Mechanistic diversity covering 15 orders of magnitude in rates: cyanide exchange on [M(CN)(4)](2-) (M = Ni, Pd, and Pt)

Kinetic studies of cyanide exchange on [M(CN)(4)](2-) square-planar complexes (M = Pt, Pd, and Ni) were performed as a function of pH by (13)C NMR. The [Pt(CN)(4)](2-) complex has a purely second-order rate law, with CN(-) as acting as the nucleophile, with the following kinetic parameters: (k(2)(Pt,CN))(298) = 11 +/- 1 s(-1) mol(-1) kg, DeltaH(2) (Pt,CN) = 25.1 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(2) (Pt,CN) = -142 +/- 4 J mol(-1) K(-1), and DeltaV(2) (Pt,CN) = -27 +/- 2 cm(3) mol(-1). The Pd(II) metal center has the same behavior down to pH 6. The kinetic parameters are as follows: (k(2)(Pd,CN))(298) = 82 +/- 2 s(-1) mol(-1) kg, DeltaH(2) (Pd,CN) = 23.5 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(2) (Pd,CN) = -129 +/- 5 J mol(-1) K(-1), and DeltaV(2) (Pd,CN) = -22 +/- 2 cm(3) mol(-1). At low pH, the tetracyanopalladate is protonated (pK(a)(Pd(4,H)) = 3.0 +/- 0.3) to form [Pd(CN)(3)HCN](-). The rate law of the cyanide exchange on the protonated complex is also purely second order, with (k(2)(PdH,CN))(298) = (4.5 +/- 1.3) x 10(3) s(-1) mol(-1) kg. [Ni(CN)(4)](2-) is involved in various equilibrium reactions, such as the formation of [Ni(CN)(5)](3-), [Ni(CN)(3)HCN](-), and [Ni(CN)(2)(HCN)(2)] complexes. Our (13)C NMR measurements have allowed us to determine that the rate constant leading to the formation of [Ni(CN)(5)](3-) is k(2)(Ni(4),CN) = (2.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) s(-1) mol(-1) kg when the following activation parameters are used: DeltaH(2)() (Ni,CN) = 21.6 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(2) (Ni,CN) = -51 +/- 7 J mol(-1) K(-1), and DeltaV(2) (Ni,CN) = -19 +/- 2 cm(3) mol(-1). The rate constant of the back reaction is k(-2)(Ni(4),CN) = 14 x 10(6) s(-1). The rate law pertaining to [Ni(CN)(2)(HCN)(2)] was found to be second order at pH 3.8, and the value of the rate constant is (k(2)(Ni(4,2H),CN))(298) = (63 +/- 15) x10(6) s(-1) mol(-1) kg when DeltaH(2) (Ni(4,2H),CN) = 47.3 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(2) (Ni(4,2H),CN) = 63 +/- 3 J mol(-1) K(-1), and DeltaV(2) (Ni(4,2H),CN) = - 6 +/- 1 cm(3) mol(-1). The cyanide-exchange rate constant on [M(CN)(4)](2-) for Pt, Pd, and Ni increases in a 1:7:200 000 ratio. This trend is modified at low pH, and the palladium becomes 400 times more reactive than the platinum because of the formation of [Pd(CN)(3)HCN](-). For all cyanide exchanges on tetracyano complexes (A mechanism) and on their protonated forms (I/I(a) mechanisms), we have always observed a pure second-order rate law: first order for the complex and first order for CN(-). The nucleophilic attack by HCN or solvation by H(2)O is at least nine or six orders of magnitude slower, respectively than is nucleophilic attack by CN(-) for Pt(II), Pd(II), and Ni(II), respectively.     

The effect of pyridinecarboxylate chelating groups on the stability and electronic relaxation of gadolinium complexes

