Dispersion of metallofullerene Y@C82 on bare, C60-modified, and iodine-modified Au(111) surfaces investigated with ECSTM

Two-dimensional (2D) assembling behaviors of the endohedral metallofullerene Y@C(82) on bare, C(60)-modified, and iodine-modified Au(111) surfaces have been investigated in 0.1 M HClO(4) solution employing electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM). The results show that Y@C(82) molecules are mobile and aggregate to the terrace edges on bare and C(60)-modified Au(111) surfaces, but monodispersion of the Y@C(82) molecules is achieved on the iodine-modified Au(111) surface. The improvement of Y@C(82) dispersion on an iodine-modified gold surface is due to the strong Y@C(82)-substrate interactions. The modified-substrate method provides an effective strategy to disperse endohedral metallofullerenes.     

Spectral study of reactions of La@C82 and Y@C82 with amino-containing solvents

A solvent effect on the electronic absorption UV-VIS and ESR spectra of La@C₈₂ and Y@C₈₂ was found. The UV-VIS spectra of La@C₈₂ in pyridine, dimethylformamide, and hexamethylphosphorotriamide are identical with that of the La@C₈₂ ^– anion, which is evidence for La@C₈₂ reduction in these solvents. In amino-containing solvents, the shape of the ESR spectra depends on the temperature and the time of preparation of the solutions. Changes in the ESR spectra of La@C₈₂ and Y@C₈₂ in dimethylformamide are due to functionalization of these compounds upon reduction.     

Radical coupling reaction of paramagnetic endohedral metallofullerene La@C82

The thermal reaction of La@C(82)(C(2v)) with 3-triphenylmethyl-5-oxazolidinone (1) in toluene affords benzyl monoadducts La@C(82)(C(2v))(CH(2)C(6)H(5)) (2a-2d). The same monoadducts are also obtained by the photoirradiation of La@C(82)(C(2v)) in toluene without the existence of 1. These reactions are applicable to paramagnetic metallofullerenes, such as La@C(82)(C(s)) and Ce@C(82)(C(2v)). The photoirradiation of La@C(82)(C(2v)) in 1,2-dichlorobenzene in the presence of alpha,alpha,2,4-tetrachlorotoluene also affords the monoadducts La@C(82)(C(2v))(CHClC(6)H(3)Cl(2)) (3a-3d). The monoadducts are fully characterized by spectroscopic analyses. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis for 3d reveals the unique structure. Theoretical calculations show that the cage carbons having high spin densities are selectively attacked by radical species to form the monoadducts linked by a carbon-carbon single bond. The thermal reaction of La@C(82)(C(2v)) with 1 in benzene affords metallofulleropyrrolidine La@C(82)(C(2v))(C(2)H(4)NCPh(3)) (5), unlike the reaction in toluene.     

Electrochemistry of metallofullerene films: the major isomer of Dy@C82

Solution-cast films of the major isomer of Dy@C(82) (Dy@C(82)(I)) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in acetonitrile. The films are found to display pronounced and stable redox responses in solution. The reduction/reoxidation processes exhibit large splittings between the first two reduction and reoxidation waves. However, a pair of reversible oxidation and rereduction waves is observed after the reoxidation of a reduced film. The characteristics and the inter-relationship of these waves are uncovered by the CV technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV/Vis-NIR spectra. A possible mechanism is proposed for the film electrode processes, which emphasizes the redox-induced structural reorganization of the metallofullerene film by the incorporation and expulsion of electrolyte ions into and out of the film. The influence of the counter ion diffusivity and the ion-pair stability on the electrochemical activity of the metallofullerene film has also been indicated.     

Theoretical investigation of ozone hydrate formation conditions

Structural, dynamic, and thermodynamic properties of ozone, oxygen, and mixed ozone-oxygen hydrates are investigated. The thermodynamic stability regions of these hydrates are found. Ozone can form hydrates at ambient pressure and temperatures below 230 K. Strong dependence of the binary hydrate formation pressure on the ozone concentration in the gas phase is shown. In the formation of the hydrate, ozone concentrates in the hydrate phase. At an ozone concentration of 5 mol.% in the gas phase, the ozone content in the hydrate reaches 40%.     

The structural determination of endohedral metallofullerene Gd@C(82) by XANES

Although the Gd ion in Gd@C(82) has been shown to lie above the C-C bond on the C(2) axis as an anomalous structure from the MEM/Rietveld analysis, the present XANES study reveals that it lies above the hexagon on the C(2) axis as a normal structure, and Gd oscillates around its equilibrium position with an amplitude increasing with temperature increase.     

