied at the BLYP level with Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the gas phase and in explicit aqueous solution. Free binding energies were evaluated from static PCM data and from pointwise thermodynamic integration involving constrained MD simulations in water. The computations reveal significant solvent effects on geometric and energetic parameters. Based on the comparison of PCM-optimized or MD-averaged uranyl-ligand bond distances with EXAFS-derived values, the transition between five- and four-coordination about uranyl is indicated to occur at a Cl content of y = 2 or 3.     

Mixed metal complexes in solution. Part 4. Formation and stability of heterobinuclear complexes of cadmium(II)-citrate with some bivalent metal ions in aqueous solution

Summary The systems, Cd-Ni-citrate, Cd-Mn-citrate and Cd-Zn citrate have been investigated pH-metrically at 25°C and I = 0.1 mol dm^–3 (KNO₃).As previously found for analogous citrate systems (namely for Cu-Ni-, Cu-Zn- and Ni-Zn-citrate) the existence of mixed metal complexes of the type [MM(cit)₂H_–2]^4– has been shown. In addition, the species [MM(cit)₂H_–1]^3– was also found to be present for Cd-Ni- and Cd-Zn-citrate systems The significance of the formation of such species is discussed.The existence of mixed metal complexes is also discussed in connection with the transport and the absorption of metal ions in biological systems.     

Mixed metal complexes in solution. Thermodynamic and spectrophotometric study of copper(II)-citrate heterobinuclear complexes with nickel(II), zinc(II) or cadmium(II) in aqueous solution

Summary A thermodynamic study of Cu^II–M^II-citrate (M^II=Ni^II, Zn^II or Cd^II) ternary systems has been performed by means of potentiometric measurements of hydrogen ion concentration at different temperatures (10, 25, 35 and 45°C) and at I=0.1 mol dm^–3 (KNO₃).The different binary and ternary systems involved have been further characterized by visible spectra and by calculating the spectra ( versus ) of all the Cu^II complexes.The thermodynamic data suggest strong entropic stabilization for the species under discussion. As regards the visible spectral characteristics of Cu^II(d-d transitions), the substitution of one Cu^II ion in the dimer [Cu₂(cit)₂H_–2]^4– by Ni^II or Zn^II to form heterobinuclear [CuM(cit)₂H_–2]^4– complexes, gives rise to a change in the visible spectrum.