Shedding Light on the Enigmatic TcO2 ⋅ xH2O Structure with Density Functional Theory and EXAFS Spectroscopy**

The β-emitting ⁹⁹Tc isotope is a high-yield fission product in ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu nuclear reactors, raising special concern in nuclear waste management due to its long half-life and the high mobility of pertechnetate (TcO₄⁻). Under the conditions of deep nuclear waste repositories, Tc is retained through biotic and abiotic reduction of TcO₄⁻ to compounds like amorphous TcO₂ ⋅ xH₂O precipitates. It is generally accepted that these precipitates have linear (Tc(μ-O)₂(H₂O)₂)_n chains, with trans H₂O. Although corresponding Tc−Tc and Tc−O distances have been obtained from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, this structure is largely based on analogy with other compounds. Here, we combine density-functional theory with EXAFS measurements of fresh and aged samples to show that, instead, TcO₂ ⋅ xH₂O forms zigzag chains that undergo a slow aging process whereby they combine to form longer chains and, later, a tridimensional structure that might lead to a new TcO₂ polymorph.     

Extraction of moderate oxidation state technetium species between 30 % tri-n-butyl phosphate and H2SO4/HNO3

The extraction of technetium species at oxidation state lower than +7 has been examined in sulfuric and sulfuric/nitric acid solutions using UV–Vis spectroscopy and optically transparent thin layer cell (RVC-OTTLE). Soluble Tc(III), TcO²⁺ and [Tc₂O₂]³⁺ species with absorption bands at 420–450, 400, and 502 nm, respectively, were detected as products of pertechnetates electroreduction. The distribution ratios of ⁹⁹Tc with lower than +VII oxidation state ionic species between 4 M H₂SO₄ and 30 % TBP/kerosene were found and are significantly lower than for TcO₄ ^? in the same solution.     

Syntheses of High‐Valent fac‐[99mTcO3]+ Complexes and [3+2] Cycloadditions with Alkenes in Water as a Direct Labelling Strategy

Reported herein is a new concept for the labelling of biomolecules with small [^{99 m}TcO₃]⁺ complexes through a [3+2] cycloaddition with alkenes for radiopharmaceutical applications. We developed convenient reactions for the synthesis of small, water stable fac‐[TcO₃(tacn‐R)]⁺ complexes (⁹⁹Tc and ^99mTc, tacn=1,4,7‐triazacyclononane, R=H, ‐CH₂‐C₆H₅, ‐CH₂‐C₆H₄COOH). With alkenes, these high valent [^99mTcO₃]⁺ complexes undergo [3+2] cycloaddition with formation of the corresponding Tc^V–glycolato complexes. The ^99mTc^V and ^99mTc^VII complexes are stable at 37 °C in water and in the presence of serum proteins. Therefore, new opportunities in technetium chemistry are enabled with a high potential for medicinal and biological applications. In contrast to classical labelling, the presented strategy is ligand and not metal‐centred.     

Reduction of Pertechnetate by Chemical and Photochemical Approaches and Incorporation of Tc(IV) into Titanium Dioxide

Technetium-99 is a prevalent fission product from nuclear waste. The long half-life (211,000 yr) and environmental mobility of pertechnetate (TcO₄⁻) render Tc particularly challenging to isolate and stabilize. Here we present two approaches for development of potential wasteforms using titanium dioxide, TiO₂. Approach 1 is a low temperature chemical synthesis of TiO₂ doped with Tc(IV) from TcO₄⁻ intended to mimic the Tc waste stream from the UREX family of separations and removes 98.5 % of the Tc, mainly present as edge-shared Tc(IV) pairs. Approach 2 utilizes TiO₂ to photocatalytically reduce TcO₄⁻ to Tc(IV) stabilized on the surface of or within the TiO₂ lattice. The %Tc removed from solution and adsorbed to TiO₂ is pH dependent, with the maximum Tc(IV) adsorbed at pH 3–4 as either TcO₂ or edge-sharing Tc(IV) octahedra. The Tc(IV)-TiO₂ composites materials formed by both approaches are suitable for consolidation into a dense wasteform by Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIPing).     

