ABSTRACT Despite the significance of hydrogen bonding in protein‐carbohydrate interactions, carbohydrate conformation, and crystallinity (solubility), relative hydrogen bond donating capacities (HBDC) of individual alcohol groups of a given sugar are poorly characterised. Here the first systematic determination of the HBDC of individual sugar alcohol groups has been achieved, which were ranked in a HB‐scale (p K AHY ‐scale) that is relevant for medicinal chemistry purposes. HB determination was achieved using an IR‐based protocol with methyl α‐glucoside‐ and α‐galactoside‐based model compounds that exclude any contributions from HB cooperativity effects. A wide variation in HBDC was found, especially for galactose, with a strong stereochemical dependence not only of the alcohol group itself, but also at adjacent and even remote positions. The glucose 4‐OH and, notably, the galactose 6‐OH groups were the strongest donors, whereas the glucose 2‐OH and, notably, the galactose 4‐OH groups were the weakest donors. Interestingly, the galactose 6‐OH is the only group with a stronger HBDC than cyclohexanol. These differences could be qualitatively rationalised by a combined IR, NMR, and computational analysis, pointing to counteracting influences from inductive and the often multiple possible intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding effects. The difference between the factors that determine carbohydrate HB donating capacities and Brønsted acidities is discussed.

The bond distance is the simplest and most obvious indicator of the nature of a given chemical bond. However, for rare chemistry, it may happen that it is not yet firmly established. In this communication, we will show that the formally-triple protactinium(V) mono-oxo bond is predicted to be longer than what was previously reported in the solid state and in solution, based on robust quantum mechanical calculations, supported by an extensive methodological study. Furthermore, additional calculations are used to demonstrate that the Pa-Ooxo bond of interest is more sensitive to complexation than the supposedly analogous U-Oyl ones, not only in terms of bond distance but also of finer bond descriptors associated with the effective bond multiplicity.

Protactinium ($Z$ = 91) is a very rare actinide with peculiar physico-chemical properties. Indeed, although one may naively think that it behaves similarly to either thorium or uranium by its position in the periodic table, it may in fact follow its own rules. Because of the quite small energy gap between its valence shells (in particular the 5$f$ and 6$d$ ones) and also the strong influence of relativistic effects on its properties, it is actually a challenging element for theoretical chemists. In this article, we combine experimental information, chemical arguments and standard first-principle calculations, complemented by implicit and explicit solvation, to revisit the stepwise complexation of aqueous protactinium(V) with sulfate and oxalate dianionic ligands (SO$_4$$^{2-}$ and C$_2$O$_4$$^{2-}$, respectively). From a methodological viewpoint, we notably conclude that it is necessary to at least saturate the coordination sphere of protactinium(V) to reach converged equilibrium constant values. Furthermore, in the case of single complexations (i.e. with one sulfate or oxalate ligand bound in the bidentate fashion), we show that it is necessary to maintain the coordination of one hydroxyl group, present in the supposed [PaO(OH)]$^{2+}$ precursor, to obtain coherent complexation constants. Therefore, we predict that this hydroxyl group is maintained in the formation of 1:1 complexes while we confirm that it is withdrawn when coordinating three sulfate or oxalate ligands. Finally, we stress that this work is a first step toward the future use of theoretical predictions to elucidate the enigmatic chemistry of protactinium in solution.

Polonium (Po, Z = 84) is a main-block element with poorly known physico-chemical properties. Not much information has been firmly acquired since its discovery by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898, especially regarding its speciation in aqueous solution and spectroscopy. In this work, we revisit the absorption properties of two complexes, [PoCl5](-) and [PoCl6](2-), using quantum mechanical calculations. These complexes have the potential to exhibit a maximum absorption at 418 nm in HCl medium (for concentrations of 0.5 mol L-1 and above). Initially, we examine the electronic spectra of the Po4+ free ion and of its isoelectronic analogue, Bi3+, in the spin-orbit configuration interaction (SOCI) framework. Our findings demonstrate that the SOCI matrix should be dressed with correlated electronic energies and that the quality of the spectra is largely improved by decontracting the reference states at the complete active space plus singles (CAS + S) level. Subsequently, we investigate the absorption properties of the [PoCl5]- and [PoCl6](2)- complexes in two stages. Firstly, we perform methodological tests at the MP2/def2-TZVP gas phase geometries, indicating that the decontraction of the reference states can be skipped without compromising the accuracy significantly. Secondly, we study the solution absorption properties by means of single-point calculations performed at the solvated geometries, obtained by an implicit solvation treatment or a combination of implicit and explicit solvation. Our results highlight the importance of saturating the first coordination sphere of the Po-IV ion to obtain a qualitatively correct picture. Finally, we conclude that the known-for-decades 418 nm peak could be attributed to a mixture of both the [PoCl5(H2O)]- and [PoCl6](2)- complexes. This finding not only aligns with the behaviour of the analogous BiIII ion under similar conditions but also potentially provides an explanation for previous discrepancies in the literature.

