Spectroscopic Evidence for the Direct Coordination of the Pertechnetate Anion to the Uranyl Cation in [UO2(TcO4)(DPPMO2)2]+

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of [UO(2)(ReO(4))(DPPMO(2))(2)][ReO(4)] and [UO(2)(Cl)(DPPMO(2))(2)][Cl] (where DPPMO(2) = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dioxide). In both complexes, the linear uranyl dication is coordinated to two bidentate DPPMO(2) ligands in the equatorial plane with one coordinated and one non-coordinated anion (either perrhenate or chloride). We have also prepared the pertechnetate analogue, and, through (31)P and (99)Tc NMR, we have shown that the cation, [UO(2)(TcO(4))(DPPMO(2))(2)](+), is stable in solution.

Theoretical Study of the Magnetic Behavior of [Fe8] and [Fe16] Wheels

The reaction of the trimetallic species [Fe(3)O(PhCOO)(6)(H(2)O)(3)]NO(3) with 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (H(3)thme) affords either the octametallic species [Fe(8)(PhCOO)(12)(thme)(4)] 1 or the hexadecametallic species [Fe(16)(EtO)(4)(PhCOO)(16)(Hthme)(12)](NO(3))(4) 2, depending on the nature of the solvent used for crystallization. The structure of 1 can be described as a nonplanar wheel of eight Fe(III) ions bridged by a combination of PhCOO(-) and thme(3)(-) ligands, and 2 as a nonplanar wheel of sixteen Fe(III) ions bridged by PhCOO(-), Hthme(2)(-), and EtO(-) ligands. Both compounds can be broken down into simple units of two metal ions and the bridging ligands that connect them. The best fits of the chi vs T curves in the 300-10 K temperature range were obtained with the parameters g = 2.0, J(1) = -24.0 cm(-1), and J(2) = -8.59 cm(-1) for [Fe(8)] and g = 2.0, J(1) = -25.0 cm(-1), J(2) = -11.73 cm(-1), and J(3) = -69.3 cm(-1) for [Fe(16)]. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the antiferromagnetic interactions between the metals in the dinuclear units decrease when two types of bridging ligands are present, as expected for an orbital counter-complementarity effect.

A centred, elongated ‘ferric tetrahedron’ with an S = 15/2 spin ground state

The reaction of anhydrous FeCl(3) with 1H-benzotriazole-1-methanol (Bta-CH(2)OH) in MeOH produces the pentanuclear complex [Fe(5)O(2)(OMe)(2)(Bta)(4)(BtaH)(MeOH)(5)Cl(5)], containing a distorted tetrahedron of four Fe ions centred on a fifth. The central Fe is antiferromagnetically coupled to the peripheral Fe ions resulting in an S= 15/2 spin ground state.

Phenolate and phenoxyl radical complexes of Co(ii) and Co(iii)

The new phenol-imidazole pro-ligands (R)LH react with Co(BF(4))(2).6H(2)O in the presence of Et(3)N to form the corresponding [Co(II)((R)L)(2)] compound (R = Ph (1), PhOMe (2), or Bz (3)). Also, (Bz)LH, reacts with Co(ii) in the presence of Et(3)N and H(2)O(2) to form [Co(III)((Bz)L)(3)](4). The structures of 1.2.5MeCN, 2.2DMF, 3.4MeOH, and 4.4DMF have been determined by X-ray crystallography. 1, 2, and 3 each involve Co(II) bound to two N,O-bidentate ligands with a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere; 4 involves Co(III) bound to three N,O-bidentate ligands in a mer-N(3)O(3) distorted octahedral geometry. [Co(II)((R)L)(2)](R = Ph or PhOMe) undergo two, one-electron, oxidations. The products of the first oxidation, [1](+) and [2](+), have been synthesised by the chemical oxidation of 1 and 2, respectively; these cations, formulated as [Co(II)((R)L*)((R)L)(2)](+), comprise one phenoxyl radical and one phenolate ligand bound to Co(II) and are the first phenoxyl radical ligand complexes of tetra-coordinated Co(II). 4 undergoes two, one-electron, ligand-based oxidations, the first of which produces [4](+), [Co(III)((Bz)L*)((Bz)L)(2)](+). Unlike [1](+) and [2](+), product of the one-electron oxidation of [Co(II)((Bz)L)(2)], [3](+), is unstable and decomposes to produce [4](+). These studies have demonstrated that the chemical properties of [M(II)((R)L*)((R)L)(2)](+)(M = Co, Cu, Zn) are highly dependent on the nature of both the ligand and the metal centre.

