A theoretical and experimental study of lead substitution in calcium hydroxyapatite

Characterization of lead substitution for calcium in hydroxyapatite (CaHA) is carried out, using experimental techniques and Density Functional theoretical (DFT) analyses. Theoretical modeling is used to obtain information of the Pb chemical environment for occupancy at either Ca(I) or Ca(II) sites of CaHA. Effects of the larger ionic radius of Pb(+2) compared to Ca(+2) are apparent in embedded cluster calculations of local chemical bonding properties. DFT periodic planewave pseudopotential studies are used to provide first-principles predictions of local structural relaxation and site preference for Pb(x)Ca(10-x)HA over the composition range x< or = 6. General characteristics of the polycrystalline material are verified by X-ray diffraction and FTIR analysis, showing the presence of a single phase of CaHA structure. A short range structure around lead is proposed in order to interpret the Pb L-edge EXAFS spectrum of the solid solution Ca(6.6)Pb(3.4)HA. In this concentration we observe that lead mainly occupies Ca(II) sites; the EXAFS fit slightly favors Pb clustering, while theory indicates the importance of Pb-Pb avoidance on site (II).     

Isomorphous substitutions of rare earth elements for calcium in synthetic hydroxyapatites

Polycrystalline hydroxyapatites Ca(10-x)REE(x)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2-x)O(x) were synthesized and studied by X-ray powder diffraction, infrared absorption, diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. The solubility limits x(max) of rare earth elements (REE) in Ca hydroxyapatites decreases with an increasing REE atomic number from x(max) = 2.00 for La, Pr, and Nd to x(max) = 0.20 for Yb at 1100 °C. Refinements of X-ray diffraction patterns by the Rietveld method show that REE atoms substitute for Ca preferentially at the Ca(2) sites of the apatite structure. The substitution decreases the Ca(2)-O(4) atomic distances in the calcium coordination polyhedra and increases the Ca(2)-O(1,2,3) distances. This observation shows that interatomic distances depend not only on radii of the ions involved in the substitution but also on their charges.     

Controlled synthesis of ternary II-II'-VI nanoclusters and the effects of metal ion distribution on their spectral properties

The reaction of [(3,5-Me(2)-C(5)H(3)N)(2)Zn(ESiMe(3))(2)] (E = Se, Te) with cadmium(II) acetate in the presence of PhESiMe(3) and P(n)Pr(3) at low temperature leads to the formation of single crystals of the ternary nanoclusters [Zn(x)()Cd(10)(-)(x)()E(4)-(EPh)(12)(P(n)()Pr(3))(4)] [E = Se, x = 1.8 (2a), 2.6 (2b); Te, x = 1.8 (3a), 2.6 (3b)] in good yield. The clusters [Zn(3)Hg(7)Se(4)(SePh)(12)(P(n)()Pr(3))(4)] (4) and [Cd(3.7)Hg(6.3)Se(4)(SePh)(12)(P(n)()Pr(3))(4)] (5) can be accessed by similar reactions involving [(3,5-Me(2)-C(5)H(3)N)(2)Zn(SeSiMe(3))(2)] or [(N,N'-tmeda)Cd(SeSiMe(3))(2)] (1) and mercury(II) chloride. The metal silylchalcogenolate reagents are efficient delivery sources of {ME(2)} in cluster synthesis, and thus, the metal ion content of these clusters can be readily moderated by controlling the reaction stoichiometry. The reaction of cadmium acetate with [(3,5-Me(2)-C(5)H(3)N)(2)Zn(SSiMe(3))(2)], PhSSiMe(3), and P(n)()Pr(3) affords the larger nanocluster [Zn(2.3)Cd(14.7)S(4)(SPh)(26)(P(n)()Pr(3))(2)] (6). The incorporation of Zn(II) into {Cd(10)E} (E = Se, Te) and Zn(II) or Cd(II) into {Hg(10)Se} nanoclusters results in a significant blue shift in the energy of the first "excitonic" transition. Solid-state thermolysis of complexes 2 and 3 reveals that these clusters can be used as single-source precursors to bulk ternary Zn(x)Cd(1)(-)(x)E materials as well as larger intermediate clusters and that the metal ion ratio is retained during these reactions.     

