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.     

Gas-phase transuranium chemistry: reactions of actinide ions with alcohols and thiols.

The laser ablation with prompt reaction and detection method was employed to provide a survey of some gas-phase reactions of actinide (M = U, Np, Pu and Am) and lanthanide (M = Tb and Tm) ions, M(+) and MO(1,2)(+), with alcohols, thiols and ethers. Particular attention was given the changing behavior in progressing across the actinide series beyond uranium. With alcohols, ROH, major products included hydroxides and alkoxides, M(OH)(1,2)(+), M(OR)(1,2)(+), MO(OH)(+) and MO(OR)(+); these products are presumed to have resulted from RO&bond;H and R&bond;OH bond cleavage by ablated M(+) and MO(+). The abundance distributions for these elementary products reflected the decrease in stabilities of high oxidation states between U and Am. Other alcohol reaction products included electrostatically bonded adducts, such as HO&bond;Np(+)ellipsisC(3)H(7)OH, sigma-bonded organometallics, such as HO&bond;Pu(+)&bond;C(2)H(5), and pi-bonded organometallics, such as Np(+)&bond;eta(3)-?C(3)H(5)?. In view of the inability of actinide and lanthanide ions to dehydrogenate alkanes, the exhibition of dehydrogenation of the alkyl chain of alcohols, as in HO-Pu(+)-C(3)H(5)O from propanol, suggests a non-insertion mechanism involving complexation of the reactant ion to the alcohol. Whereas O abstraction products from ROH were obfuscated by directly ablated MO(1,2)(+), S abstraction from thiols, RSH, was manifested by the appearance of MS(+), MS(2)(+) and MOS(+). In analogy with OH abstraction from alcohols to produce metal hydroxides, SH abstraction from thiols resulted in hydrosulfides, including Am(SH)(+) and Np(SH)(2)(+). In addition to several other reaction pathways with the thiol reagents, products presumed to be thiolates included Am(C(3)H(7)S)(+) and NpO(C(3)H(7)S) from propanethiol. A primary product of reaction with dimethyl ether were methoxides resulting from C--O bond cleavage, including Am(OCH(3))(+) and Np(OCH(3))(2)(+). With methyl vinyl ether, more complex pathways were exhibited, most of which corresponded to the elimination of stable organic molecules. An ancillary result was the discovery of several small oxide clusters, Am(2)O(n)(+), Np(2)O(n)(+) and AmNpO(n)(+). The compositions and abundance distributions of these clusters reflected the propensity of Np to exist in higher oxidation states than Am; the dominant binary clusters were Am(2)O(2)(+) and Np(2)O(3)(+).     

On the sensitivity of f electrons to their chemical environment

Density functional calculations have been carried out on three families of lanthanide complexes of D3 or C4 symmetry, namely [Ln(H2O)9]3+, [Ln(DPA)3]3-, and [Ln(DOTAM)]3+ (Ln = Y, La, Lu; DPA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate; DOTAM = 1,4,7,10-tetracarbamoylmethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane), to get some insights concerning the sensitivity of 4f electrons to the surrounding ligands. We show that the electron density accumulations found within 0.7 A of the metal center, that precisely give the opposite image of the coordination sphere as they are located trans with respect to the Ln-ligand bonds, are almost exclusively due the f electrons. This polarization of the 4f electrons in lanthanides complexes has therefore to be considered as a general feature that plays a crucial role in some experimentally observed phenomenons such as the dependency of quadratic hyperpolarizability to the number of f electrons in [Ln(DPA)3]3- complexes that we have evidenced.     