A crystallographic, EPR and theoretical study of the Jahn–Teller distortion in [CuTp2] (Tp−= tris{pyrazol-1-yl}hydridoborate)

Crystals of the title compound (1) contain two independent, centrosymmetric half-molecules per asymmetric unit. While both of these show Jahn-Teller elongated six-coordinate geometries, the lengths of the elongated Cu-N bonds in the two molecules differ by 0.117(2) A at 30 K. The structure of one of these molecules (molecule A) does not vary with temperature below 350 K. The other molecule (molecule B) shows Cu-N bond lengths that are temperature-dependent between 225 and 375 K, but do not vary further at lower temperature. This indicates a fluxional axis of Jahn-Teller elongation in this molecule at these higher temperatures. Consideration of the thermal parameters in these structures implies that the fluxionality in molecule B is frozen out near 150 K. This conclusion is supported by a Q-band powder EPR study. The d-d transition energies of molecules A and B have been calculated by several density function (DF) methods, including a time-dependent DF calculation. The crystallographic data have been reproduced using the vibronic coupling model of Burgi and Hitchman. This has shown that the different fluxionality regimes for molecules A and B are not a consequence of their different static molecular structures, but rather reflect their different local environments in the crystal.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies of reactions of technetium, uranium and neptunium with mackinawite

Technetium, uranium and neptunium may all occur in the environment in more than one oxidation state (IV or VII, IV or VI and IV or V respectively). The surface of mackinawite, the first-formed iron sulfide phase in anoxic conditions, can promote redox changes so a series of laboratory experiments were carried out to explore the interactions of Tc, U and Np with this mineral. The products of reaction were characterised using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Technetium, added as TcO4(-), is reduced to oxidation state IV and forms a TcS(2)-like species. On oxidation of the mackinawite in air to form goethite, Tc remains in oxidation state IV but in an oxide, rather than a sulfide environment. At low concentrations, uranium forms uranyl surface complexes on oxidised regions of the mackinawite surface but at higher concentrations, the uranium promotes surface oxidation and forms a mixed oxidation state oxide phase. Neptunium is reduced to oxidation IV and forms a surface complex with surface sulfide ions. The remainder of the Np coordination sphere is filled with water molecules or hydroxide ions.

The structural and spectroscopic characterisation of three actinyl complexes with coordinated and uncoordinated perrhenate: [UO2(ReO4)2(TPPO)3], [{(UO2)(TPPO)3}2(µ2-O2)][ReO4]2and [NpO2(TPPO)4][ReO4]

The first structural characterization of an actinide complex with coordinated perrhenate is reported, [UO2(ReO4)2(TPPO)3] (1). In this [UO2]2+ complex two [ReO4]- anions and three TPPO (triphenylphosphine oxide) P=O donor ligands are coordinated in the equatorial plane in a cisoid arrangement. This bonding arrangement, and apparent strain observed in the equatorially bonded ligands, is attributed to the solid state packing in adjacent molecules in which hydrophobic TPPO ligands form an effective "shell" around a hydrophilic core of two UO2(ReO4)2 moieties. Solid state vibrational spectroscopy (infrared and Raman), 31P CP MAS NMR and elemental analysis are also consistent with the formula of 1. Solution state vibrational spectroscopy and 31P NMR measurements in EtOH indicate the lability of the TPPO and [ReO4]- groups. The photolytic generation of peroxide in EtOH solutions of 1 leads to the formation of trace quantities of [[(UO2)(TPPO)3]2(mu2-O2)][ReO4]2, 2, in which the coordinated [ReO4]- groups of 1 have been displaced by bridging O2(2-), derived from atmospheric O2. Finally, attempts to synthesise a [NpO2]+ analogue of have resulted only in the formation of [NpO2(TPPO)4][ReO4], 3, in which [ReO4]- acts solely as a counter anion. From these results it can be concluded that [ReO4]- will bond to [UO2]2+, but will be readily displaced by a more strongly coordinating ligand (e.g. peroxide) and will not coordinate to an actinyl cation with a lower charge, [NpO2]+, under the same reaction conditions.

Treatment of radioactive wastes: An X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the reaction of technetium with green rust

Technetium is a long-lived product of nuclear fission that readily forms the soluble pertechnetate anion [TcO(4)](-). Green rusts (layered hydrous oxides containing both Fe(II) and Fe(III) and with interlayer sulfate or carbonate anions) concentrate >99.8% of 99Tc, present as [TcO(4)](-), from aqueous solution, even in the presence of high concentrations of NaNO(3), a common constituent of radioactive waste streams. The mechanism of removal from solution is apparently reduction and formation of strong Tc(IV) surface complexes. X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that [TcO(4)](-) is indeed reduced by reaction with both sulfate- and carbonate-form green rusts and is found in a TcO(2)-like environment. On contact with air, the green rusts oxidize to poorly crystalline goethite but the Tc environment is unchanged. There is no increase in Tc solubility associated with oxidation of the host green rust. This behavior suggests that green rusts may be useful in the treatment of Tc-containing waste streams, in groundwater cleanup, and in restricting Tc migration from repositories.

