A unique coordination environment for an ion: EXAFS studies and bond valence model approach of the encapsulated cation in the Preyssler anion

X-Ray absorption spectroscopy was used to probe the coordination of different encrypted cations in the Preyssler anions [M(n+)P5W(30)O(110)]((15-n)-)(M(n+)= Sr2+, Am3+, Eu3+, Sm3+, Y3+, Th4+, U4+ in decreasing order of ionic radius, IR), hereafter abbreviated [M(n+)PA](15-n)-. The increase of the M-W distance and the decrease of the M-P distance with increasing M ionic radius reveal that the M cation is displaced along the C5 axis within the Preyssler cavity. The slight change (0.07 A) of the M-O distance that does not correspond to the IR difference of 0.27 A confirms that the cavity retains its rigidity upon cation substitution. Geometric modeling of the encapsulated cation in the channel was performed for comparison to the EXAFS results. The position of the cation in the cavity was calculated as well as the M-O10, -W5 and -P5 distances. This modeling confirms the cation displacement toward the center of the Preyssler anion as the cation size increases, which is understood in terms of the non-homogenous electrostatic potential present within the cavity. The bond valence model approach was applied to obtain experimental bond valences. Only the bond valence sum (BVS) of Am3+ is close to its actual charge. Sums smaller than the actual valences of the +3 and +4 ions (2.39-2.63 for +3 cations, Y, Sm, Eu; 3.17 and 3.38 for +4 cations, U and Th, respectively) were obtained, and a larger sum (2.89) was obtained for Sr2+. The deviations from the formal M sums of the encapsulated ions are attributed to the rigidity of the Preyssler framework. The tendency toward coordinative unsaturation for electroactive cations, such as Eu3+, is thought to be the driving force for facile reduction. Unlike other inorganic chelating ligands, the Preyssler anion provides a unique redox system to stabilize an electroactive cation in a low oxidation state.     

Factors governing the substitution of La3+ for Ca2+ and Mg2+ in metalloproteins: a DFT/CDM study

Trivalent lanthanide cations are extensively being used in biochemical experiments to probe various dication-binding sites in proteins; however, the factors governing the binding specificity of lanthanide cations for these binding sites remain unclear. Hence, we have performed systematic studies to evaluate the interactions between La3+ and model Ca2+ - and Mg2+ -binding sites using density functional theory combined with continuum dielectric methods. The calculations reveal the key factors and corresponding physical bases favoring the substitution of trivalent lanthanides for divalent Ca2+ and Mg2+ in holoproteins. Replacing Ca2+ or Mg2+ with La3+ is facilitated by (1) minimizing the solvent exposure and the flexibility of the metal-binding cavity, (2) freeing both carboxylate oxygen atoms of Asp/Glu side chains in the metal-binding site so that they could bind bidentately to La3+, (3) maximizing the number of metal-bound carboxylate groups in buried sites, but minimizing the number of metal-bound carboxylate groups in solvent-exposed sites, and (4) including an Asn/Gln side chain for sites lined with four Asp/Glu side chains. In proteins bound to both Mg2+ and Ca2+, La3+ would prefer to replace Ca2+, as compared to Mg2+. A second Mg2+-binding site with a net positive charge would hamper the Mg2+ --> La3+ exchange, as compared to the respective mononuclear site, although the La3+ substitution of the first native metal is more favorable than the second one. The findings of this work are in accord with available experimental data.     

