Microscopic Models for Proton Transfer in Water and Strongly Hydrogen-Bonded Complexes with a Single-Well Proton Potential

A new mechanism and formalism for proton transfer in donor-acceptor complexes with long hydrogen bonds introduced recently [1], is applied to a proton transfer in liquid water. Structural diffusion of hydroxonium ions is regarded as totally adiabatic process, with synchronous hindered translation of two closest water molecules to and from the reaction complex as crucial steps. The water molecules induce a gated shift of the proton from the donor to the acceptor in the double-well potential with simultaneous breaking/formation of hydrogen bonds between these molecules and the proton donor and acceptor. The short-range and long-range proton transfer as structural diffusion of Zundel complexes is also considered. The theoretical formalism is illustrated with the use of Morse, exponential, and harmonic molecular potentials. This approach is extended to proton transfer in strongly hydrogen-bonded donor-acceptor complexes. In contrast to the above model [1], the short hydrogen bond between the donor and acceptor moieties, however, completely erodes the barrier along the proton transfer mode. This introduces some physical pattern differences from proton transfer reactions in truly double-well potentials with a finite proton transfer barrier at the transition configuration with respect to the environmental nuclear coordinates. The differences apply particularly to the origin of the kinetic isotope effect. We discuss explicitly details of the excess proton conductivity in aqueous solution, but the concepts and formalism apply broadly to acid-base reactions, proton conduction channels, and other strongly hydrogen-bonded O- and N-proton donor-acceptor systems.     

Synthesis of [18,19,21,22‐13C4]‐Labeled Tautomycin as an NMR Probe of Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor

We have accomplished the synthesis of ¹³C‐labeled tautomycin at the C18, C19, C21, and C22 positions starting from 100 % [¹³C]triethylphosphonoacetate for the purpose of elucidating the dynamics and conformation of the C17–C26 moiety. NMR spectroscopy of ¹³C‐labeled tautomycin revealed strong binding with protein phosphatase type 1 and new features in the ¹³C NMR spectrum, such as the very small three‐bond coupling constants (²J).     

Thermodynamics of hydrogen-isotope-exchange reactions. Proton solvation inn-hexanol and water

This paper reports our results for the direct experimental determination of the equilibrium constant for the hydrogen-isotope-exchange reaction, 1/2D₂(g)+HCl(hexOH)=1/2H₂(g)+DCl(hexOD), where hexOH isn-hexanol and hexOD isn-hexanol with deuterium substitution in the alcohol function. The reaction was studied in electrochemical double cells without liquid junction for which the net cell reaction is the above isotope-exchange reaction. The experimentally determined value of ε° (296.0°K) for this cell is 4.03±0.95 mV (strong electrolyte standard states, mole-fraction composition scale); the value of the equilibrium constant for the reaction is 1.17±0.05. The contributions of isotope-exchange and transfer effects to the magnitude of the standard Gibbs energy change for the above reaction and for the analogous reaction 1/2D₂(g)+HCl(aq)=DCl(daq)+1/2H₂(g) are considered. Our results support the conclusion of Heinzinger and Weston that the formulation of the solvated proton in water as H₃O⁺, as opposed to H₉O₄ ⁺, is sufficient for the interpretation of the thermodynamics of hydrogen-isotope-exchange reactions in water. We also find that the formulation of the solvated proton inn-hexanol as ROH ₂ ⁺ is sufficient for the interpretation of our results on the thermodynamics of hydrogen-isotope-exchange inn-hexanol.     

Temperature dependence of fractionation of hydrogen isotopes in aqueous sodium chloride solutions

The D/H ratios of hydrogen gas in equilibrium with aqueous sodium chloride solutions of 2, 4 and 6 molalities were determined within the range 10 to 95°C, using a hydrophobic platinum catalyst. With each of the different sodium chloride concentrations, the hydrogen isotope effect between the solution and pure water changes linearly with the square of the reciprocal temperature. On the basis of the results for hydrogen isotope fractionation observed in this study, and those of hydrogen isotope fractionation between pure water and vapor, it is concluded that the structure of the aqueous sodium chloride solution does not change significantly with temperature. The hydrogen isotope effect is evidently different from the results of vapor pressure isotope effects (VPIE) on sodium chloride solutions measured on separated isotopes. The difference between the present work and the VPIE studies is probably due to a non-ideal behavior in a mixture of isotopic water molecules and/or to a H₂O-D₂O disproportionation reaction in sodium chloride solutions. The distinction between the latter two mechanisms can not be differentiated at present.     

Bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids: synthesis and characterization

We previously reported the use of imidazole as starting compound for preparing a bicyclic imidazolium ionic liquid, [b-3C-im][NTf₂], with an overall 29% isolated yield in four synthetic steps. This new room temperature ionic liquid was shown to be far more chemically stable than commonly used [bmim][PF₆], [bdmim][PF₆], and [bdmim][NTf₂]. Because of this intriguing chemical stability, it prompted us to develop a more generalized and high yielding synthesis so that molecular diversity of bicyclic ionic liquids may be explored. In this work, we amended the previous synthetic route by employing 4-chlorobutyronitrile or 5-chlorovaleronitrile as starting materials and successfully developed a five-step synthesis of a series of novel bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids in 40-53% overall isolated yields. We investigated intrinsic reactivity of all bicyclic ionic liquids prepared and found that, under strongly basic conditions, among all tested ionic liquids the 5,5-membered [R-3C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were most stable to solvent deuterium isotope exchange while the previously reported [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was 50% deuterium exchanged at its C-2 methyl in 30 min at ambient temperature. Under identical condition, the commonly used [bmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was deuterium exchanged instantaneously at its C-2 hydrogen. In the absence of bases, only [bmim][PF₆] was deuterium exchanged (50% within 1 h) and all other ionic liquids gave no detectable exchanges even after 25 days at ambient temperature. Moreover, both [bmim][NTf₂] and [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquids were readily methylated at C-2 position with methyl iodide under basic condition at room temperature. Under the same condition, [R-3C-im][NTf₂] and [R-4C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were completely stable and chemically inert. We envisioned that [R-3C-im][NTf₂] should be well suited as solvents for organic synthesis.     

Test of variational transition state theory with multidimensional tunneling contributions against experimental kinetic isotope effects for the CHnD4−n + OH→P (n=0, 4) reactions

 Variational transition state theory including tunneling corrections (as implemented in Polyrate 8.7) and using multilevel energy calculations at the MCCM-CCSD(T)-1sc level for the CH₄ + OH reaction and at the MCCM-CCSD(T)-2m level for the CD₄ + OH process, reproduces very well the experimental rate constants. However, no single methodology was found that reproduces equally well the experimental rate constants for both title reactions. Received: 24 March 2002 / Accepted: 11 April 2002 / Published online: 4 July 2002     

The scaled-particle theory and solvent isotope effects on the thermodynamic properties of inert solutes in water and methanol

The scaled-particle theory has been applied to the calculation of the thermodynamic changes associated with the formation of a cavity in several isotopic varieties of liquid water and methanol. From these results, the thermodynamic functions for the transfer of a cavity (or a hard-sphere solute) have been computed for the following solvent pairs: H₂OD₂O, H₂OH₂ ¹⁸O, H₂ ¹⁸OD₂ ¹⁸O, D₂OD₂ ¹⁸O, CH₃OHCH₃OD. For the last two of these solvents, density measurements required for the calculations were carried out as a function of temperature. The calculated deuterium solvent isotope effect on the heats and entropies of hard-sphere solutes in water is much greater than the¹⁸O isotope effect; the former also exhibits a more pronounced temperature dependence. The transfer functions computed for hard-sphere solutes are compared to experimental data on the transfer of various solutes from H₂O to D₂O and from CH₃OH to CH₃OD. In most of the cases examined, the cavity effect accounts for a large part of the transfer quantities measured for rare gases, hydrocarbons, and solutes containing a significant hydrocarbon substituent.     