Selectivity and thermodynamic characteristics of doubly charged cations on zirconium titanate from aqueous and alcoholic solutions

The ion-exchange isotherms of Ni²⁺/H⁺ and Co²⁺/H⁺ have been determined with a solution of 0.1 ionic strength for both forward and backward reactions at 25^°C by a batch technique. The thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the exchange process have been calculated using the Gains and Thomas equation. The preference Ni²⁺>Co²⁺ has been shown. The ion exchange selectivity for exchange of Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions with hydrogen ions on zirconium titanate has been investigated as a function of [HCl] from aqueous and 25% of methanol and/or ethanol solutions. The values of the thermodynamic functions for the studied systems have been reported. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gas-phase reactions of doubly charged alkaline earth and transition metal complexes of acetonitrile, pyridine, and methanol generated by electrospray ionization

Formation and low energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of doubly charged metal(II) complexes ([metal(II)+L _n ]²⁺, metal(II)=Co(II), Mn(II), Ca(II), Sr(II) and L = acetonitrile, pyridine, and methanol) were investigated. Complexes of [metal(II)+L _n ]²⁺ where n≤7 were obtained using electrospray ionization. Experimental parameters controlling the dissociation pathways for [Co(II)+(CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ were studied and a strong dependence of these processes on the collision energy was found. However, the dissociation pathways appear to be independent of the cone potential, indicating low internal energy of the precursor ions. In order to probe how these processes are related to intrinsic parameters of the ligand such as ionization potential and metal ion coordination, low energy CID spectra of [metal(II)+L _n ]²⁺ for ligands such as acetonitrile, pyridine, and methanol were compared. For L = pyridine, all metals including the alkaline earth metals Ca and Sr were reduced to the bare [metal(I)]⁺ species. Hydride transfer was detected upon low energy CID of [metal(II)+L _n ]²⁺ for metal(II)=Co(II) and Mn(II) and L = methanol, and corroborated by signals for [metal(II)+H^?]⁺ and [metal(II)+H^?+CH₃OH]⁺, as well as by the complementary ion [CH₃O]⁺.     

Electron transfer dissociation with supplemental activation to differentiate aspartic and isoaspartic residues in doubly charged peptide cations

Electron-transfer dissociation (ETD) with supplemental activation of the doubly charged deamidated tryptic digested peptide ions allows differentiation of isoaspartic acid and aspartic acid residues using the c + 57 or z ^• − 57 peaks. The diagnostic peak clearly localizes and characterizes the isoaspartic acid residue. Supplemental activation in ETD of the doubly charged peptide ions involves resonant excitation of the charge reduced precursor radical cations and leads to further dissociation, including extra backbone cleavages and secondary fragmentation. Supplemental activation is essential to obtain a high quality ETD spectrum (especially for doubly charged peptide ions) with sequence information. Unfortunately, the low-resolution of the ion trap mass spectrometer makes detection of the diagnostic peak, [M-60], for the aspartic acid residue difficult due to interference with side-chain loss from arginine and glutamic acid residues.     

Theoretical study of the triplet state aryl cations recombination: A possible route to unusually stable doubly charged biphenyl cations

The self‐recombination reactions of 4‐aminophenyl cations and parent phenyl cations, each in ground triplet states, are studied within the framework of density functional theory. Only the total zero spin (singlet state) is chosen, as the quintet and triplet counterparts are nonreactive in these systems. The recombination products are the benzidine and biphenyl doubly charged cations. These species are unexpectedly stable. The transition state of the 4‐aminophenyl cations reaction is located at the distance of about 4.0 Å between the ipso‐carbon atoms. The activation barrier is predominantly formed by electrostatic repulsion between two cations and is estimated to be 27.6 kcal mol^?1 [B3LYP/6–311+G(d,p)]. Similar results are obtained for the phenyl cations recombination. The general importance of the participation of other aryl cations in analogous organic reactions is discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gas-phase reactions of electrons,halide ions and radicals with (meso-tetraphenylporphinato)metal(II) complexes under negative ion chemical ionization conditions

The negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra of a series of (meso-tetraphenylporphinato)metal(II) (metal = Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) complexes obtained with the electron-energy-moderating/reagent gases argon, NF₃, CF₂Cl₂ and CF₃Br are presented. Formation of the negative ions identified in the mass spectra is accounted for in terms of the chemistry which occurs in the gaseous plasmas. In argon plasmas, the metal complexes undergo resonance electron capture with comparable facility to produce stable molecular ions. In the NF₃, CF₂Cl₂ and CF₃Br plasmas, ionization occurs as a result of ion–molecule reactions as well as resonance electron capture, and is quite selective. Only fluoride ions react with each of the metal complexes, producing metal-containing ions by nucleophilic addition and proton abstraction as well as by inducing ring closure. The less reactive chloride and bromide ions react readily by nucleophilic addition only with the magnesium and zinc complexes. Negative ions are also produced in the plasmas by radical-molecule reactions followed by ionization of the neutral products of these encounters.     

First steps of the reactions of alkanes and arenes with adamantyl cations in sulfuric acid in comparison with other reagents

Solutions of 1-adamantanol in sulfuric acid at T < 100 °C interact with alkanes (RH, [H₂SO₄] > 85%) and arenes (ArH, [H₂SO₄] > 59%). The data on the kinetics, kinetic isotope effect (KIE), effects of the structure of RH and ArH and acidity of the medium, and the observation of 1,4-cis-dimethylcyclohexane isomerization indicate that adamanyl cations (Ad⁺) serve as reactive species. In the reactions with alkanes, the Ad⁺ cation abstracts the hydride ion from RH in the rate-determining step. Compensation dependences appear between the activaion parameters for the KIE and “effect 5/6” (ratio of the rate constants for the C–H bond cleavage in cyclopentane and cyclohexane) in the reactions of cycloalkanes with Ad⁺ and other electrophilic reagents, such as “anthracene” (An₂)H⁺ and hydroxymethyl (CH₂OH)⁺ cations and Hg^II ions, including the points of the lower selectivity limit (k _H/k _D) = 1.4, (“5/6”) = 1. In the reactions with the Ad⁺ cation, the bond selectivity 3⁰: 2⁰ of alkanes is higher, while 2⁰: 2⁰ is lower compared to other reagents. In the first case, the selectivity is probably determined predominantly by the energies of the cleaved C–H bonds, whereas in the second case it is determined by steric hindrances. Judging by the kinetic and selectivity data in the series benzene—toluene—o-xylene—m-xylene and the absence of the reaction with p-xylene, mesitylene, and pseudocumene, it can be concluded that the main contribution to the Ad⁺ + ArH interaction is made by adamantylation to the para- and meta-positions of the benzene ring, whereas the ortho-positions are inaccessible to the attack because of steric hindrances. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1581–1596, August, 2008.     

Gas-phase reactions between thiourea and Ca2+: new evidence for the formation of [Ca(NH3)]2+ and other doubly charged species.

The gas-phase reactions between Ca(2+) and thiourea are investigated by means of electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry experiments. The MS/MS spectra of [Ca(thiourea)](2+) complexes show the appearance of new doubly charged species formed by the loss of NH(3) and HNCS. Other intense peaks at m/z 43, 56, 60, 73, 76 and 98 are also observed, and assigned to monocations produced in different coulomb-explosion processes. The structures and bonding characteristics of the different stationary points of the [Ca(thiourea)](2+) potential energy surface (PES) were theoretically studied by DFT calculations carried out at B3LYP/cc-pWCVTZ level. The analysis of the topology of this PES permits to propose different mechanisms for the loss of ammonia and HNCS, and to identify, the m/z 43, 56, 60, 73, 76 and 98 peaks as H(2)NCNH(+), CaNH(2) (+), H(2)NCS(+), CaSH(+), thiourea(+) and CaNCS(+) ions respectively. There are significant dissimilarities between the reactivity of urea and thiourea, which are related to the lower ionization energy of the latter, and to the fact that thioenols are intrinsically more stable than enols with respect to the corresponding keto forms.     