单一阴离子交换柱同时分离有机酸和无机阴阳离子

研究了用乙二胺四乙酸（ＥＤＴＡ）作淋洗液时，性质迥异的有机酸、无机阴离子和碱土金属离子（Ｃａ＾２＋、Ｍｇ＾２＋）在同一阴离子交换柱上的同时分离以及保留机理，结果表明，在离子交换机理之外，非离子交换机理对有机酸及钙镁的ＥＤＴＡ络阴郭的保留行为起一定的辅助作用，９种有机酸和无机阴阳离子在１０ｍｉｎ内得到了较好的分离。各离子的电导检测灵敏度在１０＾－９至１０＾－１１ｍｏｌ，能满足环境和食吕分析的要求。     

Determination of inorganic cations and anions by ion-exchange chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection

Evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) was investigated for the direct determination of alkali and alkaline-earth cations by cation-exchange chromatography. Successful single run analysis of Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ was achieved in 11 min on the Hamilton PRP-X200 column using an aqueous solution of ammonium formate as mobile phase under a salt concentration step gradient mode (20 mM and 100 mM). Surprisingly the use of ELSD reveals a weak retention of inorganic anions (Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-)) onto the polymeric cation exchanger, which enables the simultaneous determination of inorganic anions (C1- and NO3-) associated with the cations analysed (Na+ and K+).     

Simultaneous ion chromatographic separation of anions and cations on poly(aspartic acid) functionalized silica

Poly(aspartic acid)-silica (PolyCAT A), originally designed for the cation-exchange chromatography of proteins, is proposed for the simultaneous ion chromatographic separation of inorganic anions and cations. This is possible owing to the zwitterion-exchange properties of this stationary phase, which are attributed to the presence of both protonated aminopropyl and dissociated carboxylic groups in poly(aspartic acid) attached to the silica. The retention of alkali metal (Li+, Na+, K+), alkaline earth metal (Mg2+, Ca2+), ammonium and inorganic anions (Cl-, H2PO4-, Br-, NO2-, I-, IO3-, NO3-, ClO4-, SCN-) was tested in aqueous solutions of sulfuric, perchloric, sulfosalicylic, citric, oxalic, maleic and aspartic acids with conductimetric detection. The effect of eluent pH, together with the concentration and characteristics of the eluting ions, were studied. Under optimum conditions (0.3 mmol dm(-3) H2SO4-0.2 mmol dm(-3) Li2SO4 eluent), the simultaneous separation of three anions (Cl-, H2PO4-, NO3-) and four cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+), on a PolyCAT A column (200 x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm film thickness) was achieved in 9 min.     

铝镁混合金属氢氧化物溶胶阴离子交换性能研究

本文研究了电解质对铝镁混合金属氢氧化物（Ａｌ－ＭｇＭＭＨ）溶胶粒子中Ｃｌ－和ＯＨ－的阴离子交换性能。在所研究的电解质ＮａＮＯ３，ＨＣＯＯＮａ，ＣＨ３ＣＯＯＮａ，Ｎａ２ＣＯ３，Ｎａ２ＳＯ４和Ｎａ３ＰＯ４中，发现高价阴离子的交换能力大于低价阴离子的交换能力，无机阴离子的交换能力大于有机阴离子的交换能力。所研究Ａｌ－ＭｇＭＭＨ溶胶粒子的阴离子交换容量为２．８２ｍｍｏｌ／ｇ，比粘土粒子的阳离子交换容量大得多。     

Influence of the counteranion on the formation of polymeric networks by metal complexes of hexamethylenebis(acetamide)

An investigation into the anion dependence of the network-forming ability of metal complexes of hexamethylenebis(acetamide), CH3CONH(CH2)6NHCOCH3 (HMBA), has resulted in the X-ray characterization of the compounds [Co(HMBA)3][Co(NCS)4], 1, [Nd(HMBA)3][Nd(NO3)6].2CHCl3, 2, [Co(HMBA)3][HgCl4], 3, and [Mn(HMBA)3][HgBr4].3CHCl3, 4. The structures of compounds 1, 3, and 4 each comprise cationic frameworks formed by the bridging action of HMBA ligands binding octahedrally to the cobalt or manganese centers and, in the cases of 3 and 4, the formation of tetrahedral HgX4(2-) anions by transfer of the respective halide ions from Co or Mn to Hg. Complete anion (NO3-) transfer between Nd centers is also a key factor in the structure of 2, which forms a cationic 3-D network of HMBA-bridged octahedrally coordinated Nd centers with occluded [Nd(NO3)6]3- anions. These types of inter-metal-anion transfer, with consequent complex counteranion formation, appear to facilitate the network-forming ability of the metal-HMBA cationic arrays.     