The crystal chemistry of Ca(10-y)(SiO4)3(SO4)3Cl(2-x-2y)F(x) ellestadite

Fluor-chlorellestadite solid solutions Ca(10)(SiO(4))(3)(SO(4))(3)Cl(2-x)F(x), serving as prototype crystalline matrices for the fixation of hazardous fly ash, were synthesized and characterized by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction (PXRD and PND), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The lattice parameters of the ellestadites vary linearly with composition and show the expected shrinkage of unit cell volume as fluorine (IR = 1.33 ?) displaces chlorine (IR = 1.81 ?). FTIR spectra indicate little or no OH(-) in the solid solutions. All compositions conform to P6(3)/m symmetry where F(-) is located at the 2a (0, 0, (1)/(4)) position, while Cl(-) is displaced out of the 6h Ca(2) triangle plane and occupies 4e (0, 0, z) split positions with z ranging from 0.336(3) to 0.4315(3). Si/S randomly occupy the 6h tetrahedral site. Ellestadites rich in Cl (x ≤ 1.2) show an overall deficiency in halogens (<2 atom per formula unit), particularly Cl as a result of CaCl(2) volatilization, with charge balance achieved by the creation of Ca vacancies (Ca(2+) + 2Cl(-) →□(Ca) + 2□(Cl)) leading to the formula Ca(10-y)(SiO(4))(3)(SO(4))(3)Cl(2-x-2y)F(x). For F-rich compositions the vacancies are found at Ca(2), while for Cl-rich ellestadites, vacancies are at Ca(1). It is likely the loss of CaCl(2) which leads tunnel anion vacancies promotes intertunnel positional disorder, preventing the formation of a P2(1)/b monoclinic dimorph, analogous to that reported for Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)Cl(2). Trends in structure with composition were analyzed using crystal-chemical parameters, whose systematic variations served to validate the quality of the Rietveld refinements.     

Synthesis and proposed crystal structure of a disordered cadmium arsenate apatite Cd5(AsO4)3Cl(1-2x-y)O(x)[symbol: see text](x)OH(y)

During a study into the synthesis of minerals composed of mining wastes aimed at improving their immobilisation, a cadmium arsenate apatite has been prepared by hydrothermal methods. The structure of this apatite was analysed by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and was found to consist of a standard apatite framework based on Cd(5)(AsO(4))(3)X, where X represents an anion resident on the (0,0,0.25) site. The framework is hexagonal with the space group P6(3)/m(no 176), a= 9.9709(8), c= 6.4916(4)[Angstrom]. The X ion site is predominantly occupied by Cl(-) ions; however due to significant shortening of the c axis exhibited by all cadmium containing apatite phases, a pure chlorapatite is not possible without a significant cation deficiency. No evidence of the necessary deficiency was found in the crystal structure. For larger bromo- and iodo-apatites significant modulations along the c-axis are required to accommodate the halide. This paper examines a number of compensation mechanisms and proposes that a minor disorder of chloride, oxide and hydroxide located on the X ion site provides the required charge compensation mechanism. This is contrary to previous complex modulations proposed in the literature. The proposed chemical formula is Cd(5)(AsO(4))(3)Cl(1-2x-y)O(x)[symbol:see text](x)OH(y) where [symbol: see text] represents a vacancy.     

Syntheses of Cationic, Six-Coordinate Cadmium(II) Complexes Containing Tris(pyrazolyl)methane Ligands. Influence of Charge on Cadmium-113 NMR Chemical Shifts