Gas-phase reactions of carbon dioxide with atomic transition-metal and main-group cations: room-temperature kinetics and periodicities in reactivity

The chemistry of carbon dioxide has been surveyed systematically with 46 atomic cations at room temperature using an inductively-coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. The atomic cations were produced at ca. 5500 K in an ICP source and allowed to cool radiatively and to thermalize by collisions with Ar and He atoms prior to reaction downstream in a flow tube in helium buffer gas at 0.35 +/- 0.01 Torr and 295 +/- 2 K. Rate coefficients and products were measured for the reactions of first-row atomic ions from K(+) to Se(+), of second-row atomic ions from Rb(+) to Te(+) (excluding Tc(+)), and of third-row atomic ions from Cs(+) to Bi(+). CO(2) was found to react in a bimolecular fashion by O atom transfer only with 9 early transition-metal cations: the group 3 cations Sc(+), Y(+), and La(+), the group 4 cations Ti(+), Zr(+), and Hf(+), the group 5 cations Nb(+) and Ta(+), and the group 6 cation W(+). Electron spin conservation was observed to control the kinetics of O atom transfer. Addition of CO(2) was observed for the remaining 37 cations. While the rate of addition was not measurable some insight was obtained into the standard free energy change, DeltaG(o), for CO(2) ligation from equilibrium constant measurements. A periodic variation in DeltaG(o) was observed for first row cations that is consistent with previous calculations of bond energies D(0)(M(+)-CO(2)). The observed trends in D(0) and DeltaG(o) are expected from the variation in electrostatic attraction between M(+) and CO(2) which follows the trend in atomic-ion size and the trend in repulsion between the orbitals of the atomic cations and the occupied orbitals of CO(2). Higher-order CO(2) cluster ions with up to four CO(2) ligands also were observed for 24 of the atomic cations while MO(2)(+) dioxide formation by sequential O atom transfer was seen only with Hf(+), Nb(+), Ta(+), and W(+).     

Formation and decay of doubly charged ions in n-alkanes from methane to triacontane

Coincidence techniques were used to study dissociative double ionization of selected n-alkanes from methane to triacontane (C₃₀H₆₂) and of the hexane isomers. Following photoionization at 40.8 eV, both covalent and coulombic dissociations of the molecular dications take place. The main decay route of doubly charged alkanes larger than butane is fast charge separation followed by secondary dissociation of energetic singly charged primary ions. A simulation based on quasi-equilibrium theory and the spectra of the isomers confirm this breakdown mechanism for hexane.     

Gas-phase reactions of atomic lanthanide cations with D2O: room-temperature kinetics and periodicity in reactivity.

Reactions of atomic lanthanide cations (excluding Pm+) with D2O have been surveyed in the gas phase using an inductively coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer to measure rate coefficients and product distributions in He at 0.35+/-0.01 Torr and 295+/-2 K. Primary reaction channels were observed corresponding to O-atom transfer, OD transfer and D2O addition. O-atom transfer is the predominant reaction channel and occurs exclusively with Ce+, Nd+, Sm+, Gd+, Tb+ and Lu+. OD transfer is observed exclusively with Yb+, and competes with O-atom transfer in the reactions with La+ and Pr+. Slow D2O addition is observed with early lanthanide cation Eu+ and the late lanthanide cations Dy+, Ho+, Er+ and Tm+. Higher-order sequential D2O addition of up to five D2O molecules is observed with LnO+ and LnOD+. A delay of more than 50 kcal mol(-1) is observed in the onset of efficient exothermic O-atom transfer, which suggests the presence of kinetic barriers of perhaps this magnitude in the exothermic O-atom transfer reactions of Dy+, Ho+, Er) and Tm+ with D2O. The reaction efficiency for O-atom transfer is seen to decrease as the energy required to promote an electron to make two non-f electrons available for bonding increases. The periodic trend in reaction efficiency along the lanthanide series matches the periodic trend in the electron-promotion energy required to achieve a d1s1 or d2 excited electronic configuration in the lanthanide cation, and also the periodic trends across the lanthanide row reported previously for several alcohols and phenol. An Arrhenius-like correlation is also observed for the dependence of D2O reactivity on promotion energy for early lanthanide cations, and exhibits a characteristic temperature of 2600 K.     