Ligand exchange and complex formation kinetics studied by NMR exemplified on fac-[(CO)3M(H2O)] (M = Mn, Tc, Re)

In this review ligand exchange and complex formation reactions on fac-[(CO)₃M(H₂O)₃]⁺ (M = Mn, Tc, Re) and on fac-[(CO)₂(NO)Re(H₂O)₃]²⁺ are presented. A variety of experimental NMR techniques are described and it is shown that sometimes combinations of techniques applied at variable temperature or variable pressure allowed to measure exchange rate constants and their activation parameters as well as thermodynamic parameters. Furthermore, the use of uncommon nuclei for NMR like ¹⁷O or ⁹⁹Tc extends considerably the range of applications especially in aqueous solutions when ¹H NMR is often not very useful.Tricarbonyl triaqua complexes of technetium(I) and rhenium(I) became important precursors for a variety of radiopharmaceuticals under development. It has been shown that the fac-[(CO)₃M]-unit is kinetically inert and that water molecules bound to it can be easily replaced. Reactivity of the Re^I complexes is one to two orders of magnitude slower than its Tc^I analogues. Furthermore, it shows a marked acidity dependence which has not been observed for Tc^I and Mn^I species.     

Preparation,characterization, crystal and molecular structure of Na2[N(CH2COO)3 99Tc(IV) (μ-O)2 99Tc(IV)N(CH2COO)3] · 6H2O

The title compound and its potassium analog have been prepared from corresponding aqueous solutions of ⁹⁹TcO at pH ≈? 2 with SO₂ as a reducing agent. An X-ray structure determination of the Na-salt showed Tc coordinated to the tetradentate N(CH₂COO) ligand (NTA). Two Tc-NTA moieties are joined via two bridging O-atoms into a four-membered Tc₂O₂ ring. The observed diamagnetism, a strong absorption band at 19 950 cm^?1, and a short Tc-Tc distance of 2.363 Å are typical for the Tc₂O₂-fragment with its strong metal-metal interaction. The structural trans-influence at Tc and the network of H-bonds are consistent with Tc in oxidation state IV.     

Review of technetium chemistry research conducted at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

The chemistry of technetium is being explored at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Our goal is to investigate both the applied and fundamental aspects of technetium chemistry, with a special emphasis on synthesis, separations, and materials science. The synthetic chemistry focuses on metal–metal multiple bonding, oxides and halides. Synthesis and characterizations of (n-Bu₄N)₂Tc₂X₈, Tc₂(O₂CCH3)₄X₂ (X = Cl, Br), TcO₂, Bi₂Tc₂O₇, Bi₃TcO₈, TcBr₃ and TcBr₄ have been performed. The applied chemistry is related to the behavior of Tc in the UREX process. Separation of U/Tc has been conducted using anion exchange resin and metallic Tc waste form synthesized and characterized.     

Rate coefficients for reactions of OH radicals with CH3D,CH2D2, CHD3, and CD4

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) smog chamber techniques were used to investigate the atmospheric chemistry of the isotopologues of methane. Relative rate measurements were performed to determine the kinetics of the reaction of the isotopologues of methane with OH radicals in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units: k(CH₃D + OH) = (5.19 ± 0.90) × 10⁻¹⁵, k(CH₂D₂ + OH) = (4.11 ± 0.74) × 10⁻¹⁵, k(CHD₃ + OH) = (2.14 ± 0.43) × 10⁻¹⁵, and k(CD₄ + OH) = (1.17 ± 0.19) × 10⁻¹⁵ in 700 Torr of air diluent at 296 ± 2 K. Using the determined OH rate coefficients, the atmospheric lifetimes for CH_4–xD_x (x = 1–4) were estimated to be 6.1, 7.7, 14.8, and 27.0 years, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to previous measurements of these rate coefficients.     