Factors governing the protonation state of cysteines in proteins: an Ab initio/CDM study

The detailed mechanism of metal-cysteine binding is still poorly understood. It is not clear if every metal cation can induce cysteine deprotonation, how the dielectric medium affects this process, and the extent to which other ligands from the metal's first and second coordination shell influence cysteine ionization. It is also not clear if the zinc cation, with its positive charge reduced by charge transfer from the first two bound cysteinates, could still assist deprotonation of the next one or two cysteines in Cys3His and Cys4 zinc-finger cores. Here, we elucidate the factors governing the cysteine protonation state in metal-binding sites, in particular in Zn.Cys4 complexes, using a combined ab initio and continuum dielectric approach. Transition metal dications such as Zn2+ and Cu2+ and trivalent cations such as Al3+ with pronounced ability to accept charge from negatively charged Cys- are predicted to induce cysteine deprotonation, but not "hard" divalent cations such as Mg2+. A high dielectric medium was found to favor cysteine deprotonation, while a low one favored the protonated state. Polarizable ligands in the metal's first shell that can competitively donate charge to the metal cation were found to lower the efficiency of the metal-assisted cysteine deprotonation. The calculations predict that the zinc cation could assist deprotonation of all the cysteines during the folding of Cys4 zinc-finger cores and the [Zn.(Cys-)4]2- state is likely to be preserved in the final folded conformation of the protein provided the binding site is tightly encapsulated by backbone peptide groups or lysine/arginine side chains, which stabilize the ionized cysteine core.     

Successive non-suppressed ion chromatography of common cations and anions using dual columns with single eluent

A successive non-suppressed ion chromatography (IC) system for the determination of common cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) and anions (Cl-, Br-, NO3-, SO4(2-)) was developed, using two separation columns and a single eluent. 5-Sulfoisophthalic acid eluent was very suitable for such separations with a commercially available cation-exchange column for the mono- and di-valent cations and with an ODS column coated with cetyltrimethylammonium for the anions. Both cations and anions were detected with conductimetrically high sensitivity without any suppressor. After injecting an aliquot of sample solution, the solvent front from the cation-exchange column, including most of the anionic species, was firstly accumulated into the additional 2 ml accumulation loop for 60 s, while the cation IC was performed. Subsequently, the accumulated fraction was introduced into the anion-exchange column and chromatographed. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) of retention times and conductimetric area responses for common cations were within 6% and within 4%, respectively. The linear relationships between molar concentration and detector response ranged from 0.01 to 1.00 mM with r2 of 0.9994 for Na+, 0.9992 for K+, 0.9993 for Mg2+, and 0.9988 for Ca2+. The successive anion IC through the accumulating process was also quantitative, with 95% recovery or over for each analyte. The linear ranges were between 0.01 and 1.00 mM with r2 of 0.9996 for Cl-, 0.9997 for Br-, 0.9993 for NO3-, and 0.9984 for SO4(2-). The method was applied to the determination of common cations and anions in several mineral waters and a hot spring water.     

Low-temperature N-O bond cleavage of nitrogen monoxide in heterometallic carbonyl complexes. An experimental and theoretical study

