The direct determination of partial molar volumes and reaction volumes in ultra-dilute non-reactive and reactive multi-component systems using a combined spectroscopic and modified response surface model approach

Two experimental multi-component organometallic systems were studied, namely, (1) a non-reactive system consisting of [Mo(CO)(6)], [Mn(2)(CO)(10)], and [Re(2)(CO)(10)] in toluene under argon at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa and (2) a reactive system consisting of [Rh(4)(CO)(12)] + PPh(3)--> [Rh(4)(CO)(11)PPh(3)] + CO in n-hexane under argon at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa. The mole fractions of all solutes were less than 140 x 10(-6) in system (1) and less than 65 x 10(-6) in system (2). Simultaneous in-situ FTIR spectroscopic measurements and on-line oscillatory U-tube density measurements were performed on the multi-component solutions. A newly developed response surface methodology was applied to the data sets to determine the individual limiting partial molar volumes of all constituents present as well as the reaction volume. The limiting partial molar volumes obtained for system (1) were 176.4 +/- 2.5, 265.1 +/- 2.4, and 276.8 +/- 2.4 cm(3) mol(-1) for [Mo(CO)(6)], [Mn(2)(CO)(10)], and [Re(2)(CO)(10)], respectively and are consistent with independent binary experiments. The limiting partial molar volumes obtained for system (2) were 310.7 +/- 2.7, 219.8 +/- 2.2 and 461.5 +/- 4.5 cm(3) mol(-1) for [Rh(4)(CO)(12)], PPh(3) and [Rh(4)(CO)(11)PPh(3)], respectively. In addition, a reaction volume Delta(r)V equal to -17.0 +/- 5.7 cm(3) mol(-1) was obtained. The present results demonstrate that both partial molar volumes and reaction volumes can be obtained directly from multi-component organometallic solutions. This development provides a new tool for physico-chemical determinations relevant to a variety of solutes and their reactions.     

Formation of an unusual MH− ion in the methane negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectra of chlorprothixene and aromatic sulfur compounds

The methane negative-ion chemical ionization (NCI) mass spectrum of chlorprothixene shows an unusual MH^? ion. This ion can be accounted for by electron capture followed by H˙ transfer from the reagent gas. The most probable site of electron attachment was concluded to be related to the sulfur atom of the thioxanthene ring based on the observation of analogous ions for structurally related compounds, all containing a heterocyclic sulfur. The MH^? ion observed with methane as the reagent gas was shifted to MD^? when tetradeuteromethane was used in place of methane. The ratio of [M ? H]^? to MH^? did not change with emission current suggesting that the process is independent of the radical concentration in the CI plasma. Consistent with this observation is the lack of CH₃˙ or C₂H₅˙ adduct ions in the NCI mass spectrum and the fact that gold-plating the ion source did not decrease the proportion of MH^?. Also, this mechanism is consistent with thermochemical considerations of reactions of a phenyl radical with various alkanes and observations of ions formed by methane NCI from model compounds. Therefore, unlike other MH^? ions observed in methane NCI mass spectra, the mechanism of formation does not appear to involve a hydrogen radical addition followed by electron capture.     

Rational design of a calcium-binding protein

Calcium ions play key roles as structural components in biomineralization and as a second messenger in signaling pathways. We have introduced a de novo designed calcium-binding site into the framework of a non-calcium-binding protein, domain 1 of CD2. The resulting protein selectively binds calcium over magnesium with calcium-binding affinity comparable to that of natural extracellular calcium-binding proteins (K(d) of 50 microM). This experiment is the first successful metalloprotein design that has a high coordination number (seven) metal-binding site constructed into a beta-sheet protein. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of designing a single calcium-binding site into a host protein, taking into account only local properties of a calcium-binding site obtained by a survey of natural calcium-binding proteins and chelators. The resulting site exhibits strong metal selectivity, suggesting that it should now be feasible to understand and manipulate signaling processes by designing novel calcium-modulated proteins with specifically desired functions and to affect their stability.     