Theoretical investigation of the first-shell mechanism of nitrile hydratase

The first-shell mechanism of nitrile hydratase (NHase) is investigated theoretically using density functional theory. NHases catalyze the conversion of nitriles to amides and are classified into two groups, the non-heme Fe(III) NHases and the non-corrinoid Co(III) NHases. The active site of the non-heme iron NHase comprises a low-spin iron (S=1/2) with a remarkable set of ligands, including two deprotonated backbone nitrogens and both cysteine-sulfenic and cysteine-sulfinic acids. A widely proposed reaction mechanism of NHase is the first-shell mechanism in which the nitrile substrate binds directly to the low-spin iron in the sixth coordination site. We have used quantum chemical models of the NHase active site to investigate this mechanism. We present potential energy profiles for the reaction and provide characterization of the intermediates and transition-state structures for the NHase-mediated conversion of acetonitrile. The results indicate that the first-shell ligand Cys114-SO- could be a possible base in the nitrile hydration mechanism, abstracting a proton from the nucleophilic water molecule. The generally suggested role of the Fe(III) center as a Lewis acid, activating the substrate toward nucleophilic attack, is shown to be unlikely. Instead, the metal is suggested to provide electrostatic stabilization to the anionic imidate intermediate, thereby lowering the reaction barrier.     

ESR spectra of endohedral metallofullerene Ce@C82 radical anions in dimethylformamide and pyridine

Endohedral metallofullerene Ce@C₈₂ dissolved in dimethylformamide or pyridine is reduced to the radical anion. Analysis of hyperfine coupling with the topologically different ¹³C nuclei indicates the electronic structure with bivalent cerium and the paramagnetic carbon framework Ce²⁺@C₈₂ ^·3–. The ESR spectra of the radical anions of the functionalized Ce@C₈₂ derivatives are detected.     

Structural determination of metallofullerene Sc3C82 revisited: a surprising finding

We report here the structural determination of the Sc3C82 molecule by 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. From the present study, it is obvious that the structure of Sc3C82 is not Sc3@C82 but Sc3C2@C80.     

Molecular recognition of La@C82 endohedral metallofullerene by an isophthaloyl-bridged porphyrin dimer

La@C₈₂ is recognized by an isophthaloyl-bridged porphyrin dimer forming a stable 1:1 supramolecular complex with an association constant K_assoc = (67.3 ± 3.2) × 10³ M⁻¹.     

Theoretical investigation of the reaction mechanism of the dinuclear zinc enzyme dihydroorotase

The reaction mechanism of the dinuclear zinc enzyme dihydroorotase was investigated by using hybrid density functional theory. This enzyme catalyzes the reversible interconversion of dihydroorotate and carbamoyl aspartate. Two reaction mechanisms in which the important active site residue Asp250 was either protonated or unprotonated were considered. The calculations establish that Asp250 must be unprotonated for the reaction to take place. The bridging hydroxide is shown to be capable of performing nucleophilic attack on the substrate from its bridging position and the role of Zn(beta) is argued to be the stabilization of the tetrahedral intermediate and the transition state leading to it, thereby lowering the barrier for the nucleophilic attack. It is furthermore concluded that the rate-limiting step is the protonation of the amide nitrogen by Asp250 coupled with C-N bond cleavage, which is consistent with previous experimental findings from isotope labeling studies.     

Ferromagnetic spin coupling between endohedral metallofullerene La@C82 and a cyclodimeric copper porphyrin upon inclusion

The cyclic host cyclo-[P(Cu)](2) carrying two covalently connected Cu(II) porphyrin units can accommodate La@C(82), a paramagnetic endohedral metallofullerene, in its cavity to form the inclusion complex cyclo-[P(Cu)](2)?La@C(82), which can be transformed into the caged complex cage-[P(Cu)](2)?La@C(82) by ring-closing olefin metathesis of its side-chain olefinic termini. On the basis of electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron spin transient nutation (ESTN) studies, cyclo-[P(Cu)](2)?La@C(82) is the first ferromagnetically coupled inclusion complex featuring La@C(82), whereas cage-[P(Cu)](2)?La@C(82) is ferrimagnetic.     

