Synthesis and voltammetry of [bmim]4[alpha-S2W18O62] and related compounds: rapid precipitation and dissolution of reduced surface films

1-n-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium (bmim) salts of [alpha-SiM12O40]4- and [alpha-S2M18O62]4- (M = Mo, W) were synthesized and characterized. In sharp contrast to the multiple one-electron diffusion-controlled reduction processes expected in solution at a glassy carbon electrode, reduction of these salts beyond the one-electron level in CH3CN (0.1 M [bmim][PF6]) led to rapid precipitation of arrays of microdroplets or microcrystals onto the surface. Upon oxidation these arrays dissolved on the electrochemical time scale, resulting in voltammograms displaying both diffusion-controlled and surface-confined behavior. These novel observations appear to be related to the ability of the [bmim]+ cations and polyoxometalate anions to form ion clusters in solution and to the lower solubilities of the reduced salts.     

Photophysical and novel charge-transfer properties of adducts between [RuII(bpy)3]2+ and [S2Mo18O62]4-

The photophysical properties of acetonitrile solutions of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) are described. We discuss evidence for ion cluster formation in solution and the observation that despite the strong donor ability of the excited state of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and its inherent photolability, adducts with [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) were photostable. Photophysical studies suggest that the quenching of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) excited state by [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) occurs via a static mechanism and that binding is largely electrostatic in nature. Evidence is provided from difference spectroscopy and luminescence excitation spectroscopy for good electronic communication between [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) with the presence of a novel, luminescent, inter-ion charge-transfer transition. The identity of the transition is confirmed by resonance Raman spectroscopy.     

Predicting the solubility of xenon in n-hexane and n-perfluorohexane: a simulation and theoretical study

The solubility of xenon in n-hexane and n-perfluorohexane has been studied using both molecular simulation and a version of the SAFT approach (SAFT-VR). The calculations were performed close to the saturation line of each solvent, between 200 K and 450 K, which exceeds the smaller temperature range where experimental data are available in the literature. Molecular dynamics simulations, associated with Widom's test particle insertion method, were used to calculate the residual chemical potential of xenon in n-hexane and n-perfluorohexane and the corresponding Henry's law coefficients. The simulation results overestimate the solubility of xenon in both solvents when simple geometric combining rules are used, but are in good agreement if a binary interaction parameter is included. With the SAFT-VR approach we are able to reproduce the experimental solubility for xenon in n-hexane, using simple Lorentz-Berthelot rules to describe the unlike interaction. In the case of n-perfluorohexane as a solvent, a binary interaction parameter was introduced, taken from previous work on (xe + C₂F₆) mixtures. Overall, good agreement is obtained between the simulation, theoretical and experimental data.     

Procedure for Predicting a Minimum Volume or Mass of Sample to Provide a Given Size Parameter Precision

Previous work to predict the minimum count or mass of particles to achieve a given repeatability of a size parameter has focussed on relatively narrow size distributions. Work by Masuda and Gotoh [1], based upon the log‐normal distribution by number, produce a prediction of the number of particles to be counted to achieve a defined accuracy of median volume mean MVD and mass median diameter MMD. The published paper limited the geometric standard deviations (s_g) to a maximum of 1.6. This equates to a size distribution covering just less than 1 decade of size. Modern laser diffraction units have optical arrangements enabling a range of particle sizes between 0.05 microns to 2000 microns to be determined. With the laser diffraction unit in mind the predictions of Masuda and Gotoh were extended to higher values of (s_g) where limitations were seen. An alternative prediction was then explored whose results compare very favourably with practical measurements of a characterised certified reference material CRM.     

Electrochemical probing of the photoreduction of molybdenum and tungsten Dawson-type polyoxometalates in molecular and ionic liquid media using water as an electron donor

The photochemistry of the Dawson-type [Bu(4)N](4)[S(2)Mo(18)O(62)] and [Bu(4)N](4)[S(2)W(18)O(62)] polyoxometalates in molecular solvents and [Bmim][BF(4)] and [Bmim][BF(6)] ionic liquids with water present as the electron donor is reported. Irradiation with UV (275-320 nm) or white (275-750 nm) light leads to reduction of the [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) anion and concomitant oxidation of water to give dioxygen and protons in all media examined. Oxygen gas also is rapidly evolved when solid [Bu(4)N](4)[S(2)Mo(18)O(62)] in contact with water is irradiated with light. In contrast, photoreduction of [S(2)W(18)O(62)](4-) is observed only in "wet" ionic liquids. Reactants and products associated with the photochemical reactions were monitored by a range of electrochemical methods. Substantial shifts in reversible potentials combined with modified structure of water introduced by water-IL interactions are hypothesised to facilitate photooxidation of water in ionic liquid environments. Intriguingly, whilst the polyoxotungstate is preferable as a photosensitizer, the molybdenum analogue is superior for photooxidation of water to dioxygen.     

