Detailed characterization of dioxouranium(vi) complexes with a symmetrical tetradentate N2O2-benzil bis(isonicotinoyl hydrazone) ligand

A Series of AnVIO22+ Complexes (An = U, Np, Pu) with N3O2-Donating Schiff-Base Ligands: Systematic Trends in the Molecular Structures and Redox Behavior

In their + V and + VI oxidation states, actinide elements (U, Np, and Pu) are commonly encountered in characteristic linear dioxo structures, known as actinyl ions (AnO2n+; An = U, Np, Pu, n = 1, 2). A systematic understanding of the structural and redox behavior of AnVO2+/AnVIO22+ complexes is expected to provide valuable information for controlling the behavior of An elements in natural environments and in nuclear fuel cycles while enabling the development of spintronics and new reactivities that utilize the anisotropic spin of the 5f electrons. However, systematic trends in the behavior of AnVO2+/AnVIO22+ complexes remain poorly understood. The [AnV/VIO2(saldien)]-/0 complexes (saldien2- = N,N'-disalicylidenediethylenetriamine) studied here offer a promising avenue for advancing our understanding of this subject. The molecular structures of a series of [AnVIO2(saldien)] complexes were found to exhibit notable similarities through these An elements with minor, but still significant, contributions from the actinide contraction. The redox potentials of the [AnV/VIO2(saldien)]-/0 couples clearly increase from U to Np, followed by a subsequent decrease from Np to Pu (-1.667 V vs Fc0/+ for [UV/VIO2(saldien)]-/0, -0.650 V for [NpV/VIO2(saldien)]-/0 and -0.698 V for [PuV/VIO2(saldien)]-/0). Such a difference can be explained in terms of the difference in character of the electronic configuration of the + VI oxidation state. A series of these redox trends was also successfully reproduced by DFT-based calculations. These findings provide valuable information for controlling the oxidation states of the An elements.

Unravelling molecular interaction of the uranyl(VI) complex with bovine serum albumin

Interest in the biotoxicology of uranium resulting from its inherent radioactive as well as chemical properties has been growing intensely in recent years. Indeed, uranium in its stable form as UO22+ species is ubiquitously found on earth, and this form is commonly known as the uranyl(VI) ion. The unusual electronic environment at the core of the uranyl(VI) complex plays an important role in its interaction with biomacromolecules. Based on the spectroscopic and computational studies, we have explored the interaction of the uranyl(VI) complex with BSA. The results showed that the fluorescence intensity of BSA was quenched upon interaction with the uranyl(VI) complex largely through dynamic mode, which was authenticated by Stern-Volmer calculations and fluorescence lifetime measurements at different temperatures. Fluorescence anisotropy and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy were performed to understand the micro-environments of the fluorophores. Furthermore, the binding constant, standard free energy and number of binding sites were also calculated. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH° and ΔS° revealed that the non-covalent interactions played a principal role in the binding of the uranyl(VI) complex to BSA, and the value of ΔG° indicated the spontaneity of the interaction. Using the site marker fluorescent probes, the binding location of the uranyl(VI) complex at the BSA site was established. This was further supported by the molecular docking technique with a docking free energy of -38.91 kJ mol-1, indicating the non-covalent binding of the uranyl(VI) complex with BSA active sites. This piece of work may contribute mostly to understanding the pharmacokinetics of the uranyl(VI) complex and provide fundamental data on its safe usage.

Controlling mixed-valence states of pyridyldiimino-bis(o-phenolato) ligand radical in uranyl(VI) complexes

Combination of a uranyl(VI) ion (UVIO22+) with a redox-active ligand results in characteristic electronic structures that cannot be achieved by either component alone. In this study, three UVIO22+ complexes that bear symmetric or asymmetric 2,6-diiminopyridine-based ligands were synthesized and found to exhibit a first redox couple between -1.17 V and -1.31 V (vs. Fc0/+) to afford singly reduced complexes. The unique electronic transitions of the singly reduced UVIO22+ complexes observed in the NIR region allowed us to combine spectroelectrochemistry and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations to determine the redox-active site in these UVIO22+ complexes, i.e., to clarify the distribution of the additional unpaired electron. By exploiting the push-pull effect of electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents, the ligand-based π-radical of the singly reduced UVIO22+ complexes, which tends to delocalize over the ligand, can be localized to specific sites.

Probing the interaction of uranyl(VI) complex with bovine serum albumin via in-depth experimental and computational perspectives

Interaction aspects of uranyl(VI) complexes as well as the coordinated ONNO-donor ligand with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated by the fluorescence spectroscopy and computational insights. Under optimal physiological condition, it was observed that there was significant decrease in fluorescence intensity of BSA upon interaction with uranyl(VI) complexes as well as the ligand. The mechanism of interaction between the uranyl(VI) complex and BSA protein was examined by fluorescence measurement. The Stern-Volmer constant, binding affinity, binding constant, standard free energy, and fluorescence lifetime decay profile of BSA in the absence as well as in the presence of uranyl(VI) complex were determined. Furthermore, the conformational binding of uranyl(VI) complexes with BSA protein was explored via molecular docking studies, and confirmed that there is a strong affinity between the Trp-213 residue in the binding pocket of sub-domain IIA and uranyl(VI) complex.

How does chemistry contribute to circular economy in nuclear energy systems to make them more sustainable and ecological?

While one should be aware that its zero CO₂ emission is actually achievable only when electric power is generated, nuclear power is one of the most viable and proven "carbon-free" energy sources to provide baseload electricity to the current energy-demanding society. Even after the power generation, the major part of spent nuclear fuels still consists of recyclable nuclear fuel materials such as U and Pu, promising circular economy of nuclear energy systems in principle. However, actual situations are not very simple due to the following issues: (1) resource security of nuclear fuel materials, (2) issues of depleted uranium, and (3) treatment and disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. In this Perspective, I discussed how chemistry can contribute to resolving these problems and what task academic research in fundamental chemistry should take on there.

Green solvent free epoxidation of olefins by a heterogenised hydrazone-dioxidotungsten(vi) coordination compound

A new mononuclear tungsten coordination compound, [WO2L(CH3OH)] (1), was synthesized by the reaction of WCl6 and H2L (H2L = (E)-4-amino-N'-(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide) in methanol. Both the H2L and compound 1 were characterized by elemental analysis and UV-Vis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic methods. The molecular structure of compound 1 was also determined by single crystal X-ray analysis which confirmed the compound is a mononuclear coordination compound of cis-dioxidotungsten(vi) containing a free amine functionality on the ligand. Compound 1 was supported on propionyl chloride-functionalized silica gel by amidification reaction to obtain a heterogeneous catalyst. The obtained heterogeneous catalyst was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and its catalytic activity was investigated in the epoxidation of olefins with hydrogen peroxide under solvent free conditions. The catalyst was successfully recovered several times and the recovered catalyst was also characterized by various methods including FT-IR, DRS, TGA, SEM and EDX analyses. The results indicated this heterogeneous catalytic system is an effective and selective catalyst for epoxidation of olefins and can be reused several times without significant change in its catalytic activity.