二苯甲酰甲烷互变异构反应机理溶剂效应的理论研究

采用密度泛函B3LYP方法,在6-31+G(d,p)基组水平上对二苯甲酰甲烷质子转移引起的酮式-烯醇式互变异构反应机理进行了计算研究,获得了零点能、总能量、吉布斯自由能及质子转移过程的反应焓、活化能、活化吉布斯自由能和速率常数等参数.3种非质子溶剂中的优化和频率计算采用Onsager模型进行计算.计算结果表明,不论在气相还是3种溶剂中,二苯甲酰甲烷的烯醇式较酮式稳定,烯醇式向酮式气相转变需要较高的活化能垒,在不同极性的溶剂中,随着溶剂介电常数的增大,异构化反应活化能垒减小,反应速率常数增大.     

Studies on metallofullerene (Dy@C82) embedded in a DDAB film in aqueous solution

The electrochemical behavior of metallofullerene (Dy@C82) in didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) films deposited on glassy carbon, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) gold crystals, and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes in aqueous solution was investigated in detail. Four pairs of reversible redox peaks were observed, and for the first time, these peaks were characterized by vis/NIR spectroscopy. Different from previous fullerene/cationic lipid modified electrodes, one oxidation and three reduction processes were observed. The stability of Dy@C82 and its ions in the film toward air was detected by measuring its cyclic voltammogram after holding the potentials for 10 s, followed by introducing 10 microL of air to the solution. Dy@C82 and its first three anions are stable toward air and water, while some chemical reactions take place when the third anion is further reduced in the film. Dy@C82+ is less stable than Dy@C82- toward water and air. The electrochemical processes were measured in different electrolytes, which showed pronounced anionic dependence on either its cation or anions. The electrochemical processes were also monitored using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and from the result a possible electron-transfer mechanism of a Dy@C82/DDAB electrode in aqueous solution was presented. It showed that the anions of Dy@C82 were bound to the DDA+ cation in the film, while the anions of electrolyte diffused into the film to compensate the positive charges when a cation of Dy@C82 was generated.     

Theoretical investigation into the mechanism of reductive elimination from bimetallic palladium complexes

Reductive elimination of C-Cl and C-C bonds from binuclear organopalladium complexes containing Pd-Pd bonds with overall formal oxidation state +III are explored by density functional theory for dichloromethane and acetonitrile solvent environments. An X-ray crystallographically authenticated neutral complex, [(L-C,N)ClPd(μ-O(2)CMe)](2) (L = benzo[h]quinolinyl) (I), is examined for C-Cl coupling, and the proposed cation, [(L-C,N)PhPd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)(2)Pd(2)(L-C,N)](+) (II), examined for C-C coupling together with (L-C,N)PhPd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)(2)Pd(2)Cl(L-C,N) (III) as a neutral analogue of II. In both polar and nonpolar solvents, reaction from III via chloride dissociation from Pd(2) to form II is predicted to be favored. Cation II undergoes Ph-C coupling at Pd(1) with concomitant Pd(1)-Pd(2) lengthening and shortening of the Pd(1)-O bond trans to the carbon atom of L; natural bond orbital analysis indicates that reductive coupling from II involves depopulation of the d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of Pd(1) and population of the d(z(2)) orbitals of Pd(1) and Pd(2) as the Pd-Pd bond lengthens. Calculations for the symmetrical dichloro complex I indicate that a similar dissociative pathway for C-Cl coupling is competitive with a direct (nondissociative) pathway in acetonitrile, but the direct pathway is favored in dichloromethane. In contrast to the dissociative mechanism, direct coupling for I involves population of the d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of Pd(1) with Pd(1)-O(1) lengthening, significantly less population occurs for the d(z(2)) orbital of Pd(1) than for the dissociative pathway, and d(z(2)) at Pd(2) is only marginally populated resulting in an intermediate that is formally a Pd(1)(I)-Pd(2)(III) species, (L-Cl-N,Cl)Pd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)Pd(2)Cl(O(2)CMe)(L-C,N) that releases chloride from Pd(2) with loss of Pd(I)-Pd(III) bonding to form a Pd(II) species. A similar process is formulated for the less competitive direct pathway for C-C coupling from III, in this case involving decreased population of the d(z(2)) orbital of Pd(2) and strengthening of the Pd(I)-Pd(III) interaction in the analogous intermediate with η(2)-coordination at Pd(1) by L-Ph-N, C(1)-C(2).