Opening the Egg Box: NMR spectroscopic analysis of the interactions between s-block cations and kelp monosaccharides

The best-known theory accounting for metal-alginate complexation is the so-called "Egg Box" model. In order to gain greater insight into the metal-saccharide interactions that underpin this model, the coordination chemistry of the corresponding monomeric units of alginate, L-guluronate (GulA) and D-mannuronate (ManA) have been studied herein. GulA and ManA were exposed to solutions of different s-block cations and then analysed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the α/β ratio of the pyranose anomeric equilibria of GulA showed large pertubations from the starting value (α/β = 0.21 ± 0.01) upon contact with 1.0 M Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ (α/β = 1.50 ± 0.03, 1.20 ± 0.02, and 0.58 ± 0.02, respectively) at pD 7.9, but remained almost constant in the presence of Na⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺ (α/β = 0.24 ± 0.01, 0.19 ± 0.01, and 0.26 ± 0.01, respectively). By comparison, no significant changes were observed in the α/β ratios of ManA and related mono-uronates D-glucuronate (GlcA) and D-galacturonate (GalA) in the presence of all of the metal ions surveyed. Analysis of the ¹H and ¹³C coordination chemical shift patterns indicate that the affinity of α-GulA for larger divalent cations is a consequence of the unique ax-eq-ax arrangement of hydroxyl groups found for this uronate anomer.

Equilibria and Dynamics of Sodium Citrate Aqueous Solutions: The Hydration of Citrate and Formation of the Na3Cit0 Ion Aggregate

Sodium citrate (Na₃Cit) has a crucial role in many biological and industrial processes. Yet, quantitative information on its hydration and the ion association between Na⁺ and Cit^3- ions in a broad range of salt concentrations is still lacking. In this work, we study both ion association equilibria and relaxation dynamics of sodium citrate solutions by combining potentiometry, spectrophotometry, and dielectric spectroscopy. From photometric and potentiometric measurements, we detect the formation of the NaCit^2- ion-pair and the neutral Na₃Cit⁰ ion aggregate in a wide range of ionic strengths (0.5-4 M). Due to its remarkable stability, the latter becomes the prevailing species at higher salt concentrations. In the dielectric spectra, we observe the dipolar relaxation of Cit^3- and NaCit^2- and two solvent-related processes, associated with the collective rearrangement of the H-bond network (cooperative water mode) and the H-bond flip of water molecules (fast water mode). Unlike numerous other salt solutions, the relaxation time of the cooperative mode scales with the viscosity indicating that the strongly hydrated anion fits well into the water network. That is, the stabilizing effect of anion-solvent interactions on the H-bond network outweighs the destructive impact of the cations as the latter are only present at low concentration, due to strong ion association. In conclusion, the affinity of citrate toward Na⁺ binding not only governs solution equilibria but also has a strong impact on water dynamics.

Interactions of Calcium with Chlorogenic and Rosmarinic Acids: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach

Chlorogenic (CA) and rosmarinic (RA) acids are two natural bioactive hydroxycinnamic acids whose antioxidant properties can be modulated by the chelation of metal ions. In this work, the interactions of these two carboxylic phenols with calcium ions and the impact of such interactions on their antioxidant activity were investigated. UV-Vis absorbance, mass spectroscopy and 1H and 13C liquid NMR were used to identify complexes formed by CA and RA with calcium. Antioxidant activities were measured by the Bois method. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to evaluate the most stable configurations and correlated with NMR data. Taken together, these data suggest that calcium ions mainly interact with the carboxylate groups of both molecules but that this interaction modifies the reactivity of the catechol groups, especially for RA. These results highlight the complex interplay between metal chelation and antioxidant properties of natural carboxylic phenols.

Supersaturation of calcium citrate as a mechanism behind enhanced availability of calcium phosphates by presence of citrate

Dissolution of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) in aqueous citrate at varying pH has been studied with perspective of increasing availability of calcium from sidestreams of whey protein, lactose and/or cheese production or on development of new functional foods. ACP formed as an initial precipitate in 0.10 mol L^-1 equimolar aqueous calcium chloride, sodium citrate, and sodium hydrogenphosphate was used as model for mineral residues formed during milk processing. Upon acidification of the ACP suspension by hydrochloric acid decreasing pH from 6.5 to 4.5, the transformations of ACP occurred through an 8 h period of supersaturation prior to a slow precipitation of calcium citrate tetrahydrate. This robust supersaturation, which may explain increased availability of calcium phosphates in presence of citrate, presented a degree of supersaturation of 7.1 and was characterized by precipitation rates for 0.10 mol L^-1 equimolar aqueous calcium chloride, sodium hydrogencitrate, and sodium hydrogenphosphate with pH 5.5, and for 0.10 mol L^-1 equimolar aqueous calcium chloride, sodium hydrogencitrate, and sodium dihydrogenphosphate with pH 4.1, with a degree of supersaturation of 2.7. The crystallization processes were similar according to Avrami's model with a half-life for precipitation of approximately 5 h independent of the degree of supersaturation. Ion speciation based on measurement of pH, and total concentrations of calcium, phosphate and citrate, and of conductivity and calcium ion activity during precipitation indicates a low driving force for precipitation with calcium citrate complex dominating at pH 5.5 and calcium hydrogencitrate complex dominating at pH 4.1. Calcium hydrogencitrate is suggested to be the species involved in the crystal growth followed by solid state transformation to calcium citrate tetrahydrate.

Comparison of the Ca2+ complexing properties of isosaccharinate and gluconate – is gluconate a reliable structural and functional model of isosaccharinate?

During the interactions of α-d-isosaccharinate and d-gluconate with Ca²⁺ in aqueous solution, differences rather than similarities prevail.