Gas-phase reactions of atomic lanthanide cations with CO2 and CS2: room-temperature kinetics and periodicities in reactivity

Gas-phase reactions of atomic lanthanide cations (excluding Pm+) have been surveyed systematically with CO2 and CS2 using an inductively coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. Observations are reported for reactions with La+, Ce+, Pr+, Nd+, Sm+, Eu+, Gd+, Tb+, Dy+, Ho+, Er+, Tm+, Yb+, and Lu+ at room temperature (295 +/- 2 K) in helium at a total pressure of 0.35 +/- 0.02 Torr. The observed primary reaction channels correspond to X-atom transfer (X = O, S) and CX2 addition. X-atom transfer is the predominant reaction channel with La+, Ce+, Pr+, Nd+, Gd+, Tb+, and Lu+, and CX2 addition occurs with the other lanthanide cations. Competition between these two channels is seen only in the reactions of CS2 with Nd+ and Lu+. Rate coefficient measurements indicate a periodicity in the reaction efficiencies of the early and late lanthanides. With CO2 the observed trends in reactivity across the row and with exothermicity follow trends in the energy required to achieve two unpaired non-f valence electrons by electron promotion within the Ln+ cation that suggest the presence of a kinetic barrier, in a manner much like those observed previously for reactions with isoelectronic N2O. In contrast, no such barrier is evident for S-atom transfer from the valence isolectronic CS2 molecule which proceeds at unit efficiency, and this is attributed to the much higher polarizability of CS2 compared to CO2 and N2O. Up to five CX2 molecules were observed to add sequentially to selected Ln+ and LnX+ cations.     

Gas-phase reactions of chromium and chromium fluoride cations CrFn+ (n = 0-4) with phosphane

The reactions of chromium and chromium fluoride monocations CrFn+ (n = 0-4) with phosphane are investigated by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Besides condensing slowly with phosphane, Cr+ is unreactive. The ionic products of the chromium fluoride cations are as follows: (i) CrF+ yields CrPH2+ and subsequently CrPH3+; (ii) from CrF2+, the ions PH3+, Cr+, and CrF2H+ are generated; and (iii) both CrF3+ and CrF4+ yield PH3+. The structure and formation of [Cr,P,H3]+ are investigated by collision-induced dissociation and isotopic labeling experiments. For the neutral species [P,H3,F2] formed by reaction of CrF2+ with phosphane, the structures are interrogated by quantum-mechanical calculations at the MP2/6-31++G** level of theory.     

Gas-phase combination reactions of SF4 and SF5 with F in plasmas of SF6

Reactions of both SF₄ and SF₅ with F have been studied at 295 K in a gas-flow reactor sampled by a mass spectrometer. The rate coefficient for the combination reaction of F with SF₄ to produce SF₅ was found to increase from (0.9 to 3.0)×10^–12 cm³ s^–1 when the helium bath gas number density was increased from (2 to 26)×10¹⁶ cm^–3. The values obtained here are three orders of magnitude higher than a recent estimate of the high-pressure value based on the modelling of photochemical studies. The experimental results have been compared with RRKM and master equation calculations in which a simplified Gorin model has been used to determine the structure of the transition state. These calculations show that reasonable agreement can be obtained between the experimental data and the calculation if a small (2 KJ/mol) activation energy is assumed. The rate coefficient for the reaction between SF₅ and F to produce SF₆ was found to be independent of helium bath gas number density within the range given above. The value obtained for the rate coefficient was 9×10^–12 cm³ s^–1 with an uncertainty of a factor of 2. This value is close to that of 1×10^–11 cm³ s^–1 computed from the simplified Gorin model and to the value of 1.7×10^–11 cm³ s^–1 deduced from modelling of photochemical experiments.     