New Routes to High Nuclearity Clusters: Fluoride-Based Octametallic and Tridecametallic Clusters of Manganese

The reaction of MnF(3) with 5,6-dimethylbenzotriazole (Me(2)BTAH) gives the [Mn(III)(8)] complex [Mn(8)O(4)(OMe)(2)(Me(2)BTA)(6)F(8)(Me(2)BTAH)(MeOH)(8)] and the [Mn(IV)(3)Mn(III)(10)] complex [Mn(13)O(12)(Me(2)BTA)(12)F(6)(MeOH)(10)(H(2)O)(2)]. The octametallic species is an "intermediate" in the formation of the tridecametallic cluster.

A Novel Undecametallic Iron(III) Cluster with an S = 11/2 Spin Ground State

The reaction of [NEt(4)](2)[Fe(2)OCl(6)] with sodium benzoate, 4,6-dimethyl-2-hydroxypyrimidine (dmhp), and 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (H(3)thme) gives the undecametallic compound [NEt(4)][Fe(11)O(4)(O(2)CPh)(10)(thme)(4)(dmhp)(2)Cl(4)]. X-ray crystallography, EPR spectroscopy, bulk magnetic susceptibility studies, and low-temperature single-crystal magnetic measurements were used to characterize the compound. Magnetic measurements indicate an S = (11)/(2) ground state with the parameters g = 2.03 and D = -0.46 cm(-)(1). Single-crystal magnetic studies show hysteresis of molecular origin at T < 1.2 K with fast quantum mechanical tunneling at zero field.

Magnetic and optical studies on an S = 6 ground-state cluster [Cr12O9(OH)3(O2CCMe3)15]: determination of, and the relationship between, single-ion and cluster spin Hamiltonian parameters

The dodecametallic Cr(III) cluster [Cr(12)O(9)(OH)(3)(O(2)CCMe(3))(15)] has a ground spin state of S = 6 characterized by the spin Hamiltonian parameters g(ZZ)() = 1.965, g(XX)() = g(YY)() = 1.960, D(S=)()(6) = +0.088 cm(-)(1), and E(S=)()(6) = 0 (where D and E are the axial and rhombic zero-field splitting parameters, respectively) as determined by multifrequency EPR spectroscopy and magnetization studies. Micro-SQUID magnetization studies reveal steps due to the fine structure of the ground state, with the spacing between the steps in excellent agreement with the D(S=)()(6) value determined by EPR. Analysis of high-resolution optical data (MCD) allows us to determine the single-ion g values and D value (= -1.035 cm(-)(1)) of the constituent Cr(III) ions directly. A vector coupling analysis demonstrates that the cluster ZFS is almost entirely due to the single-ion component. Thus, the relative orientations of the local and cluster magnetic axes can lead to a cluster ZFS of opposite sign to the single-ion value, even when this is the only significant contribution.

A novel zirconium polyoxometalate complex that contains both a coordinated saturated anion, [PMo12O40]3-, and a coordinated unsaturated anion, [PMo11O39]7-

The novel 8-coordinate zirconium compound (NH(4))(6)[Zr(PMo(12)O(40))(PMo(11)O(39))].26H(2)O (1) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and vibrational and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. It is the first example of a metal complex containing both parent, [PMo(12)O(40)](3)(-), and monovacant lacunary, [PMo(11)O(39)](7)(-), anions. Furthermore, this is the first crystallographic determination of the [PMo(11)O(39)](7)(-) anion.

A novel zirconium polyoxometalate compound: (NH(4))(9)[Zr(2)(mu-OH)(H(2)O)(2)(AsOH)(2)(AsW(7)O(28))(AsW(10)O(36))].26H(2)O

The crystal structure of the title compound, nonaammonium (arsenic decatungstido)(arsenic heptatungstido)diaqua-mu-hydroxo-(hydroxyarsenido)dizirconium hexacosahydrate, which was obtained from the reaction of [NaAs(4)W(40)O(140)](27-) with Zr(IV), has been determined. The anionic complex consists of two hydroxyl-bridged seven-coordinate capped trigonal-prismatic zirconium ions, which are bonded to an [AsW(10)O(36)](9-) anion and to an [AsW(7)O(28)](11-) anion that has two [AsOH](2+) capping units. The asymmetric unit contains half of the complex, with one crystallographically independent Zr atom. Crystallographic m symmetry imposed by the monoclinic C2/m space group gives rise to the asymmetric unit comprising half of the complex with one crystallographically independent Zr atom.