Recovery of ammonium99Tc-pertechnetate from its reaction waste

A method is described for the recovery of NH₄ ⁹⁹TcO₄ from its reaction waste. From the collected waste solution⁹⁹Tc was precipitated as⁹⁹Tc₂S₇ which on digestion with ammoniacal hydrogen peroxide produced a mixture of NH₄ ⁹⁹TcO₄ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ from which the latter was removed by treatment with Ba(OH)₂. The solution fumished NH₄ ⁹⁹TcO₄ as a crystalline material in 54% overall yield and with 96–98% purity after chromatographic purification over Dowex 50W column. Recrystallisation of this material from aqueous ammoniacal ethanol gave the analytical material which compared well with a standard sample and with literature data in terms of its -counts/mg and its molar extinction co-efficients () at 244 and 286 nm.     

A comparative DFT study on the mechanism of olefin epoxidation catalyzed by substituted binuclear peroxotungstates ([SeO4WO(O2)2MO(O2)2]n− (M = TiIV,VV, TaV,MoVI, WVI,TcVII, and ReVII))

The selective epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by substituted binuclear peroxotungstates ([SeO₄WO(O₂)₂MO(O₂)₂]^n? (M = Ti^IV, V^V, Ta^V, Mo^VI, W^VI, Tc^VII, and Re^VII)) are investigated at the density functional theory level. The computational results reveal that the activation barrier corresponding to the oxygen transfer to the ethylene step decreases with M = V > Ti > Ta > Mo > W > Tc > Re. The Re and Tc substituted species can effectively improve the catalytic activity with lower Gibbs free energy barriers of 22.53 and 25.82 kcal/mol relative to the others under normal conditions. This suggests that Re and Tc center peroxo complexes would improve the catalytic performance. The higher activity of the substituted species is directly attributed to the lower energy of the σ*(O? O) orbital. The reaction barriers in epoxidation process are rationalized by analyzing the atomic charge, the O? O bond length, and the interaction between the substituted metal and the peroxo group of the precursor complexes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Formation of a Tc(III)-adenosine diphosphate complex

A⁹⁹Tc-ADP complex was prepared when KTcO₄ was reduced in aquous medium by SnCl₂, Na₂S₂O₄, NaBH₄ or Zn in the presence of ADP in excess. The resulting solution was studied by chromatography and spectrophotometry. Electrochemical reduction and substitution on [Tc^III(tu)₆]³⁺ were investigated as alternative synthetic routes. The anionic Tc-ADP complex was isolated as a solid. Cerimetric titrations confirmed the oxidation state +3 for the central atom. IR and¹H-NMR data showed that the purine base is bonded to the Tc central atom but not the ribose moiety. No oxo groups seemed to be directly bonded to the Tc atom. The complex is rather stable in neutral solutions. However, it decomposes to pertechnetate and TcO₂ at extreme pH values.     

Adsorption of 99TcO4 − onto hydrotalcite and calcined hydrotalcite under basic conditions: influence of humic acids and anions

The remediation of technetium-99 (⁹⁹Tc) at contaminated sites remains a major challenge, as Tc high solubility and anionic nature under oxic conditions lead to high contaminant mobility. Hydrotalcite, a form of anionic clay, can strongly retain anions, especially upon mineral calcination. However, naturally occurring humic acids can also sorb onto hydrotalcite, therefore competing with TcO₄ ^? for sorption sites. This work explores the ability of hydrotalcite to retain TcO₄ ^? in presence of humic substances to evaluate the efficacy of hydrotalcite for Tc remediation in natural environment. Results show that calcined hydrotalcite can immobilize TcO₄ ^?, while the presence of 23 ppm humic acids has little influence on TcO₄ ^? uptake. However, additional monatomic and polyatomic anions in solution can compete with TcO₄ ^? for sorption sites on hydrotalcite.     