Treating a thf (thf = tetrahydrofuran) suspension of Cd(acac)(2) (acac = acetylacetonate) with 2 equiv of HBF(4).Et(2)O results in the immediate formation of [Cd(2)(thf)(5)](BF(4))(4) (1). Crystallization of this complex from thf/CH(2)Cl(2) yields [Cd(thf)(4)](BF(4))(2) (2), a complex characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 7.784(2) ?, b = 10.408(2) ?, c = 14.632(7) ?, beta = 94.64(3) degrees, V = 1181.5(6) ?(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0484. The geometry about the cadmium is octahedral with a square planar arrangement of the thf ligands and a fluorine from each (BF(4))(-) occupying the remaining two octahedral sites. Reactions of [Cd(2)(thf)(5)](BF(4))(4) with either HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3) or HC(3-Phpz)(3) yield the dicationic, homoleptic compounds {[HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)](2)Cd}(BF(4))(2) (3) and {[HC(3-Phpz)(3)](2)Cd}(BF(4))(2) (4) (pz = 1-pyrazolyl). The solid state structure of 3 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: rhombohedral, R&thremacr;, a = 12.236(8) ?, c = 22.69(3) ?, V = 2924(4) ?(3), Z = 3, R = 0.0548. The cadmium is bonded to the six nitrogen donor atoms in a trigonally distorted octahedral arrangement. Four monocationic, mixed ligand tris(pyrazolyl)methane-tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes {[HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)][HB(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)]Cd}(BF(4)) (5), {[HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)][HB(3-Phpz)(3)]Cd}(BF(4)) (6), {[HC(3-Phpz)(3)][HB(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)]Cd}(BF(4)) (7), and {[HC(3-Phpz)(3)][HB(3-Phpz)(3)]Cd}(BF(4)) (8) are prepared by appropriate conproportionation reactions of 3or 4 with equimolar amounts of the appropriate homoleptic neutral tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes [HB(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)](2)Cd or [HB(3-Phpz)(3)](2)Cd. Solution (113)Cd NMR studies on complexes 3-8 demonstrate that the chemical shifts of the new cationic, tris(pyrazolyl)methane complexes are very similar to the neutral tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes that contain similar substitution of the pyrazolyl rings.     

Reactions of laser-ablated zinc and cadmium atoms with CO: infrared spectra of the Zn(CO)x (x = 1-3), CdCO-, and Cd(CO)2 molecules in solid neon

Reactions of laser-ablated zinc and cadmium atoms with carbon monoxide molecules in solid neon have been investigated using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy. Based on the isotopic substitution, absorptions at 1852.2, 1901.9, 1945.9, and 1995.2 cm(-1) are assigned to the C-O stretching vibrations of the ZnCO, Zn(CO)(2), and Zn(CO)(3) molecules. Absorptions at 1735.8, 1961.3, and 2035.7 cm(-1) are assigned to the C-O stretching vibrations of the CdCO(-) and Cd(CO)(2) molecules. In contrast with the previous argon experiments, more species and more valuable information about the reaction of zinc and cadmium atoms with CO have been obtained in solid neon. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these zinc and cadmium carbonyls. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts substantiates the identification of these carbonyls from the matrix infrared spectrum. The present experiments also reveal that zinc is more reactive with CO than cadmium.     

Computational evidence for a variable first shell coordination of the cadmium(II) ion in aqueous solution

In this paper, we present a state-of-the-art 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation of a cadmium(II) aqueous solution that highlights a very flexible ion first coordination shell which transits between hexa- and heptahydrated complexes. From this investigation, a dynamical picture of the water exchange process emerges that takes place through an associative mechanism for the solvent substitution reaction. Our procedure starts from the generation of an effective two-body potential from quantum mechanical ab initio calculations in which the many-body ion-water terms are accounted for by the polarizable continuum method (PCM). This approach is computationally very efficient and has allowed us to carry out extremely long molecular dynamics simulations, indispensable to reproduce the dynamic properties of the cadmium(II) aqueous solution. Quantum mechanical ab initio calculations of the hexa- and heptahydrated complexes extracted from MD configurations have revealed stable minima for both clusters with the water molecules arranged in T(h)() and C(2) symmetries in the hexa- and heptahydrated complexes, respectively, with a slight energetic preference for the heptahydrated one. Finally, a comparison of the calculated hexa- and heptahydrated cluster IR and Raman spectra with the experimental data in the literature, has demonstrated that the IR spectroscopy is not able to distinguish between the two species, whereas the Raman spectrum of the Cd(2+)-(H(2)O)(7) cluster provides a better agreement with the experimental data.     