Cyclization of n-alkylazinium cations with bisnucleophiles. 5. Cyclic adducts and recyclization products in the reactions of benzodiazinium cations with imido esters

The reaction of imido esters that contain an active methylene group with four isomeric benzodiazinium cations, viz., the 1-methylquinoxalinium, 2-methylcinnolinium, 3-methylquinazolinium, and 2-methylphthalazinium cations, was investigated. The 1-methylquinoxalinium cation reacts with imido esters via a scheme involving anionic [3^– +2]-cycloaddition to form tetrahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines. The 2-methylcinnolinium cation forms an adduct with an annelated pyrrole ring. Under the influence of imido esters, the 3-methylquinazolinium cation undergoes recyclization to a 2,3-disubstituted quinoline. The 2-methylphthalazinium cation is inert in this reaction.See [1] for Communication 4.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1549–1553, November, 1981.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations on the chemical reactions of positively charged phenyl radicals with cytosine and 1-methylcytosine

The chemical behavior of positively charged phenyl radicals toward cytosine, 1-methylcytosine, and some pyrimidine analogues in the gas phase was investigated both theoretically by performing molecular orbital calculations and experimentally by using FT/ICR mass spectrometry. The phenyl radicals react with cytosine and 1-methylcytosine predominately by hydrogen abstraction and addition. For cytosine, the preferred site for hydrogen abstraction appears to be the amino group, and addition occurs preferentially at the N3 and N1 positions of the keto and enol tautomeric forms, respectively. For 1-methylcytosine, the methyl group is the thermodynamically favored site for hydrogen abstraction and N3 for addition. Possible structures and formation mechanisms are suggested for two unknown product ions formed upon the reaction of cytosine with the 3-dehydro-N-phenylpyridinium radical cation.     

Gas-phase reactions of the bare Th2+ and U2+ ions with small alkanes, CH4, C2H6, and C3H8: experimental and theoretical study of elementary organoactinide chemistry

The gas-phase reactions of two dipositive actinide ions, Th(2+) and U(2+), with CH(4), C(2)H(6), and C(3)H(8) were studied by both experiment and theory. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was employed to study the bimolecular ion-molecule reactions; the potential energy profiles (PEPs) for the reactions, both observed and nonobserved, were computed by density functional theory (DFT). The experiments revealed that Th(2+) reacts with all three alkanes, including CH(4) to produce ThCH(2)(2+), whereas U(2+) reacts with C(2)H(6) and C(3)H(8), with different product distributions than for Th(2+). The comparative reactivities of Th(2+) and U(2+) toward CH(4) are well explained by the computed PEPs. The PEPs for the reactions with C(2)H(6) effectively rationalize the observed reaction products, ThC(2)H(2)(2+) and UC(2)H(4)(2+). For C(3)H(8) several reaction products were experimentally observed; these and additional potential reaction pathways were computed. The DFT results for the reactions with C(3)H(8) are consistent with the observed reactions and the different products observed for Th(2+) and U(2+); however, several exothermic products which emerge from energetically favorable PEPs were not experimentally observed. The comparison between experiment and theory reveals that DFT can effectively exclude unfavorable reaction pathways, due to energetic barriers and/or endothermic products, and can predict energetic differences in similar reaction pathways for different ions. However, and not surprisingly, a simple evaluation of the PEP features is insufficient to reliably exclude energetically favorable pathways. The computed PEPs, which all proceed by insertion, were used to evaluate the relationship between the energetics of the bare Th(2+) and U(2+) ions and the energies for C-H and C-C activation. It was found that the computed energetics for insertion are entirely consistent with the empirical model which relates insertion efficiency to the energy needed to promote the An(2+) ion from its ground state to a prepared divalent state with two non-5f valence electrons (6d(2)) suitable for bond formation in C-An(2+)-H and C-An(2+)-C activated intermediates.