A new nuclear spin selective reaction of molecular oxygen

During high-temperature (623–673 K) oxidation of polyarylenes (polypyromellitimide and polyphenylquinoxaline), the molecular oxygen is enriched in the¹⁸O nonmagnetic isotope and impoverished in the¹⁷O magnetic isotope. The isotope selection increases with the increase in the degree of conversion of oxygen. The spin-selective reaction responsible for the selection of the¹⁷O isotope is the addition of molecular oxygen to triplet exited aromatic fragments of macromolecules to give endoperoxides. This reaction, which is selective in terms of the electron spin, is also nuclear-spin selective resulting in a magnetic isotope effect. The selection of nonmagnetic isotopes,¹⁶O and¹⁸O, is caused by competition between the reversible and irreversible decomposition of endoperoxide and by the classical isotope effect in these reactions.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1402–1405, August, 1994.The authors are grateful to E. M. Galimov and I. V. Nikulina for high-quality isotope analyses and to the Russian Foundation for Basic Research for financial support (grant 93-03-5227).     

Formation of Tc metal in 12 M HCl using Zn as a reductant

Amorphous TcO₂ and NH₄TcO₄ solubilized into 12 M HCl will spontaneously convert to hexachlorotechnetate (TcCl₆ ^2?). This process is accelerated upon heating but species lower than Tc(IV) are not generated by this action. TcCl₆ ^2? is kinetically unstable with regards to formation in solutions of low concentrations of HCl and will spontaneously convert back to soluble and insoluble forms of Tc(IV) in water. TcCl₆ ^2? in 12 M HCl placed in contact with the reducing metal Zn at elevated temperatures (90 °C) forms a black precipitate that contains amorphous Tc metal, TcO₂, and oxy-chlorides of Tc. Powder X-ray diffraction indicates the presence of Tc metal after thermal treatment where X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy indicates the presence of hexagonal Tc metal and amorphous TcO₂ in the precipitate after rinsing with 12 HCl but before thermal treatment. The resulting solution contains a mixture of Tc chlorides and oxy-chlorides following reduction where TcCl₆ ^2? is completely consumed resulting primarily in Tc₂OCl₁₀ ^4? dominating the UV–visible spectra. Reducing the solution volume and reconstituting the products into 12 M HCl while boiling the mixed solution (>24 h) will slowly convert all soluble Tc back to TcCl₆ ^2?. Expanding on previous efforts made in this laboratory to recover Tc metal from aqueous solution, we investigate its synthesis when Tc(IV) and Tc(VII) in 12 M HCl is placed in contact with the reducing metal (i.e., Zn) at elevated temperatures.     

Unveiling the Uncommon Fluorescent Recognition Mechanism towards Pertechnetate Using a Cationic Metal–Organic Framework Bearing N-Heterocyclic AIE Molecules

As one of most problematic radionuclides, technetium-99, mainly in the form of anionic pertechnetate (TcO₄⁻), exhibits high environmental mobility, long half-life, and radioactive hazard. Due to low charge density and high hydrophobicity for this tetrahedral anion, it is extremely difficult to recognize it in water. Seeking efficient and selective recognition method for TcO₄⁻ is still a big challenge. Herein, a new water-stable cationic metal-organic framework (ZJU-X8) was reported, bearing tetraphenylethylene pyrimidine-based aggregation-induced emission (AIE) ligands and attainable silver sites for TcO₄⁻ detection. ZJU-X8 underwent an obvious spectroscopic change from brilliant blue to flavovirens and exhibited splendid selectivity towards TcO₄⁻. This uncommon fluorescent recognition mechanism was well elucidated by batch sorption experiments and DFT calculations. It was found that only TcO₄⁻ could enter into the body of ZJU-X8 through anion exchange whereas other competing anions were excluded outside. Subsequently, after interaction between TcO₄⁻ and silver ions, the electron polarizations from pyrimidine rings to Ag⁺ cations significantly lowered the energy level of the π* orbital and thus reduced the π–π* energy gap, resulting in a red-shift in the fluorescent spectra.     