The reaction of Na[RuCp(CO) 2] with [MnCp'(CO) 2(NO)]BF 4 gives the corresponding heterometallic derivative [MnRuCpCp'(mu-CO) 2(CO)(NO)] (Cp = eta (5)-C 5H 5; Cp' = eta (5)-C 5H 4Me). In contrast, the group 6 metal carbonyl anions [MCp(CO) 2L] (-) (M = Mo, W; L = CO, P(OMe) 3, PPh 3) react with the Mn and Re complexes [M'Cp'(CO) 2(NO)]BF 4 to give the heterometallic derivatives [MM'CpCp'(mu-N)(CO) 3L] having a nitride ligand linearly bridging the metal centers (W-N = 1.81(3) A, N-Re = 1.97(3) A, W-N-Re = 179(1) (o), in [WReCpCp'(mu-N)(CO) 3{P(OMe) 3}]). Density-functional theory calculations on the reactions of [WCp(CO) 3] (-) and [RuCp(CO) 2] (-) with [MnCp(CO) 2(NO)] (+) revealed a comparable qualitative behavior. Thus, two similar and thermodynamically allowed reaction pathways were found in each case, one implying the displacement of CO from the cation and formation of a metal-metal bond, the other implying the cleavage of the N-O bond of the nitrosyl ligand and release of a carbonyl from the anion as CO 2. The second pathway is more exoergonic and is initiated through an orbitally controlled attack of the anion on the N atom of the NO ligand in the cation. In contrast, the first pathway is initiated through a charge-controlled attack of the anion to the C atom of a CO ligand in the cation. The CO 2-elimination pathway requires at the intermediate stages a close approach of the NO and CO ligands, which is more difficult for the Ru compound because of its lower coordination number (compared to W). This effect, when combined with a stronger stabilization of the initial intermediate in the Ru reaction, makes the CO 2-elimination pathway slower in that case.     

Trinuclear to dinuclear: a radii dependence lanthanide(III) self-assembly coordination behavior of an amide-type tripodal ligand

Lanthanide nitrate complexes with the heptadentate ligand L (6-[2-(2-(diethylamino)-2-oxoethoxy)ethyl]-N,N,12-triethyl-11-oxo-3,9-dioxa-6,12-diazatetradecanamide), [Ln(2)L(NO(3))(6)] (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Ho), have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystallographic studies show that, in [La(2)L(NO(3))(6)(H(2)O)].H(2)O (1), two complex cations [LaL(H(2)O)](3+) are linked by a hexanitrato anion [La(NO(3))(6)](3)(-) and form a trinuclear cation. In [Nd(2)L(NO(3))(6)(H(2)O)].CHCl(3).1/2CH(3)OH.1/2H(2)O (2), one complex cation [NdL(H(2)O)](3+) and a hexanitrato complex anion [Nd(NO(3))(6)](3)(-) are linked by a bridging NO(3)(-) to form a dinuclear complex. In both complexes, the bridging nitrate is an unusual tetradentate ligand. The metal ions are 12-coordinated in hexanitrato anions and 10-coordinated in complex cations. The chainlike supramolecular structures of La(3+) complex are parallel and have no hydrogen bonds in between, while, in the Nd(3+) complex, a chiral cavity is formed by hydrogen bonds between two adjacent supramolecular chains. These influences are further investigated by assessing the separation efficiency of L and (1)H NMR spectra of its lanthanide nitrate mixtures in solution.     

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.     

Hybrid host-guest complexes: directing the supramolecular structure through secondary host-guest interactions

A set of four hybrid host-guest complexes based on the inorganic crown ether analogue [H12W36O120]12- ({W36}) have been isolated and characterised. The cluster anion features a central rigid binding site made up of six terminal oxygen ligands and this motif allows the selective binding of a range of alkali and alkali-earth-metal cations. Here, the binding site was utilised to functionalise the metal oxide-based cavity by complexing a range of protonated primary amines within the recognition site. As a result, a set of four hybrid organic-inorganic host-guest complexes were obtained whereby the interactions are highly directed specifically within this cavity. The guest cations in these molecular assemblies range from the aromatic 2-phenethylamine (1) and 4-phenylbutylamine (2) to the bifunctional aromatic p-xylylene diamine (3) and the aliphatic, bifunctional 1,6-diaminohexane (4). Compounds 1-4 were structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, FTIR and bond valence sum calculations. This comparative study focuses on the supramolecular effects of the amine guest cations and investigates their structure-directing effects on the framework arrangement arising by locking the protonated amines within the cavity of the {W36} cluster. It was shown that parts of the organic guest cation protrude from the central binding cavity and the nature of this protruding organic "tail" directs the solid-state arrangement of compounds 1-4. Guest cations with a hydrophobic phenyl tail result in an antiparallel assembly of {W36} complexes arranged in a series of pillared layers. As a consequence, no direct supramolecular interactions between {W36} clusters are observed. In contrast, bifunctional guest cations with a secondary amino binding site act as molecular connectors and directly link two cluster units thus locking the supramolecular assembly in a tilted arrangement. This direct linking of {W36} anions results in the formation of an infinite supramolecular scaffold.     

