Competing binding of metal ions with protein studied by microdialysis

A method has been established to study the competing binding of metal ions with protein by a combined technique of microdialysis with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and human serum albumin (HSA) were chosen as model metal ions and protein. The experimental results show that Ni2+ and Cu2+ share a common primary binding site on HSA, and Zn2+ and Cd2+ share a different common primary binding site from them, but there is a common multi-metal binding site for all of those four metal ions. This method show advantages of fast sampling, easily to be operated and especially to be useful when ideal spectroscopic probes are not available for the study of interaction between protein and metal ions.     

Extraction of copper(II) ions from ammonia solutions with a β-diketone extractant

The extraction of copper(II) ions from ammonia solutions with a new β-diketone extractant, DX-510A, has been studied. Kinetic features of the copper(II) extraction and back extraction have been established: the reaction orders have been determined, and extraction and stripping rate constants have been calculated to be k_e1 = 4.14 × 10^–2 s^–1 and k_be1 = 3.20 × 10^–2 s^–1, respectively. It has been demonstrated that the extraction of copper(II) ions is not accompanied by the coextraction of ammonia. The type of extracted complex has been determined and its formula has been suggested.     

Interaction of metal ions with biomolecular ligands: how accurate are calculated free energies associated with metal ion complexation?

To address fundamental questions in bioinorganic chemistry, such as metal ion selectivity, accurate computational protocols for both the gas-phase association of metal-ligand complexes and solvation/desolvation energies of the species involved are needed. In this work, we attempt to critically evaluate the performance of the ab initio and DFT electronic structure methods available and recent solvation models in calculations of the energetics associated with metal ion complexation. On the example of five model complexes ([M(II)(CH(3)S)(H(2)O)](+), [M(II)(H(2)O)(2)(H(2)S)(NH(3))](2+), [M(II)(CH(3)S)(NH(3))(H(2)O)(CH(3)COO)], [M(II)(H(2)O)(3)(SH)(CH(3)COO)(Im)], [M(II)(H(2)S)(H(2)O)(CH(3)COO)(PhOH)(Im)](+) in typical coordination geometries) and four metal ions (Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Cd(2+); representing open- and closed-shell and the first- and second-row transition metal elements), we provide reference values for the gas-phase complexation energies, as presumably obtained using the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ method, and compare them with cheaper methods, such as DFT and RI-MP2, that can be used for large-scale calculations. We also discuss two possible definitions of interaction energies underlying the theoretically predicted metal-ion selectivity and the effect of geometry optimization on these values. Finally, popular solvation models, such as COSMO-RS and SMD, are used to demonstrate whether quantum chemical calculations can provide the overall free enthalpy (ΔG) changes in the range of the expected experimental values for the model complexes or match the experimental stability constants in the case of three complexes for which the experimental data exist. The data presented highlight several intricacies in the theoretical predictions of the experimental stability constants: the covalent character of some metal-ligand bonds (e.g., Cu(II)-thiolate) causing larger errors in the gas-phase complexation energies, inaccuracies in the treatment of solvation of the charged species, and difficulties in the definition of the reference state for Jahn-Teller unstable systems (e.g., [Cu(H(2)O)(6)](2+)). Although the agreement between the experimental (as derived from the stability constants) and calculated values is often within 5 kcal·mol(-1), in more complicated cases, it may exceed 15 kcal·mol(-1). Therefore, extreme caution must be exercised in assessing the subtle issues of metal ion selectivity quantitatively.     

Formation constants and thermodynamic parameters of α-pyridoin thiosemicarbazones with divalent metal ions

The proton–ligand stability constants of -pyridoin thiosemicarbazone, -pyridoin 2–methylthiosemicarbazone, -pyridoin 4–methylthiosemicarbazone and -pyridoin (4–phenylthiosemicarbazone) as well as the formation constants of their chelates with CuII, NiII, CoII, ZnII and MnII have been determined. The Calvin–Bjerrum pH titration techniques, as modified by Irving and Rossotti, were employed in aqueous media at different ionic strengths and temperatures. The stability constants of the complexes follow the order: CuII > NiII > CoII > ZnII >MnII which is in accord with the Irving–Williams series. The chelates derived from -pyridoin 4–phenylthiosemicarbazone have relatively higher stability constants, which may be attributed to the presence of the benzene ring in the chain.     

Tautomerism of uracil and 5-bromouracil in a microcosmic environment with water and metal ions. What roles do metal ions play?