Development and application of an assay for uranyl complexation by fungal metabolites, including siderophores

An assay to detect UO(2)(2+) complexation was developed based on the chrome azurol S (CAS) assay for siderophores (B. Schwyn and J. B. Neilands, Anal. Biochem. 160:47-56, 1987) and was used to investigate the ability of fungal metabolites to complex actinides. In this assay the discoloration of two dyed agars (one containing a CAS-Fe(3+) dye and the other containing a CAS-UO(2)(2+) dye) caused by ligands was quantified. The assay was tested by using the siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFO), and the results showed that there was a regular, reproducible relationship between discoloration and the amount of siderophore added. The ratio of the discoloration on the CAS-UO(2)(2+) agar to the discoloration on the CAS-Fe(3+) agar was independent of the amount of siderophore added. A total of 113 fungi and yeasts were isolated from three soil samples taken from the Peak District National Park. The fungi were screened for the production of UO(2)(2+) chelators by using the CAS-based assay and were also tested specifically for hydroxamate siderophore production by using the hydroxamate siderophore auxotroph Aureobacterium flavescens JG-9. This organism is highly sensitive to the presence of hydroxamate siderophores. However, the CAS-based assay was found to be less sensitive than the A. flavescens JG-9 assay. No significant difference between the results for each site for the two tests was found. Three isolates were selected for further study and were identified as two Pencillium species and a Mucor species. Our results show that the new assay can be effectively used to screen fungi for the production of UO(2)(2+) chelating ligands. We suggest that hydroxamate siderophores can be produced by mucoraceous fungi.

Solution chemistry of uranyl ion with iminodiacetate and oxydiacetate: A combined NMR/EXAFS and potentiometry/calorimetry study

The solution chemistry of uranyl ion with iminodiacetate (IDA) and oxydiacetate (ODA) was investigated using NMR and EXAFS spectroscopies, potentiometry, and calorimetry. From the NMR and EXAFS data and depending on stoichiometry and pH, three types of metal:ligand complex were identified in solution in the pH range 3-7: 1:1 and 1:2 monomers; a 2:2 dimer. From NMR and EXAFS data for the IDA system and previous studies, we propose the three complex types are [UO(2)(IDA)(H(2)O)(2)], [UO(2)(IDA)(2)](2)(-), and [(UO(2))(2)(IDA)(2)(mu-OH)(2)](2)(-). From EXAFS spectroscopy, similar 1:1, 2:2, and 1:2 complexes are found for the ODA system, although (13)C NMR spectroscopy was not a useful probe in this system. For the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes in solution, EXAFS spectroscopy is ambiguous because the data can be fitted with either a long U-N/O(ether) value (ca. 2.9 A) suggesting 1,7-coordination of the ligand or a U-C interaction at a similar distance, consistent with terminal bidentate coordination. However, the NMR data of the IDA system suggest that 1,7-coordination is the more likely. The stability constants of the three complexes were determined by potentiometric titrations; the log beta values are 9.90 +/-, 16.42 +/-, and 10.80 +/- for the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2 uranyl-IDA complexes, respectively, and 5.77 +/-, 7.84 +/-, and 4.29 +/- for the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2 uranyl-ODA complexes, respectively. The thermodynamic constants for the complexes were calculated from calorimetric titrations; the enthalpy changes (kJ mol(-)(1)) and entropy changes (J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)) of complexation for the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2 complexes respectively are the following. IDA: 12 +/- 2, 230 +/- 8; 8 +/- 2, 151 +/- 9; -33 +/- 3, -283 +/- 11. ODA: 26 +/- 2, 198 +/- 12; 20 +/- 2, 106 +/- 8; -24 +/- 2; -219 +/- 8.

Optical determination of the single-ion zero-field splitting in large spin clusters

The dodecametallic Cr(III) cluster has an S = 6 ground state with an axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) of DS=6 = +0.088 cm-1. Analysis of high-resolution optical data (MCD) allows us to determine the single-ion ZFS of the constituent Cr(III) ions directly (D = -1.035 cm-1). A vector coupling analysis demonstrates that the cluster ZFS is almost entirely single-ion in origin. Thus, the relative orientations of the local and cluster magnetic axes can lead to cluster ZFS of opposite sign to the single-ion even when this is the only significant contribution.

Synthesis of 1,3-dithiol-2-ones as proligands related to molybdopterin

The reaction of suitably disubstituted alkynes with diisopropyl xanthogen disulfide gives differentially substituted 4,5-disubstituted-1,3-dithiol-2-ones as proligands for metal complexes related to the molybdenum cofactor.

New routes to high nuclearity cages: a fluoride-based hexaicosametallic manganese cage

The reaction of MnF3 with benzotriazole (BTAH) in hot MeOH gives the Mn(III) complex [Mn26O16(OH)10(OMe)6(F)10(BTA)20(BTAH)2(MeOH)13(H2O)] which displays hysteresis and temperature-independent magnetisation relaxation at low temperature.