金属离子Na+,Li+及Mg2+与C1O4-和NO3-形成的无水离子缔合物种的从头算量子化学研究

采用量子化学计算方法在B3 LYP/6-311++G**水平下对Na+,Li+和Mg2+与ClO4-和NO3-形成的离子缔合物种的结构以及v1-频率进行了研究,并将结果与SO42-和上述3种阳离子形成的物种进行了对比.在缔合物种结构方面,当阳离子数目≤2时,与SO42-体系相似,ClO4-和NO3-主要与阳离子形成双齿缔合结构,而当阳离子数目＞2时,特别是具有2个正电荷的Mg2+离子数目较多时,由于阳离子间的斥力更大,与阳离 子结合能力较弱的ClO4-和NO3-较难与其形成稳定的离子团簇,而在SO42-体系中,则易形成单齿缔合结构.在v1-频率的变化趋势方面,3种阴离子形成的缔合物种大体相同,说明无水离子团簇的频率变化主要受阳离子性质和缔合结构影响.虽然阴离子性质也有部分影响,但不占主要地位.     

A concave fluorescent sensor for anions based on 6-methoxy-1-methylquinolinium

The ligand 2, in which three fluorogenic 6-methoxy-1-methylquinolinium fragments are appended to a mesityl platform, in MeCN forms 1:1 adducts with halides and other inorganic anions. (1)H NMR studies and molecular modelling indicate that 2 provides a cavity for anion inclusion and establishes electrostatic interactions with the guest. Anion inclusion induces quenching of the fluorogenic fragments with an efficiency decreasing along the series Br(-)>I(-)>NCS(-)>Cl(-)>NO(3) (-)>HSO(4) (-). The fluorimetric response of 2 to anions is orders of magnitude more sensitive than that of just 6-methoxy-1-methylquinolinium, ligand 1.     

Solid state structure of thorium(IV) complexes with common aminopolycarboxylate ligands

The crystal structures of the complexes formed by reaction of thorium(IV) nitrate with iminodiacetic acid (H(2)IDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (H(3)NTA), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H(4)EDTA) under hydrothermal conditions are reported. In [Th(HIDA)(2)(C(2)O(4))]·H(2)O (1), the metal atom is chelated by two carboxylate groups from two HIDA(-) anions and by two oxalate ligands formed in situ; two additional oxygen atoms from two more HIDA(-) anions complete the ten-coordinate environment of bicapped square antiprismatic geometry. The uncoordinated nitrogen atom is protonated and involved in hydrogen bonding. Two different ligands are present in [Th(NTA)(H(2)NTA)(H(2)O)]·H(2)O (2), one of them being a O(3),N-chelating trianion which acts also as a bridge toward two neighboring metal ions, and the other being a bis-monodentate bridging species with an uncoordinated carboxylic arm and a central ammonium group. An aqua ligand completes the nine-coordinated, capped square antiprismatic metal environment. The EDTA(4-) anion in [Th(EDTA)(H(2)O)]·2H(2)O (3) is chelating through one oxygen atom from each carboxylate group and the two nitrogen atoms, as in a previously reported molecular complex. Two carboxylate groups are bridging, which, with the addition of an aqua ligand, gives a capped square antiprismatic coordination polyhedron. Aminopolycarboxylate ligands have been much investigated in relation with actinide decorporation and nuclear wastes management studies, and the present results add to the structural information available on their complexes with thorium(IV), which has mainly been obtained up to now by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. In particular, the bridging (non-chelating) coordination mode of H(2)NTA(-) is a novel feature in this context. All three complexes crystallize as two-dimensional assemblies and are thus novel examples of thorium-organic coordination polymers.     