Synthesis and redox characterization of the polyoxo anion, gamma*-[S2W18O62]4-: a unique fast oxidation pathway determines the characteristic reversible electrochemical behavior of polyoxometalate anions in acidic media

The synthesis and characterization of (Bu4N)4[S2W18O62].1.23MeCN.0.27H2O are reported. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 22.389(6) A, b = 22.104(3) A, c = 25.505(5) A, beta = 95.690(15) degrees, V = 12560(5) A3, and Z = 4. The anion exists as the gamma* isomer, the second example of this isomer type to be characterized structurally. The equivalent molybdenum salt occurs as the alpha isomer. gamma*-[S2W18O62]4- in MeCN solution displayed four electrochemically reversible one-electron redox processes at E1/2 values of -0.24, -0.62, -1.18, and -1.57 V versus the Fc+/Fc couple. Upon addition of acid in MeCN/H2O (95/5 v/v), the two most cathodic processes converted to an overall two-electron process at -0.71 V. The total data suggested that this process actually comprises two one-electron transfer processes, occurring at different potentials, with associated proton-transfer reactions. The interpretation is supported by simulation of the effect of acid titration upon the cyclic voltammetry. While multiple pathways for correlated reduction and protonation are present in both the molybdenum and tungsten systems, only a single fast oxidation pathway is available. As the reduced forms of [S2W18O62]4- are much weaker bases than those of [S2Mo18O62]4-, the individual oxidation pathways are not the same. However, their existence determines the highly reversible electrochemical behavior that is characteristic of these anions, and that of polyoxometalate systems in general.     

Catalytic gas phase oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde

Two gas-phase catalytic cycles for the two-electron oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols were detected by multistage mass spectrometry experiments. A binuclear dimolybdate center [Mo(2)O(6)(OCHR(2))](-) acts as the catalyst in both these cycles. The first cycle proceeds via three steps: (1) reaction of [Mo(2)O(6)(OH)](-) with alcohol R(2)HCOH and elimination of water to form [Mo(2)O(6)(OCHR(2))](-); (2) oxidation of the alkoxo ligand and its elimination as aldehyde or ketone in the rate-determining step; and (3) regeneration of the catalyst via oxidation by nitromethane. Step 2 does not occur at room temperature and requires the use of collisional activation to proceed. The second cycle is similar but differs in the order of reaction with alcohol and nitromethane. The nature of each of these reactions was probed by kinetic measurements and by variation of the substrate alcohols (structure and isotope labeling). The role of the binuclear molybdenum center was assessed by examination of the relative reactivities of the mononuclear [MO(3)(OH)](-) and binuclear [M(2)O(6)(OH)](-) ions (M = Cr, Mo, W). The molybdenum and tungsten binuclear centers [M(2)O(6)(OH)](-) (M = Mo, W) were reactive toward alcohol but the chromium center [Cr(2)O(6)(OH)](-) was not. This is consistent with the expected order of basicity of the hydroxo ligand in these species. The chromium and molybdenum centers [M(2)O(6)(OCHR(2))](-) (M = Cr, Mo) oxidized the alkoxo ligand to aldehyde, while the tungsten center [W(2)O(6)(OCHR(2))](-) did not, instead preferring the non-redox elimination of alkene. This is consistent with the expected order of oxidizing power of the anions. Each of the mononuclear anions [MO(3)(OH)](-) (M = Cr, Mo, W) was inert to reaction with methanol, highlighting the importance of the second MoO(3) unit in these catalytic cycles. Only the dimolybdate center has the mix of properties that allow it to participate in each of the three steps of the two catalytic cycles. The three reactions of these cycles are equivalent to the three essential steps proposed to occur in the industrial oxidation of gaseous methanol to formaldehyde at 300-400 degrees C over solid-state catalysts based upon molybdenum(VI)-trioxide. The new gas-phase catalytic data is compared with those for the heterogeneous process.     