First-principles study of K and Cs adsorbed on Pd(111)

The adsorptions of K and Cs on Pd(111) were studied by the density functional calculations within the generalized gradient approximation. The site preference, bonding character, work function, and electron structure of the system were analyzed. For K and Cs adsorption, the hcp hollow site was found to be preferred for all the coverages investigated. The calculated adsorption geometries for (2 x 2) and (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees phases are both in reasonable agreement with the observed results. The decrease of the work function upon the adsorption of K and Cs can be attributed to a dipole moment associated with the polarized adsorbate atom, which is characterized by depletion of the electron charge in the alkali metal layer and a charge accumulation in the interface region. Our results indicate that the bonding of alkali metal with the Pd(111) surface has a mixed ionic and metallic bond character at low coverage and a metallic bond of covalent character at high coverage.     

Probing spin density and local structure in the Prussian blue analogues CsCd[Fe/Co(CN)6]·0.5H2O and Cd3[Fe/Co(CN)6]2·15H2O with solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy

Magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy is used to study the local structure and spin delocalisation in Prussian blue analogues (PBAs). We selected two common archetypes of PBAs (A(I)M(II)[M(III)(CN)(6)]·xH(2)O and M(II)(3)[M(III)(CN)(6)](2)·xH(2)O, in which A(I) is an alkali ion, and M(II) and M(III) are transition-metal ions) that exhibit similar cubic frameworks but different microscopic structures. Whereas the first type of PBA contains interstitial alkali ions and does not exhibit any [M(III)(CN)(6)](3-) vacancies, the second type of PBA exhibits [M(III)(CN)(6)](3-) vacancies, but does not contain inserted alkali ions. In this study, we selected Cd(II) as a divalent metal in order to use the (113)Cd nuclei (I=1/2) as a probe of the local structure. Here, we present a complete MAS NMR study on two series of PBAs of the formulas Cd(II)(3)[Fe(III)(x)Co(III)(1-x)(CN)(6)](2)·15H(2)O with x=0 (1), 0.25 (2), 0.5 (3), 0.75 (4) and 1 (5), and CsCd(II)[Fe(III)(x)Co(III)(1-x)(CN)(6)]·0.5H(2)O with x=0 (6), 0.25 (7), 0.5 (8), 0.75 (9) and 1 (10). Interestingly, the presence of Fe(III) magnetic centres in the vicinity of the cadmium sites has a magnifying-glass effect on the NMR spectrum: it induces a striking signal spread such that the resolution is notably improved compared to that achieved for the diamagnetic PBAs. By doping the sample with varying amounts of diamagnetic Co(III) and comparing the NMR spectra of both types of PBAs, we have been able to give a view of the structure which is complementary to that usually obtained from X-ray diffraction studies. In particular, this study has shown that the vacancies are not randomly distributed in the mesoporous PBAs. Moreover the cadmium chemical shift, which is a measure of the hyperfine coupling, allows the estimation of the spin density on the cadmium nucleus, and consequently, the elucidation of the spin delocalisation mechanism in these compounds along with its dependency on structural parameters.     

Heteroatomic Centering of Icosahedral Clusters. Crystal and Electronic Structure of the K(6)(NaCd)(2)Tl(12)Cd Compound Containing the Not-So-Naked Tl(12)Cd(12-) Polyanion