The ligand N,N'-bis[(6-carboxy-2-pyridylmethyl]ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (H(4)bpeda) was synthesised using an improved procedure which requires a reduced number of steps and leads to a higher yield with respect to the published procedure. It was obtained in three steps from diethylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate and commercially available ethylenediamine-N,N[prime or minute]-diacetic acid with a total yield of approximately 20%. The crystal structure of the hexa-protonated form of the ligand which was determined by X-ray diffraction shows that the four carboxylates and the two amines are protonated. The crystal structure of the polynuclear complex [Gd(bpeda)(H(2)O)(2)](3)[Gd(H(2)O)(6)](2)Cl(3)(2), isolated by slow evaporation of a 1:1 mixture of GdCl(3) and H(4)bpeda at pH approximately 1, was determined by X-ray diffraction. In complex three [Gd(bpeda)(H(2)O)(2)] units, containing a Gd(III) ion ten-coordinated by the octadentate bpeda and two water molecules, are connected in a pentametallic structure by two hexa-aquo Gd(3+) cations through four carboxylato bridges. The protonation constants (pK(a1)= 2.9(1), pK(a2)= 3.5(1), pK(a3)= 5.2(2), and pK(a4)= 8.5(1)) and the stability constants of the complexes formed between Gd(III) and Ca(II) ions and H(4)bpeda (log beta(GdL)= 15.1(3); log beta(CaL)= 9.4(1)) were determined by potentiometric titration. The unexpected decrease in the stability of the gadolinium complex and of the calcium complex of the octadentate ligand bpeda(4-) with respect to the hexadentate ligand edta(4-) has been interpreted in terms of an overall lower contribution to stability of the metal-nitrogen interactions. The EPR spectra display very broad lines (apparent DeltaH(pp) approximately 800-1200 G at X-band and 90-110 G at Q-band depending on the temperature), indicating a rapid transverse electron spin relaxation. At X-band, Gd(bpeda) is among the fastest relaxing Gd(3+) complexes to date suggesting that the presence of pyridinecarboxylate chelating groups in itself does not lead to slow electron relaxation.     

Modellrechnungen an einigen Siliziumwasserstoffverbindungen vom Typ SiHn,SiH n + und SiH n − nach der Einzentrenmethode

Zusammenfassung Es werden molekulare Struktur, Energie des Grundzustandes, Bindungsabstände, Bindungsenergie, Ionisierungsenergie und Protonenaffinität der Siliziumwasserstoffverbindungen SiH _n , SiH _n ⁺ und SiH_n ^– (n=3, 4 oder 5) nach der Einzentrenmethode berechnet.

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OCE-calculations on some silicon hydrides of the type SiH _n , SiH _n ⁺ and SiH _n ^–

OCE-Calculations are reported for molecular structures, ground state energies, bond distances, binding energies, ionization potentials and proton affinities of the silicon hydrides SiH _n , SiH _n ⁺ and SiH _n ^– (n=3, 4 or 5).

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Résumé Calcul par la méthode monocentrique de la structure moléculaire, de l'énergie de l'état fondamental, des longueurs de liaison, des énergies de liaison, des potentiels d'ionisation et des affinités protoniques pour les hydrures de silicium SiH _n , SiH _n ⁺ et SiH _n ^– (n=3, 4 ou 5).

     

Determination of physiological noble metals in human urine using liquid-liquid extraction and Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An extremely sensitive, reliable and simple procedure is described for the determination of physiological palladium, platinum and gold in human urine. The urine samples were adjusted to pH 4 (Pd, Au) or pH 5 (Pt), followed by conversion of the analytes to their pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate complexes. These complexes were separated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction into 4-methyl-2-pentanone resulting in a 25-fold enrichment. Determination was by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) using longitudinal inverse alternating current Zeeman-effect background correction. The limits of detection calculated from three standard deviations of the blank values were 20 ng l⁻¹ for Pd and Au and 70 ng l⁻¹ Pt. Within-day precision (n = 10, 5 μg l⁻¹) ranged 5.2%–7.7%. The procedure is successfully applied to determine urinary palladium, platinum and gold in nine unexposed persons. Palladium levels in urine ranged < 20–80 ng l⁻¹ (arithmetical MEAN=38.7 ng l⁻¹), while gold levels ranged < 20–130 ng l⁻¹ (36.0 ng l⁻¹). Physiological platinum levels in urine were all < 70 ng l⁻¹. The accuracy of the procedure was checked by analyzing a series of urine samples by a second independent method (magnetic sector field inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) in combination with UV photolysis.     