若干新型亚硝基钼硫化合物的结构特征

本文总结了若干亚硝基钼硫络合物——[(CH_3)_4N]_2K[Mo_2O(S_2)_3S_5-(NO)_2]·H_2O(Ⅰ),Na_2[Mo_4O(S_2)_6(NO)_4]·3H_2O(Ⅱ),[(CH_3)_4N]_2-Na[Mo_2O(S_2)_3S_5(NO)_2]·H_2O(Ⅲ)的结构特征。化合物(Ⅰ)和(Ⅲ)系具有相同的亚硝基钼硫阴离子的新构型化合物,其晶体分属于不同空间群。在这三个化合物中Mo原子均为畸变的五角双锥配位构型,即由5个S原子组成五角双锥的赤道面,一个桥基氧和一个NO基则分别位于五角双锥轴线上的两端。三个结构中Mo原子均通过硫桥和氧桥形成二聚或四聚。硫的配位方式显示出多样性。此外,比较三个结构,说明了Na~+,K~+阳离子对阴离子对称性的影响。     

Homo- and hetero-dinuclear anion complexes

The tripodal system 4, in which urea fragments are appended to the three terminal amine nitrogen atoms of a tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) subunit, includes a Cu(II) ion and two anions X-, according to a cascade mechanism through three well defined stepwise equilibria in a DMSO solution. The first anion X- (halide, N3-, NCS-, NO2-, H2PO4-) seeks the Cu(II) centre coordinated by the tren moiety; the second anion X- interacts with the trisurea cavity, but this occurs only if the stronger H-bond acceptors, such as N3- and H2PO4-, are used. Binding of the second X- ion is favoured by the preorganising effect exerted by the metal and disfavoured by the steric and electrostatic repulsions between the anions. Under the appropriate conditions, heterodinuclear complexes of formula [Cu(II)(4)(Cl)(H2PO4)] can be obtained in solution, in which Cl- is bound to the metal centre and H2PO4- interacts with the trisurea compartment.     

Poly[(μ4‐biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ2‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene]dicobalt(II)]

The asymmetric unit of the title two‐dimensional coordination polymer, [Co₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)₂]_n, contains one Co²⁺ ion, half of a biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate (bptc) anion lying about an inversion centre and one 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (bix) ligand. The Co^II atom is coordinated by three carboxylate O atoms from two different bptc ligands and two N atoms from two bix ligands constructing a distorted square pyramid. Each Co²⁺ ion is interlinked by two bptc anions, while each bptc anion coordinates to four Co atoms as a hexadentate ligand so that four Co^II atoms and four bptc anions afford a larger 38‐membered ring. These inorganic rings are further extended into a two‐dimensional undulated network in the (10) plane. Two Co^II atoms in adjacent 38‐membered rings are joined together by pairs of bix ligands forming a 26‐membered [Co₂(bix)₂] ring that is penetrated by a bptc anion; these components share a common inversion centre.     

Pentazole-based energetic ionic liquids: a computational study

The structures of protonated pentazole cations (RN5H+), oxygen-containing anions such as N(NO2)2-, NO3-, and ClO4- and the corresponding ion pairs are investigated by ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. The stability of the pentazole cation is explored by examining the decomposition pathways of several monosubstituted cations (RN5H+) to yield N2 and the corresponding azidinium cation. The heats of formation of these cations, which are based on isodesmic (bond-type conserving) reactions, are calculated. The proton-transfer reaction from the cation to the anion is investigated.