The title compound was synthesized in a niobium container by fusion of the elements followed by slow cooling. In the first stage, the stoichiometric proportion KNaCd(3)Tl(7) yielded a heterogeneous product containing a few single crystals of the compound K(6)(Na(2.36(9))Cd(1.64(9)))Tl(12)Cd, the structure of which was established by a single crystal X-ray diffraction technique (cubic, Im&thremacr;, a = 11.352(2) ?, Z = 2, R(F) = 3.24%, Rw(F) = 4.60%). Occurrence of a stoichiometry range for the compound was indicated after a new reaction starting from the composition K(6)Na(2)Cd(3)Tl(12) gave a quite homogeneous and well-crystallized product (refined composition K(6)(Na(1.93(7))Cd(2.07(7)))Tl(12)Cd, Im&thremacr;, a = 11.321(2) ?, Z = 2, R(F) = 3.98%, Rw(F) = 4.99%). The structure of K(6)(NaCd)(2)Tl(12)Cd is distinguishable from that reported for Na(4)K(6)Tl(13) by replacement of the icosahedron centering thallium and of half the sodium cations by cadmium. Statistical occupation disorder occurs on the 8(c) position of the outer Cd/Na atom. The structure contains the 50-electron closed shell centered Tl(12)Cd(12-) icosahedral cluster with &thremacr;m symmetry (T(h)). Extended Hückel molecular orbital and band calculations were carried out to analyze the centering effect on the anion stability and look at the electron transfer, especially from cadmium lying within the first coordination shell of the icosahedral cluster. Electron localization within the Cd-centered icosahedron is not as evident as in the Tl-centered thallium icosahedral clusters described elsewhere; actually, cadmium is found to bridge icosahedra within a more three-dimensional network than sodium by forming bonds that are mainly covalent. The compound is a semiconducting Zintl phase with closed shell bonding.     

Potentiometric-spectroscopic evaluation of metal-ion complexes by humic fractions extracted from corn tissue

Humic fraction (HF) functional group-type and content are expected to depend on molecular size, which in turn, is expected to influence formation of heavy-metal complexes. In this study, corn (Zea mays L.) stalks and leaves were decomposed for an 8-month period to produce water-soluble humic substances. These substances were separated into three water-soluble fractions, HF1, HF2 and HF3, from highest to lowest relative molecular size. Functional group determination showed that carboxylic, and phenolic OH acidity increased as relative molecular size of humic fractions decreased. We also observed decreasing C/O ratios from larger to smaller corn tissue-derived humic fractions, whereas N/C and H/C ratios remained relatively unaffected. Furthermore, using potentiometric titration and FTIR spectroscopy we studied formation of Ca2+-, Cd2+-, and Cu2+-humic fraction complexes and how they were affected by pH and molecular size. We determined that metal-humic complexes exhibited at least two types of functional group-sites with respect to Ca2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ complexation. Strength of metal-ion humic complexes followed the order Cu2+ > Cd2+ > Ca2+ and was affected by pH, especially for low affinity sites. Carboxylic groups were most likely the dominant group-sites involved in complex formation. Magnitude of the metal-humic formation constants in the logarithmic form at the lowest equilibrium metal-ion concentration, under the various pH values tested, varied from 5.39 to 5.90 for Ca2+, 5.36 to 6.01 for Cd2+, and 6.93 to 7.71 for Cu2+. Furthermore, the formation constants appeared to be positively influenced by decreasing molecular size of water-soluble humic fraction, and increasing pH. However, our molecular spectra showed that the pKa of corn humic fractions increased with decreasing relative molecular size and that Cu2+ was more covalently bonded by humic fractions than were Ca2+ and Cd2+, and the nature of the covalent bond character was independent of pH.     

Structure Refinement and Two-Center Luminescence of Ca(3)La(3)(BO(3))(5):Ce(3+) under VUV-UV Excitation

A series of Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) phosphors were prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. Rietveld refinement was performed using the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, which shows occupation of Ce(3+) on both Ca(2+) and La(3+) sites with a preferred location on the La(3+) site over the Ca(2+) site. The prepared samples contain minor second phase LaBO(3) with contents of ～0.64-3.27 wt % from the Rietveld analysis. LaBO(3):1%Ce(3+) was prepared as a single phase material and its excitation and emission bands were determined for identifying the influence of impurity LaBO(3):Ce(3+) luminescence on the spectra of the Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) samples. The luminescence properties of Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) samples under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and UV excitation were investigated, which exhibited two-center luminescence of Ce(3+), assigned to the Ce(1)(3+) center in the La(3+) site and Ce(2)(3+) center in the Ca(2+) site, taking into account the spectroscopic properties and the Rietveld refinement results. The influences of the doping concentration and the excitation wavelength on the luminescence of Ce(3+) in Ca(3)La(3(1-x))Ce(3x)(BO(3))(5) are discussed together with the decay characteristics.     