La radiochimie moleculaire se developpe pour differents champs d’application, tels que la chimie fondamentale, l’environnement, la surete nucleaire ou encore la sante. Les calculs de structures electroniques ou de dynamique moleculaire permettent une comprehension fine des phenomenes physico-chimiques sous-jacents et s’ajoutent le plus souvent aux donnees experimentales. Cet article presente des exemples recents de la communaute scientifique francaise, afin de montrer les enjeux et difficultes des etudes theoriques, ainsi que les principaux verrous a lever pour les prochaines annees.

Uranium trioxide, UO3, has a T-shaped structure with bent uranyl, UO22+, coordinated by an equatorial oxo, O2-. The structure of cation UO3+ is similar but with an equatorial oxyl, O•-. Neutral and cationic uranium trioxide coordinated by nitrates were characterized by collision induced dissociation (CID), infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, and density functional theory. CID of uranyl nitrate, [UO2(NO3)3]- (complex A1), eliminates NO2 to produce nitrate-coordinated UO3+, [UO2(O•)(NO3)2]- (B1), which ejects NO3 to yield UO3 in [UO2(O)(NO3)]- (C1). Finally, C1 associates with H2O to afford uranyl hydroxide in [UO2(OH)2(NO3)]- (D1). IRMPD of B1, C1, and D1 confirms uranyl equatorially coordinated by nitrate(s) along with the following ligands: (B1) radical oxyl O•-; (C1) oxo O2-; and (D1) two hydroxyls, OH-. As the nitrates are bidentate, the equatorial coordination is six in A1, five in B1, four in D1, and three in C1. Ligand congestion in low-coordinate C1 suggests orbital-directed bonding. Hydrolysis of the equatorial oxo in C1 epitomizes the inverse trans influence in UO3, which is uranyl with inert axial oxos and a reactive equatorial oxo. The uranyl ν3 IR frequencies indicate the following donor ordering: O2-[best donor] ≫ O•-> OH-> NO3-.

The chemistry of linear uranyl(V/VI) dioxo cations, [Oyl–U–Oyl]+/2+, is dominated by coordination of uranium in the equatorial plane. Effects of this constraint were evaluated by experiment and theory for gas‐phase mixed‐valence UV/VI coordination dimers in which uranyl moieties are linked by alkyl dicarboxylates, [(UO2+)(UO22+)(OOC‐(CH2)n‐2‐COO2–)2]– (n = 3–12). Faster O2‐addition to dimers with short linkers n = 3 and 4, vs. n ≥ 5, suggests a structural difference. Computed structures with the shortest linkers have bridging dicarboxylates and nearly parallel, non‐interacting uranyls. Longer linkers, n = 5–7, accommodate uranyl orientations with distinct UV–UVI end‐on cation‐cation interactions (CCIs), whereby Lewis base Oyl from UV coordinates to the acid UVI, denoted as UVOyl···UVI. The dimer structure for n = 8 has a UV–UVI side‐on diamond‐shape CCI, with UVOyl···UVI and UVIOyl···UV interactions. Addition of O2 to the n = 4 and 5 dimers yields [(UO22+)2(OOC‐(CH2)n‐2‐COO2–)2(O2–)]–, with UV oxidized to UVI and O2 reduced to O2–. Whereas O2 can associate to and oxidize the exposed UV center for dimers with n = 3 and 4, the more crowded UV site in the CCI structures inhibits O2 addition. The results demonstrate rational structural control of uranyl‐uranyl bonding and reactivity in small coordination complexes.

One of the most important properties influencing the chemical behavior of an element is the electron affinity (EA). Among the remaining elements with unknown EA is astatine, where one of its isotopes, 211 At, is remarkably well suited for targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer. With the At − anion being involved in many aspects of current astatine labeling protocols, the knowledge of the electron affinity of this element is of prime importance. Here we report the measured value of the EA of astatine to be 2.41578(7) eV. This result is compared to state-of-the-art relativistic quantum mechanical calculations that incorporate both the Breit and the quantum electrodynamics (QED) corrections and the electron–electron correlation effects on the highest level that can be currently achieved for many-electron systems. The developed technique of laser-photodetachment spectroscopy of radioisotopes opens the path for future EA measurements of other radioelements such as polonium, and eventually super-heavy elements.

We present an original formulation of the electron localization function (ELF) in the field of relativistic two-component DFT calculations. Using I2 and At2 species as a test set, we show that the ELF analysis is suitable to evaluate the spin-orbit effects on the electronic structure. Beyond these examples, this approach opens up new opportunities for the bonding analysis of large molecular systems involving heavy and superheavy elements.