A model study on the mechanism and kinetics for the dissociation of water anion

Quantum chemical computations using both density functional theory (B3LYP functional) and wavefunction (MP2 and CCSD(T)) methods, with the 6-311++G(3df,2p) and aug-cc-pVnZ (n = D,T,Q) basis sets, in conjunction with a polarizable continuum model (PCM) method for treating structures in solution, were carried out to look again at a series of small negatively charged water species [(H₂O)_n]^•–. For each size n of [(H₂O)_n]^•– in aqueous solution with n = 2, 3, and 4, two distinct structural motifs can be identified: a classical water radical anion formed by hydrogen bonds and a molecular pincer in which the excess electron is directly interacting with H atoms. In aqueous solution, both motifs have comparable energy content and likely coexist and compete for the ground state. Some water anion isomers can dissociate when interaction with a water molecule, [(H₂O)_n]^•– + H₂O → H^•(H₂O)_m + OH^–(H₂O)_n–m, through successive hydrogen transfers with moderate energy barriers. This reaction can also be regarded as a water-splitting process in which the H transfers involved take place mainly within a water trimer, whereas other water molecules tend to stabilize transition structures through microsolvation rather than direct participation. Calculated absolute rate constants for the reversed reaction H^•(H₂O)₂ + OH^–(H₂O)₂ → [(H₂O)₄]^•־ + H₂O with both H and D isotopes agree well with the experimentally evaluated counterpart and lend a kinetic support for the involvement of a tetramer unit.     

Contribution to the coordination chemistry of technetium

The universal use of radiophamaceuticals labeled with^99mTc has led to the development of many Tc complexes containing^99mTc⁴⁺ or⁹⁹Tc⁵⁺. In order to assess the correlation between the physiological properties and the chemcial structure of a^99mTc complex, milligramm amounts of the corresponding long-lived^99gTc compound have to be synthesized and analyses. This report describes the synthesis and characterization of several new technetium complexes with ligands containing N, O and S as donor atoms.     

The interconversion mechanism between TcO3+ and TcO2 + core of 99mTc labeled amine-oxime (AO) complexes

Density functional theory, employing B3LYP/DZVP and B3LYP/6-31G*(LANL2DZ for Tc), has been used to investigate the interconversion mechanism between formal TcO³⁺ and TcO₂ ⁺ core of ^99mTc labeled amine-oxime (AO) complex, in which two water molecules have been used to simulate the possible interconversion process. The obtained results indicate that the length of amine-amine hydrocarbon backbone of AO ligand has a significant influence on the stabilities of formal TcO³⁺ and TcO₂ ⁺ complex. The interconversion process between TcO–BnAO and TcO₂–BnAO has been amply discussed, which releases the useful information for the further investigation of the structure and hypoxic mechanism of ^99mTc-HL91.     

Adsorption behavior of <Superscript>99</Superscript>Tc on Fe,Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Summary The adsorption of ⁹⁹Tc on the adsorbers Fe, Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ was studied by batch experiments under aerobic and anoxic conditions. The effects of pH and CO₃^2- concentration of the simulated ground water on the adsorption ratios were also investigated, and the valences of Tc in solution after the adsorption equilibrium were studied by solvent extraction. The adsorption isotherms of TcO₄- on the adsorbers Fe, Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ were determined. Experimental results have shown that the adsorption ratio of Tc on Fe decreases with the increase of pH in the range of 5-12 and increases with the decrease of the CO₃^2- concentration in the range of 10^-8M-10^-2M. Under aerobic conditions, the adsorption ratios of ⁹⁹Tc on Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ were not influenced by pH and CO₃^2-concentration. When Fe was used as adsorbent, Tc existed mainly in the form of Tc(IV) after equilibrium and in the form of Tc(VII) when the adsorbent was Fe₂O₃ or Fe₃O₄ under aerobic conditions. The adsorption ratios of Tc on Fe, Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ decreased with the increase of pH in the range of 5-12 and increased with the decrease of the CO₃^2- concentration in the range of 10^-8M-10^-2M under anoxic conditions. Tc existed mainly in the form of Tc(IV) after equilibrium when Fe, Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ was the adsorbent under anoxic conditions. The adsorption isotherms of TcO_4- on the adsorbers Fe, Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ are fairly in agreement with the Freundlich’s equation under both aerobic and anoxic conditions.