Assembly of tetra, di and mononuclear molecular cadmium phosphonates using 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylphosponic acid and ancillary ligands

The reaction of ArPO(3)H(2) (Ar = 2,4,6-iPr(3)-C(6)H(2)) with Cd(CH(3)COO)(2).2H(2)O using various co-ligands such as methanol, dimethylformamide (DMF) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMPZH) resulted in the formation of tetranuclear assemblies [Cd(4)(ArPO(3))(2)(ArPO(3)H)(4)(CH(3)OH)(4)].3(CH(3)OH) (1), [Cd(4)(ArPO(3))(2)(ArPO(3)H)(4)(DMF)(4)].3(DMF) (2) and [Cd(4)(ArPO(3))(2)(ArPO(3)H)(4)(DMF)(2)(DMPZH)(2)].2(DMF).2(H(2)O) (3). In all of these compounds the tetranuclear cadmium array, containing two five-coordinate and two six-coordinate cadmium atoms, is held together by two mu(4) capping [ArPO(3)](2-) and four anisobidentate mu(2) [ArPO(2)(OH)](-) ligands. Each cadmium atom is bound to an additional ancillary ligand. The reaction of ArPO(3)H(2) with Cd(CH(3)COO)(2).2H(2)O in the presence of the chelating ligand 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) leads to the exclusive formation of the dinuclear assembly [Cd(2)(ArPO(3)H)(4)(bipy)(2)].(CH(3)OH)(H(2)O) (4). The latter contains an eight-membered Cd(2)P(2)O(4) inorganic ring formed as a result of the bridging coordination action of two anisobidentate mu(2) [ArPO(2)(OH)](-) ligands. Each cadmium atom is bound by one chelating bipy and one monodentate [ArPO(2)(OH)](-) ligands. Use of four equivalents of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole leads to the formation of the mononuclear derivative [Cd(ArPO(3)H)(2)(DMPZH)(4)] (5). The molecular structure of the latter comprises of a central cadmium atom surrounded by six monodentate ligands. Four of these are neutral pyrazole ligands that occupy the equatorial plane; the remaining two are anionic phosphinate ligands which are present trans to each other. The thermal analysis of 1 and 4 reveals that the char residue obtained at 600 degrees C consists predominantly of Cd(2)P(2)O(7).     

Determination of the metal-binding cooperativity of wild-type and mutant calbindin D9K by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Since the initial reports showing the ability of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to study intact noncovalent biomolecular complexes, an increasing number of uses for this technique in studying biochemical systems is emerging. We have investigated the ability of ESI-MS to characterize the metal-binding properties of calcium (Ca2+) binding proteins by studying the incorporation of Ca2+ and cadmium (Cd2+) into wild-type and mutant calbindin D9K. ESI-MS showed that wild-type calbindin D9K binds two Ca2+ ions with similar affinities while the binding of two Cd2+ ions is sequential, as is the binding of the two Ca2+ or Cd2+ ions to the N56A mutant of calbindin. The binding of Ca2+ to the wild-type protein was clearly seen to be cooperative. These results demonstrate the potential efficacy of ESI-MS to discriminate between cooperative and independent site metal binding to metalloproteins.     

Site-selective metal binding by designed alpha-helical peptides

It is known that the designed alpha-helical peptide family TRI [(Ac-G(LKALEEK)4G-CONH2)], containing single site substitution of a cysteine for a leucine, is capable of binding Cd(II) within a three-stranded coiled coil. The binding affinity of cadmium is dependent upon the site of substitution, with cysteine incorporated at the a site leading to cadmium complexes of higher affinity than when a d site was modified. In this work we have examined whether this differential binding affinity can be expressed in a di-cysteine-substituted peptide in order to develop site specificity within a designed system. The peptide TRI L9CL19C was used to determine whether significant differences in binding affinities at nearly proximal sites could be achieved in a short designed peptide. On the basis of 113Cd, 1H NMR, and circular dichroic spectroscopies, we have shown that 1 equiv of Cd(II) binds exclusively at the a site. Only after that position is filled does the second site become populated. Thus, the TRI system represents the first example where stoichiometrically equivalent peptides with different sequences form the framework for designing molecular assemblies that show site-specific ion recognition. We propose that the distinct metal affinities are due to the cysteine conformers at different substitution points along the peptide. Furthermore, we have shown that site selectivity in biomolecules can be encoded into relatively short peptides with helical sequences and, therefore, do not necessarily require the extensive protein scaffolds found in natural systems.     