A central goal of chemistry is to achieve ultimate oxidation states, including in gas-phase complexes with no condensed phase perturbations. In the case of the actinide elements, the highest established oxidation states are labile Pu(VII) and somewhat more stable Np(VII). We have synthesized and characterized gas-phase AnO3(NO3)2- complexes for An = U, Np, and Pu by endothermic NO2 elimination from AnO2(NO3)3-. It was previously demonstrated that the PuO3+ core of PuO3(NO3)2- has a Pu-O• radical bond such that the oxidation state is Pu(VI); it follows that in UO3(NO3)2- it is the stable U(VI) oxidation state. On the basis of the relatively more facile synthesis of NpO3(NO3)2-, a Np(VII) oxidation state is inferred. This interpretation is substantiated by reactivity of the three complexes: NO2 spontaneously adds to UO3(NO3)2- and PuO3(NO3)2- but not to NpO3(NO3)2-. This unreactive character is attributed to a Np(VII)O3+ core with three stable Np═O bonds, this in contrast to reactive U-O• and Pu-O• radical bonds. The computed structures and reaction energies for the three AnO3(NO3)2- support the conclusion that the oxidation states are U(VI), Np(VII), and Pu(VI). The results establish the extreme Np(VII) oxidation state in a gas-phase complex, and demonstrate the inherently greater stability of Np(VII) versus Pu(VII).

Gas-phase plutonium nitrate anion complexes were produced by electrospray ionization (ESI) of a plutonium nitrate solution. The ESI mass spectrum included species with all four of the common oxidation states of plutonium: Pu(III), Pu(IV), Pu(V), and Pu(VI). Plutonium nitrate complexes were isolated in a quadrupole ion trap and subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID). CID of complexes of the general formula PuOx(NO3)y(-) resulted in the elimination of NO2 to produce PuOx+1(NO3)y-1(-), which in most cases corresponds to an increase in the oxidation state of plutonium. Plutonyl species, Pu(V)O2(NO3)2(-) and Pu(VI)O2(NO3)3(-), were produced from Pu(III)(NO3)4(-) and Pu(IV)(NO3)5(-), respectively, by the elimination of two NO2 molecules. CID of Pu(VI)O2(NO3)3(-) resulted in NO2 elimination to yield PuO3(NO3)2(-), in which the oxidation state of plutonium could be VII, a known oxidation state in condensed phase but not yet in the gas phase. Density functional theory confirmed the nature of Pu(V)O2(NO3)2(-) and Pu(VI)O2(NO3)3(-) as plutonyl(V/VI) cores coordinated by bidentate equatorial nitrate ligands. The computed structure of PuO3(NO3)2(-) is essentially a plutonyl(VI) core, Pu(VI)O2(2+), coordinated in the equatorial plane by two nitrate ligands and one radical oxygen atom. The computations indicate that in the ground spin-orbit free state of PuO3(NO3)2(-), the unpaired electron of the oxygen atom is antiferromagnetically coupled to the spin-triplet state of the plutonyl core. The results indicate that Pu(VII) is not a readily accessible oxidation state in the gas phase, despite that it is stable in solution and solids, but rather that a Pu(VI)-O· bonding configuration is favored, in which an oxygen radical is involved.

Computational chemistry currently lacks ad hoc tools for probing the nature of chemical bonds in heavy and superheavy-atom systems where the consideration of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects is mandatory. We report an implementation of the Quantum Theory of Atoms-In-Molecules in the framework of two-component relativistic calculations. Used in conjunction with the topological analysis of the Electron Localization Function, we show for astatine (At) species that SOC significantly lowers At electronegativity and boosts its propensity to make charge-shift bonds. Relativistic spin-dependent effects are furthermore able to change some bonds from mainly covalent to charge-shift type. The implication of the disclosed features regarding the rationalization of the labeling protocols used in nuclear medicine for (211)At radioisotope nicely illustrates the potential of the introduced methodology for investigating the chemistry of (super)heavy elements.

A highly stable copper(I) complex was obtained starting from a copper(II) salt. This compound was characterized by a combination of several analytical techniques (UV/Vis spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and was shown to present an N4Cu structure. These results were confirmed by a density functional calculations study of the binding energy and the electronic structure of model ligand and copper complexes. Preliminary tests of complexation showed a high ability of the corresponding ligand to chelate Cu-64 in very diluted medium, which is of interest for developing new positron emission tomography imaging agents. The stability and the kinetic inertness of the complex are promising. In particular, it displayed good redox stability, which is important because in vivo reduction or oxidation of the copper of Cu complexes can lead to demetalation. The rapid microwave-assisted strategy used to synthesize the ligand was applied to the synthesis of more than ten ligands. One of these was functionalized by an amino group to form a bifunctional chelate for a future bioconjugation for applications in nuclear medicine.