Electrochemical, spectroscopic, structural, and magnetic characterization of the reduced and protonated alpha-Dawson anions in [Fe(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(2)](5)[HS(2)Mo(18)O(62)].3HCONMe(2).2Et(2)O and [NBu(4)](5)[HS(2)Mo(18)O(62)].2H(2)O(1)

Reaction of excess Fe(cp)(2) (cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) dissolved in Et(2)O with [NHex(4)](4)[S(2)Mo(18)O(62)] in acetonitrile, followed by recrystallization of the precipitated solid from N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF), leads to isolation of the complex [Fe(cp)(2)](5)[HS(2)Mo(18)O(62)].3DMF.2Et(2)O. The solid has been characterized by microanalysis, by voltammetric analysis, by (1)H NMR, diffuse reflectance infrared, EPR, and M?ssbauer spectroscopies, and by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements. The data are consistent with the presence of a paramagnetic [Fe(cp)(2)](+) cation and a diamagnetic two-electron-reduced [HS(2)Mo(18)O(62)](5-) anion. The related salt [NBu(4)](5)[HS(2)Mo(18)O(62)].2H(2)O crystallizes in space group C2/c with a = 25.1255(3) A, b = 15.4110(2) A, c = 35.8646(4) A, beta = 105.9381(4), V = 13353.3(3) A(3), and Z = 4. The (2 e(-), 1 H(+))-reduced anion exists as the alpha-Dawson isomer, and its structure may be compared with those of the oxidized and (4 e(-), 3 H(+))-reduced anions as they exist in [NEt(4)](4)[S(2)Mo(18)O(62)].MeCN and [NBu(4)](5)[H(3)S(2)Mo(18)O(62)].4MeCN, respectively. Overall, the anion expands significantly upon the addition of two and then four electrons. However, the Mo...Mo distances along the bonds which connect the two equatorial belts decrease in the order 3.801, 3.780, and 3.736 A, making these distances the shortest for the three inequivalent sets of corner-sharing octahedra in each anion. This is consistent with the two or four added electrons localizing essentially in molecular orbitals which are bondiing with respect to interactions between the belts.     

Intermolecular transfer of copper ions from the CopC protein of Pseudomonas syringae. Crystal structures of fully loaded Cu(I)Cu(II) forms

CopC is a small soluble protein expressed in the periplasm of Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato as part of its copper resistance response (cop operon). Equilibrium competition reactions confirmed two separated binding sites with high affinities for Cu(I) (10(-7) > or = K(D) > or = 10(-13) M) and Cu(II) (K(D) = 10(-13(1)) M), respectively. While Cu(I)-CopC was converted cleanly by O2 to Cu(II)-CopC, the fully loaded form Cu(I)Cu(II)-CopC was stable in air. Variant forms H1F and H91F exhibited a lower affinity for Cu(II) than does the wild-type protein while variant E27G exhibited a higher affinity. Cation exchange chromatography detected each of the four different types of intermolecular copper transfer reactions possible between wild type and variant forms: Cu(I) site to Cu(II) site; Cu(II) site to Cu(I) site; Cu(I) site to Cu(I) site; Cu(II) site to Cu(II) site. The availability of an unoccupied site of higher affinity induced intermolecular transfer of either Cu(I) or Cu(II) in the presence of O2 while buffering concentrations of cupric ion at sub-picomolar levels. Crystal structures of two crystal forms of wild-type Cu(I)Cu(II)-CopC and of the apo-H91F variant demonstrate that the core structures of the molecules in the three crystal forms are conserved. However, the conformations of the amino terminus (a Cu(II) ligand) and the two copper-binding loops (at each end of the molecule) differ significantly, providing the structural lability needed to allow transfer of copper between partners, with or without change of oxidation state. CopC has the potential to interact directly with each of the four cop proteins coexpressed to the periplasm.     

CopC protein from Pseudomonas syringae: intermolecular transfer of copper from both the copper(I) and copper(II) sites

The CopC protein from Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato is expressed as one of four proteins encoded by the operon CopABCD that is responsible for copper resistance. It is a small soluble molecule (10.5 kDa) with a beta-barrel structure and features two distinct copper binding sites, which are highly specific for Cu(I) (K(D) > or = 10(-)(13)) and Cu(II) (K(D) approximately 10(-)(15)). These dissociation constants were estimated via ligand competition experiments monitored by electronic spectral and fluorescence probes. The chemistries of the two copper sites are interdependent. When the Cu(II) site is empty, the Cu(I) ion is oxidized by air, but when both sites are occupied, the molecule is stable in air. The availability of an unoccupied site of higher affinity induces intermolecular transfer of either Cu(I) or Cu(II) while maintaining free copper ion concentrations in solution at sub-picomolar levels. This intriguing copper chemistry is consistent with the proposed role of CopC as a copper carrier in the oxidizing periplasmic space. These properties would allow it to exchange either Cu(I) or Cu(II) with its putative partners CopA, CopB, and CopD, contrasting with the role of the Cu(I) (only) chaperones found in the reducing cytoplasm.