The base tautomerization processes of uracil/5-bromouracil were investigated in a microcosmic environment with both H2O and Na+ (W-M environment). It was found that uracil was more stable in the W-M environment than in the microcosmic environment with only water, which suggested that the metal ions and water work cooperated to maintain the classical nucleic acid bases. However, 5-bromouracil, a chemical mutagen, was found to be less stable than uracil in the W-M environment. Why the 5-bromouracil is easier to tautomerize and therefore induce gene mutation was explained to some extent. Further research revealed that the water molecule would assist the tautomerization in the W-M environment. However, the metal ions in different regions play absolutely opposite roles: in one region, the metal ions can prevent the base from tautomerizing, whereas in another region, the metal ion can assist the tautomerization process. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ionization of the base, it seems BrU has a stronger tendency to lose the proton at N3, which is an intrinsic consequence of the bromine atom and is not affected by the metal cation.     

Preparation of lanthanide sulfide films by chemical vapor deposition using β-diketone chelates

Preparation of thin films of lanthanide (Ln) sulfides has been studied by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, using metal -diketonato chelates with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione and reactant H₂S gas as starting materials. Two kinds of sulfides, Ln₂O₂S oxysulfides and EuS monosulfide, were obtained as thin films at temperatures as low as 390–570 °C. The CVD method was confirmed to be suited for the above purpose.     

Reactions of sulfenyl chloride derivatives of metal β-diketonates

The reactions of sulfenyl chloride derivatives of rhodium and ruthenium acetylacetonates as well as of chromium(III) and cobalt(III) β-diketonates (with β-phenyl groups) have been studied. The studied complexes can participate in the substitution and addition reactions. As compared with the previously studied sulfenyl chlorides of acetylacetonate complexes, many side processes occur in the case of β-phenyl chelates; they decrease the products yield and complicate their purification. In the case of dibenzoylmethenate complexes, reduction reactions can easily occur, giving the partially substituted chelates impurity.     

Synthesis of fluoroalkyl-containing β-hydroxyketones by reduction of the corresponding β-diketone derivatives

The rcgioselective synthesis of fluoroalkyl-containing P-hydroxyketones by the reduction of the salts of the corresponding -diketones with LiAlH₄ was proposed. This is the sole method for the synthesis of -hydroxyketones with two fluoroalkyl substituents.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1493–1495, June, 1996.     

Synthesis of hydrogenated indazole derivatives starting with α,β-unsaturated ketones and hydrazine derivatives

The reaction of hydrazine derivatives with α,β-unsaturated ketones, such as cyclohexenyl(phenyl)methanone and (E)-2-benzylidenecyclohexanone, were investigated.The reaction between methylhydrazine and e.g., cyclohexenyl(phenyl)methanone was particularly interesting as 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-indazole was obtained as the major product together with 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2-methyl-3-phenyl-2H-indazole as a minor product.     

Study of the adsorption behavior ¶of heavy metal ions on nanometer-size ¶titanium dioxide with ICP-AES

A new method using nanoparticle TiO₂ as solid-phase extractant coupled with ICP-AES was proposed for simultaneous determination of trace elements. The adsorption behavior of nanometer TiO₂ towards Cu, Cr, Mn and Ni was investigated by ICP-AES, and the adsorption pH curves, adsorption isotherms and adsorption capacities were obtained. It was found that the adsorption rates of the metal ions studied were more than 90% in pH 8.0～9.0, and 2.0 mol L^–1 HCl was sufficient for complete elution. Nanometer TiO₂ possesses a significant capacity for the sorption of the metal ions studied which is higher than the capacity of silica, the commonly used extractant. The method has been applied to the analysis of some environmental samples with satisfactory results.     

Synergic extraction of lanthanide(III) ions with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone in the presence of 2,2′-bipyridine or pyridine

The synergic extraction of various tervalent lanthanides (Ln), La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Yb and Lu, with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (Htta) in the presence of a bidentate heterocyclic amine, 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), in benzene was investigated. The synergic enhancement was attributed to the formation of the adducts, Ln(tta)₃(bipy). The synergic extraction of La(III), Sm(III) and Lu(III) with Htta and a unidentate amine, pyridine (py), was also studied and the formation of the adducts, Ln(tta)₃py and Ln(tta)₃(py)₂, was observed. The adduct formation constants, β_s,1 and β_s,2, were determined. The β_s,2 values for py decrease with increasing atomic number of Ln(III), but β_s,1 values for bipy increase with increasing atomic number of Ln(III). The synergic extraction constants and the separation factors in the bipy system were also determined.     

Luminescent organic 1D nanomaterials based on bis(β-diketone)carbazole derivatives

A series of new triphenylamine-functionalized bis(β-diketone)s bridged by a carbazole (CnBDKC, n=1, 4, 8, 16) with twisted intramolecular charge-transfer emission in polar solvents has been synthesized. The length of the carbon chains has a significant effect on the self-assembling properties of the compounds. Well-defined 1D nanowires were easily generated from C1BDKC with a methyl group by a reprecipitation approach directed by π-stacking interaction, and the molecules packed into J-aggregates in the nanowires. In addition, 1D nanofibers based on C16BDKC bearing a long hexadecyl chain were prepared through the organogelation process, and H-aggregates were formed driven by the synergistic effect of π-stacking interaction and van der Waals force in the gel phase. C4BDKC and C8BDKC containing butyl and octyl side chains, respectively, cannot arrange into dispersed nanostructures, probably because π-π interaction between conjugated moieties might be disturbed by the interaction between the side chains, which is, however, not strong enough to dominate the self-assembling process. Notably, the nanowires based on C1BDKC and the gel nanofibers from C16BDKC can emit strong green light under irradiation, which suggests that these 1D nanomaterials may have potential applications in emitting materials as well as photonic devices.     