The effect of pressure on hydrogen transfer reactions with quinones

The effect of pressure on the oxidation of hydroarenes 3-9 with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-quinone (DDQ; 1 a) or o-chloranil (10), leading to the corresponding arenes, has been investigated. The activation volumes were determined from the pressure dependence of the rate constants of these reactions monitored by on-line UV/Vis spectroscopic measurements in an optical high-pressure cell (up to 3500 bar). The finding that they are highly negative and only moderately dependent on the solvent polarity (DeltaV( not equal ) = -13 to -25 in MTBE and -15 to -29 cm(3) mol(-1) in MeCN/AcOEt, 1:1) rules out the formation of ionic species in the rate-determining step and is good evidence for a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism leading to a pair of radicals in the rate-determining step, as was also suggested by kinetic measurements, studies of kinetic isotope effects, and spin-trapping experiments. The strong pressure dependence of the kinetic deuterium isotope effect for the reaction of 9,10-dihydroanthracene 5/5-9,9,10,10-D(4) with DDQ (1 a) can be attributed to a tunneling component in the hydrogen transfer. In the case of formal 1,3-dienes and enes possessing two vicinal C--H bonds, which have to be cleaved during the dehydrogenation, a pericyclic hydrogen transfer has to considered as one mechanistic alternative. The comparison of the kinetic deuterium isotope effects determined for the oxidation of tetralin 9/9-1,1,4,4-D(4)/9-2,2,3,3-D(4)/9-D(12) either with DDQ (1 a) or with thymoquinone 1 c indicates that the reaction with DDQ (1 a) proceeds in a stepwise manner through hydrogen atom transfer, analogously to the oxidations of 1,4-dihydroarenes, whereas the reaction with thymoquinone 1 c is concerted, following the course of a pericyclic hydrogen transfer. The difference in the mechanistic courses of these two reactions may be explained by the effect of the CN and Cl substituents in 1 a, which stabilize a radical intermediate better than the alkyl groups in 1 c. The mechanistic conclusions are substantiated by DFT calculations.     

Modeling research in low-medium temperature geothermal field, Tianjin

The geothermal reservoir in Tianjin can be divided into two parts: the upper one is theporous medium reservoir in the Tertiary system; the lower one includes the basement reservoir inLower Paleozoic and Middle-Upper Proterozoic. Hot springs are exposed in the northern mountainand confined geothermal water is imbedded in the southern plain. The geothermal reservoir is in-cised by several fractures. In recent years, TDS of the geothermal water have gone up along withthe production rate increasing, along the eastern fracture zone (Cangdong Fracture and West Bai-tangkou Fracture). This means that the northern fracture system is the main seepage channel ofthe deep circulation geothermal water, and the reservoir has good connection in a certain area anddefinite direction. The isotopic research about hydrogen and carbon chronology indicates that themain recharge period of geothermal water is the Holocene Epoch, the pluvial and chilly period of20 kaBP. The karst conduits in weathered carbonate rocks of the Proterozoic and Lower Paleozoicand the northeast regional fracture system are the main feeding channels of Tianjin geothermalwater. Since the Holocene epoch, the geothermal water stayed at a sealed warm period. Thetracer test in WR45 doublet system shows that the tracer test is a very effective measure forunderstanding the reservoir's transport nature and predicting the cooling time and transportvelocity during the reinjection. 3-D numerical simulation shows that if the reinjection well keeps asuitable distance from the production well, reinjection will be a highly effective measure to extractmore thermal energy from the rock matrix. The cooling of the production well will not be a problem.     

Isotope Effect on Fractional Dilatability of Solute Water as an Indicator of the H-Bonding Ability of an Aprotic Dipolar Solvent

Based on experimental data about the density of very dilute solutions of H₂O and D₂O in 1,4-dioxane, hexamethylphosphotriamide, and acetonitrile at 278.15 K-318.15 K we determined the limiting partial molar volume (error ±0.03 cm³·mol⁻¹) and dilatability of the water component. A correlation equation has been derived which relates the isotope effect (IE) in the limiting excess partial molar dilatability of water to the energy of the H₂O-solvent hydrogen bond. The stated IE may be used as a “structural indicator” for evaluating the ability of an aprotic dipolar solvent to undergo specific interactions through hydrogen bonding.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by E. V. Ivanov, V. K. Abrosimov, and E. Yu. Lebedeva__________Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 1020–1026, November–December, 2004.