Estimates for systematic empirical corrections of consistent 4–21G ab initio geometries and their correlations to total energy group increments

The structural parameters of the completely relaxed 4–21G ab initio geometries of more than 30 basic organic compounds are compared to experimental results. Some ranges for systematic empirical corrections, which relate 4–21G bond distances to experimental parameters, are associated with total energy increments. In general, for the currently feasible comparisons, the following corrections can be given which relate calculated distances to experimental r_g parameters and calculated angles to r_s-structures For CC single bond distances, deviations between calculated and observed parameters (r_g) are in the ranges of ?0.006(2) to ?0.010(2) Å for normal or unstrained hydrocarbons; ?0.011(3) to ?0.016(3) Å for cyclobutane type compounds; and +0.001(5) to +0.004(4) Å for CH₃ conjugated with CO. For CO single bonds the ranges are ?0.006(9) to +0.002(3) Å for CO conjugated with CO; and ?0.019(3) to ?0.027(9) Å for aliphatic and ether compounds. A very large and exceptional discrepancy exists for the highly strained ethylene oxide, r_s — r_e = ?0.049(5) Å and in CH₃OCH₃ and C₂H₅OCH₃ the r_s — r_e differences are ?0.029(5), ?0.040(10) and ?0.025(10) Å. Some of these discrepancies may also be due to deficiencies of the microwave substitution method caused by atomic coordinates close to inertial planes. For CN bonds, two types of NCH₃ corrections are from +0.005(6) to ?0.006(6) and from ?0.009(2) to ?0.014(6) Å; and the range for NCO is +0.012(3) to +0.028(4) Å. For isolated CC double bonds the range is + 0.025(2) to +0.028(2) Å. For conjugated CC double bonds the correction is less positive (+0.014(1) Å for benzene). For CO double bonds the corrections are ?0.004(3) to +0.003(3) Å. For bond angles of type HCH, CCH, CCC, CCO, CCO, OCO, NCO and CCC the corrections are of the order of magnitude about 1–2° (or better). Angles centered at heteroatoms are less accurate than that, when hydrogen atoms are involved. Differences in HOC and NHC angles were found in a range of ?2.3(5)° to ?6.2(4)°.     

Electron-diffraction study of hydrogen isotope effects in cyclohexane

The electron-diffraction data for cyclohexane and perdeuterated cyclohexane were analyzed and the results were compared. It was found that r_g(C-C) = 1.535 Å (±0.002) for both compounds; r_g (C-H) = 1.116 Å (±0.004) and r_g(C-D) = 1.109 Å (±0.003). Observed hydrogen isotope effects in mean amplitudes agree very well with calculated ones. The C-C bond distance of cyclohexane is in good agreement with some of the previous studies, which is of importance in view of a recent scaling controversy involving this parameter.     

Perfluoro anion-exchange polymeric films on glassy carbon electrodes

Solutions of the perfluoro anion-exchange membrane TosHex® in a solvent mixture composed of methanol + isopropanol + water (1:1:1) were prepared and applied in coating glassy carbon electrodes. The evaporated films were used to accumulate the Fe(CN) ₆ redox couple on the electrode surface. The magnitude of the electrochemical response of the loaded films is comparable with that for Nafion® incorporated cationic redox species. The multicharged Fe(CN) ₆ couple accumulated in Tosflex® film causes an ion cross-linking of the polymeric backbone, thus decreasing ion transport in the film substantially.     

Synthesis and Opto-Electronic Properties of Cholesteric Cellulose Esters

Cholesteric materials display unique optical properties which can be exploited in opto-electronic applications such as light emitting diodes. The key feature is the position of the wavelength of the emitted light relative to the one of the selective reflection band. We have synthesized a set of cellulose derivatives displaying the cholesteric phase with the aim to investigate the correlation between chemical structure and properties. Phase transition temperatures, the chain packing, the wavelength of selective reflection but also absorption and fluorescence spectra were investigated as a function of the degree of substitution (DS), the nature of lateral substituents, the composition of doped systems and blends of different cellulose derivatives. Investigated were furthermore the degree of circular polarization of the emitted light for guest–host systems and for cellulose systems with chromophores linked by covalent bonds to the cellulose backbone as well as their performance in light emitting diodes. The conclusion is that the optical properties can be accounted for on the basis of the model of a one-dimensional photonic crystal. The limiting factor with respect to opto-electronic applications is the poor control of the uniformity of the helix formation and orientation.     

A novel silver(i)-mediated DNA base pair

We have generated a novel silver(I)-mediated unnatural DNA base pair consisting of two 2,6-bis(ethylthiomethyl)pyridine nucleobases SPy. This metallo-base pair has a remarkably high pairing stability and selectivity which rivals that of the natural base pairs dA:dT and dC:dG. UV-melting experiments revealed that the dSPy:dSPy self-pair can replace natural base pairs at multiple sites and still form stable DNA duplexes.