Dynamics of magnesium-bicarbonate interactions

The complexation kinetics of Mg²⁺ with CO ₃ ⁼ and HCO ₃ ^? has been studied in methanol and water by means of the stopped-flow and temperature-jump methods. Kinetic parameters were obtained in methanol by coupling the magnesium-carbonato reactions with the metal-ion indicator Murexide. Relatively high stability constants were found in methanol (K=1.0×10⁵ liters-mole^?1 for Mg²⁺-Murexide,K=7.0×10⁴ liters-mole^?1 for Mg²⁺?HCO ₃ ^? , andK=2.0×10⁵ for Mg²⁺?CO ₃ ⁼ liters-mole^?1). The corresponding, observed formation rate constants were determined to be $$\begin{gathered} k_f = 4.0 \times 10^6 M^{ - 1} - sec^{ - 1} (Mg^{2 + } - Murexide) \hfill \\ k_f = 5.0 \times 10^5 M^{ - 1} - sec^{ - 1} (Mg^{2 + } - HCO_3^ - ) \hfill \\ k_f = 6.8 \times 10^5 M^{ - 1} - sec^{ - 1} (Mg^{2 + } - CO_3^ = ) \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The relaxation times were found to be much shorter (τ≈5–20 μsec) in aqueous solutions, primarily due to the relatively high dissociation rate constants. The data could be interpreted on the basis of a coupled reaction scheme in which the protolytic equilibria are established relatively rapidly, followed by a single relaxation process due to the formation of MgHCO ₃ ⁺ and MgCO₃ between pH 8.7 and 9.3. The observed formation rate constants were determined to be $$\begin{gathered} k_f = 5.0 \times 10^5 M^{ - 1} - sec^{ - 1} (Mg^{2 + } - HCO_3^ - ) \hfill \\ k_f = 1.5 \times 10^6 M^{ - 1} - sec^{ - 1} (Mg^{2 + } - CO_3^ = ) \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ These results, in conjunction with NMR solvent exchange rate constants, are analyzed in terms of a dissociative (S _N1) mechanism for the rate of complex formation. The significance of these kinetic parameters in understanding the excess sound absorption in seawater is discussed.     

The crystal and molecular structures of two bromo bis(N,N-dipropylthiocarbamoyl) sulfidocopper(I) complexes

The reaction of copper(I) bromide, CuBr, with the tetraalkylthiurammonosulfides R₄tms (R = ⁱPr, ⁿPr) affords the copper(I) complexes ⁱPr₄tmsCuBr (I) (C₁₄H₂₈BrCuN₂S₂, orthorhombic, Pna2₁, Z = 4, a = 12.487(2), b = 12.699(2), c = 12.742(2) Å) and ⁿPr₄tmsCuBr (II) (C₁₄H₂₈BrCuN₂S₃, monoclinic, P2₁/n, Z = 4, a = 9.092(5), b = 23.408(11), c = 10.082(7) Å, = 104.90(5)°), which exist in the solid as monomeric units featuring three-coordinate copper(I). The ligands are bidentate and coordination is completed by the bromine atoms. The configurations of the six-membered metal-ligand ring in (I) and (II) are more severely distorted than the previously reported structurally related complexes of ethyl series. The crystal structural studies are complemented and confirmed by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopies, as well as room temperature, magnetic, solution conductivity, and molecular weight studies.     

Magneto-structural characterization of Cu4(prz)2(L)2Cl4 ·CH3CH2OH (LH=1,1-di-2-pyridyl-1-ethoxi methanol,przH=pyrazole)

The title compound, Cu₂C₁₇H₁₆O_2.5Cl₂, is a copper(II) complex, in which each dimeric unit has two copper atoms bridged by a pyrazolato ligand, a di(2-pyridyl)]methane ligand, and an oxygen atom from the modified methylene group that links the two pyridine rings (O-C-O-CH₂CH₃). The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic groupP2₁/n,a=7.7330(1),b=19.589(6),c=13.123(2)Å,=95.020(0)°,V=1980.3(7)ų,Z=4,F _w=514.3,D _Do =1.725 g cm^–3(MoK)=0.71073 Å,F(000)=1032,=2.44 mm^–1, R=0.044 for 2209 observed reflections,Rw=0.047,s=0.086. Each dimer is linked to the next unit by long chlorine bonds (Cu(2)-Cl(1)=2.846(2)Å). These tetrameric units form zigzagged chains through copperchlorine bonds of 3.380(2)Å. The copper(II) complex presents antiferromagnetic behavior withT _m=161 K.     

Structural investigation of 1-amino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzenes in the solid state and in solution

The crystal structure of 1-pyrrolidino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene3, 1-morpholino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene4 and 1-piperidino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene5 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and the structure in solution was investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometry and¹³C nmr. The three compounds are monoclinic, space groupP2_i/n. Unit cell dimensions area=6.6660(1),b=8.612(1),c=20.696(3) Å, β=90.73(1)^o, andD _c =1.58 g cm^?3 for compound3;a=7.090(2),b=21.493(9),c=8.298(3) Å, β=101.27(1)^o, andD _c 1.60 g cm^?3 for compound4 anda=10.426(1),b=10.038(1),c=12.291(1) Å, β=90.04(1)^o withD _c =1.53 g cm^?3 for compound5 forZ=4. In the solid state, differences regarding the planarity of the aromatic ring in the three substrates were found. Rotation of theortho-nitro groups and of the amino group out of the aromatic plane was observed both in the solid state and in the solution. Greater coplanarity of the two rings was found in3 than in4 and5.