Synthesis,characterization, and photoluminescence properties of difluoroboron complexes with bis-β-diketone ligands

Some novel difluoroboron bis-β-diketonates containing a pyridyl moiety were synthesized from diethyl 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate via Claisen condensation with the corresponding aryl methyl ketones and followed by complexation with boron trifluoride etherate. Their spectroscopic behaviors were studied by FTIR, ¹H NMR, UV–Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The results indicated that difluoroboron bis-β-diketonates exhibited violet or blue fluorescence emission at 428–454 nm under UV illumination in DMSO and possessed high extinction coefficients. It was found that the nature of the substituents at benzene ring in bis-β-diketone ligands had a significant impact on the photoluminescence behaviors of difluoroboron complexes. The complex 5b exhibited the strongest photoluminescence intensity and highest quantum yield (Φ _u = 0.93), due to two strong electron-donating methoxyl moieties in molecule and the compound 4b displayed the lowest photoluminescence intensity and quantum yield, assigned to the heavy atom effect of the chlorine atom in its molecule. The photoluminescence intensity and quantum yield of these difluoroboron complexes decreased in the sequence, 5b > 2b > 1b > 3b > 4b.     

Syntheses and spectroscopic studies of volatile low symmetry lanthanide(III) complexes with monodentate 1H-indazole and fluorinated β-diketone

Synthesis, photoluminescence, 4f–4f absorption, and NMR studies of highly volatile nine-coordinate complexes [Ln(hfaa)₃(L)₃] (Ln?=?La, Pr, Nd, and Sm; hfaa is the anion of 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione and L?=?1H-indazole) are described. NMR spectra reveal that three L are attached to the metal. The chemical shifts of β-diketonate and Hind protons are in opposite directions and the lanthanide induced paramagnetic shifts are dipolar. The low molecular symmetry of the complexes leads to intense luminescence with prominent Stark splitting of the bands and high oscillator strength of the hypersensitive transition. The band shape of the ⁴G_5/2, ²G_7/2?←?⁴I_9/2 transition of neodymium is similar to that of nine-coordinate complexes. Coordinating solvents have pronounced effect on the oscillator strength and band shape. The experimental intensity parameter (η _Sm) for the samarium complex is calculated and analyzed. The complexes could be used as precursors for high-performance lanthanide-based materials through chemical vapor deposition.     

β-Nitro derivatives of iron corrolates

Two different methods for the regioselective nitration of different meso-triarylcorroles leading to the corresponding β-substituted nitrocorrole iron complexes have been developed. A two-step procedure affords three Fe(III) nitrosyl products-the unsubstituted corrole, the 3-nitrocorrole, and the 3,17-dinitrocorrole. In contrast, a one-pot synthetic approach drives the reaction almost exclusively to formation of the iron nitrosyl 3,17-dinitrocorrole. Electron-releasing substituents on the meso-aryl groups of the triarylcorroles induce higher yields and longer reaction times than what is observed for the synthesis of similar triarylcorroles with electron-withdrawing functionalities, and these results can be confidently attributed to the facile formation and stabilization of an intermediate iron corrole π-cation radical. Electron-withdrawing substituents on the meso-aryl groups of triarylcorrole also seem to labilize the axial nitrosyl group which, in the case of the pentafluorophenylcorrole derivative, results in the direct formation of a disubstituted iron μ-oxo dimer complex. The influence of meso-aryl substituents on the progress and products of the nitration reaction was investigated. In addition, to elucidate the most important factors which influence the redox reactivity of these different iron nitrosyl complexes, selected compounds were examined by cyclic voltammetry and thin-layer UV-visible or FTIR spectroelectrochemistry in CH(2)Cl(2).     

Crystalline alignment of metal ions templated by β-chitin ester

The highly crystalline β-chitin from diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii was esterified via intercalation with succinic anhydride followed by simple heating, maintaining the original crystalline order. Due to the introduced free carboxyl groups, the chitin ester crystal showed ion exchange ability for metal cations in aq. solution. Heavy metal cations such as Pb²⁺ bound to the β-chitin succinate gave characteristic X-ray diffraction patterns, indicating regular alignment of metal ions. Such materials represent a new type of organometallic architecture, possibly leading to novel functionalities.