Chalcogenophilicity of mercury

Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to investigate the chalcogenophilicity of mercury (Hg) reported recently [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 647-655]. Molecules of different sizes have been studied including ME, [M(EH)(4)](n), M(SH)(3)EH (M = Cd, Hg; E = S, Se, Te; n = 0, 2+) and [Tm(Y)]MEZ complexes (Tm = tris(2-mercapto-1-R-imidzolyl)hydroborato; Y = H, Me, Bu(t); M = Zn, Cd, Hg; E = S, Se, Te; Z = H, Ph). The bonding of Cd and Hg in their complexes depends on the oxidation state of the metal and nature of the ligands. More electronegative ligands form bonds of ionic type with Cd and Hg while less electronegative ligands form bonds that are more covalent. The Cd-ligand bond distances are shorter for the ionic type of bonding and longer for the covalent type of bonding than those of the corresponding Hg-ligand bonds. The variation of this Cd/Hg bonding is in accordance with the ionic and covalent radii of Cd and Hg. The experimentally observed (shorter) Hg-Se and Hg-Te bond distances in [Tm(Bu(t))]HgEPh (E = S, Se, Te) are due to the lower electronegativity of Se and Te, crystal packing, and the presence of a very bulky group. The bond dissociation energy (BDE) for Hg is the highest for Hg-S followed by Hg-Se and Hg-Te regardless of complex type.     

Bis(mercaptoimidazolyl)(pyrazolyl)hydroborato complexes of zinc, cadmium, and cobalt: structural evidence for the enhanced tendency of zinc in biological systems to adopt tetrahedral M[S4] coordination

The bis(2-mercapto-1-methylimidazolyl)(pyrazolyl)hydroborato derivatives [pzBmMe]2Zn, [pzBmMe]2Co, and [pzBmMe]2Cd have been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Despite their common [pzBmMe]2M composition, each of these complexes adopts a different structure. Thus, (i) the zinc complex exhibits a tetrahedral Zn[S4] structure in which only the sulfur donors coordinate to zinc, (ii) the cobalt complex exhibits a trigonal-bipyramidal Co[S3NH] structure in which one of the pyrazolyl groups and one of the B-H groups coordinate to cobalt, and (iii) the cadmium complex exhibits a six-coordinate Cd[S4H2] structure in which both B-H groups interact with the cadmium center. These comparisons emphasize that zinc has a greater preference for tetrahedral M[S4] coordination than does either cobalt or cadmium, an observation that is in accord with the prevalent role of zinc in the structural sites of enzymes.     

Quantum chemical investigations and bonding analysis of iron complexes with mixed cyano and carbonyl ligands

The equilibrium structures and vibrational frequencies of the iron complexes [Fe(CN)(x)(CO)(y)](q) (x = 0-6 and y = 0-5) have been calculated at the BP86 level of theory. The nature of the Fe-CN and Fe-CO has been analyzed with an energy partitioning method. The calculated Fe-CO bond lengths are in good agreement with the results of X-ray structure analysis whereas the Fe-CN bonds are calculated somewhat longer than the experimental values. The theoretically predicted vibrational frequencies of the C-O stretching mode are always lower and the calculated CN(-) frequencies are higher than the observed fundamental modes. The results of the bonding analysis suggest that the Fe-CO binding interactions have approximately 55% electrostatic character and approximately 45% covalent character. There is a significant contribution of the pi orbital interaction to the Fe-CO covalent bonding which increases when the complexes become negatively charged. The strength of deltaE(pi) may even be larger than deltaE(sigma). The Fe-CN(-) bonds have much less pi character. The calculated binding energy of the Fe-CO pi-interactions correlates very well with the C-O stretching frequencies.