Probing the nature of chemical bonding in uranyl(VI) complexes with quantum chemical methods.

To assess the nature of chemical bonds in uranyl(VI) complexes with Lewis base ligands, such as F(-), Cl(-), OH(-), CO(3)(2-), and O(2)(2-), we have used quantum chemical observables, such as the bond distances, the internal symmetric/asymmetric uranyl stretch frequencies, and the electron density with its topology analyzed using the quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules. This analysis confirms that complex formation induces a weakening of the uranium-axial oxygen bond, reflected by the longer U-O(yl) bond distance and reduced uranyl-stretching frequencies. The strength of the ligand-induced effect increases in the order H(2)O < Cl(-) < F(-) < OH(-) < CO(3)(2-) < O(2)(2-).

Charge transfer in uranyl(VI) halides [UO2X4]2- (X = F, Cl, Br, and I). A quantum chemical study of the absorption spectra.

The electronic spectra of uranyl(VI) coordinated with four equatorial halide ligands, [UO2X4]2- (X = F, Cl, Br, and I), have been calculated at the all-electron level using the multiconfigurational CASPT2 method, with spin-orbit coupling included through the variational-perturbational method. The halide-to-uranyl charge-transfer states were taken into account in the calculation by including ligand orbitals in the active space. In order to do that, it is assumed that the charge transfer takes place from only one of the four ligands.

Effects of the first hydration sphere and the bulk solvent on the spectra of the f(2) isoelectronic actinide compounds: U(4+), NpO(2)(+), and PuO(2)(2+).

The electronic spectra of the 5f(2) isoelectronic actinide compounds U(4+), NpO(2)(+), and PuO(2)(2+) have been investigated theoretically both in gas phase and in solution. In the latter case the solvent was modelled by a saturated first hydration sphere, five water molecules for NpO(2)(+), and PuO(2)(2+) and eight for U(4+), and a continuum model describing the remaining solvent. The transition energies and oscillator strengths were obtained at the spin-orbit level using the relativistic wave function based multi-configuration methods CASPT2 (complete active space with second-order perturbation theory) and MRCI + DC (Davidson corrected multi-reference configuration interaction), followed by a spin-orbit CI based on a dressed effective spin-orbit Hamiltonian.

Water exchange mechanism in the first excited state of hydrated uranyl(VI).

The water exchange mechanism of the uranyl(VI) aquo ion in the luminescent state, (3)Delta(g) in the spin-orbit free nomenclature, has been investigated using quantum chemical methods and compared to the corresponding reaction in the electronic ground state. The reaction mechanism was studied by calculation of the enthalpy of reaction of the A- and D- intermediates relative to the reactant, using a penta-aquo ion model with one additional water molecule in the second hydration sphere. The reaction barriers around the intermediates are low, and they are therefore a good approximation for the activation enthalpy.

On the universality of the long-/short-range separation in multiconfigurational density-functional theory. II. Investigating f0 actinide species.

In a previous paper [Fromager et al., J. Chem.

An ab initio theoretical study of the electronic structure of UO2(+) and [UO2(CO3)3]5-.

The electronic spectra up to 50,000 cm(-1) of uranyl(V) both as a bare ion, UO2(+), and coordinated with three carbonate ligands, [UO2(CO3)3]5-, are presented. Solvent effects were treated by a nonequilibrium continuum solvent model. The transition energies were obtained at the spin-orbit level using relativistic wave function based multiconfigurational methods such as the complete active space self-consistent field method (CASSCF)and the complete active space with second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) followed by a calculation of the spin-orbit effects at the variation-perturbation level.

Ab initio study of the mechanism for photoinduced Yl-oxygen exchange in uranyl(VI) in acidic aqueous solution.

The mechanism for the photochemically induced isotope-exchange reaction U(17/18)O2(2+)(aq) + H2(16)O <==> U(16)O2(2+)(aq) + H2(17/18)O has been studied using quantum-chemical methods. There is a dense manifold of states between 22,000 and 54,000 cm(-1) that results from excitations from the sigma(u) and pi(u) bonding orbitals in the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state to the nonbonding f(delta) and f(phi) orbitals localized on uranium. On the basis of investigations of the reaction profile in the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state and the excited states (3)Delta(g) (the lowest triplet state) and (3)Gamma(g) (one of the several higher triplet states), the latter two of which have the electron configurations sigma(u)f(delta) and pi(u)f(phi), respectively, we suggest that the isotope exchange takes place in one of the higher triplet states, of which the (3)Gamma(g) state was used as a representative.

Spin-orbit configuration interaction study of the electronic structure of the 5f (2) manifold of U(4+) and the 5f manifold of U(5+).

The energy levels of the 5f configuration of U(5+) and 5f(2) configuration of U(4+) have been calculated in a dressed effective Hamiltonian relativistic spin-orbit configuration interaction framework. Electron correlation is treated in the scalar relativistic scheme with either the multistate multireference second-order multiconfigurational perturbation theory (MS-CASPT2) or with the multireference single and double configuration interaction (MRCI) and its size-extensive Davidson corrected variant. The CASPT2 method yields relative energies which are lower than those obtained with the MRCI method, the differences being the largest for the highest state (1)S(0) of the 5f(2) manifold.

An Investigation of the Accuracy of Different DFT Functionals on the Water Exchange Reaction in Hydrated Uranyl(VI) in the Ground State and the First Excited State.

We discuss the accuracy of density functional theory (DFT) in the gas phase for the water-exchange reactions in the uranyl(VI) aqua ion taking place both in the electronic ground state and in the first excited state (the luminescent (3)Δg state). The geometries of the reactant and intermediates have been optimized using DFT and the B3LYP functional, with a restricted closed-shell formalism for the electronic ground state and either an unrestricted open-shell formalism or the time-dependent DFT method for the (3)Δg state. The relative energies have been computed with wave-function-based methods such as Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory, or a minimal multireference perturbative calculation (minimal CASPT2); coupled-cluster method (CCSD(T)); DFT with B3LYP, BLYP, and BHLYP correlation and exchange functionals; and the hybrid DFT-multireference configuration interaction method.

Theoretical investigation of the energies and geometries of photoexcited uranyl(VI) ion: a comparison between wave-function theory and density functional theory.

In order to assess the accuracy of wave-function and density functional theory (DFT) based methods for excited states of the uranyl(VI) UO2(2+) molecule excitation energies and geometries of states originating from excitation from the sigma(u), sigma(g), pi(u), and pi(g) orbitals to the nonbonding 5f(delta) and 5f(phi) have been calculated with different methods. The investigation included linear-response CCSD (LR-CCSD), multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASSCFCASPT2), size-extensivity corrected multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) and AQCC, and the DFT based methods time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) with different functionals and the hybrid DFTMRCI method. Excellent agreement between all nonperturbative wave-function based methods was obtained.

A theoretical study of the fluoride exchange between UO2F+(aq) and UO2 2+(aq).

Experimental data on the thermodynamics and reaction mechanism of the inner-sphere fluoride exchange reaction U17O2(2+) + UO2F+ <==> U17O2F+ + UO2(2+) have been compared with different intimate reaction mechanisms using quantum chemical methods. Two models have been tested that start from the outer sphere complexes, (H2O)[U(A)O2F(OH2)4+]..

Quantum chemical calculations of reduction potentials of AnO2(2+)/AnO2+ (An = U, Np, Pu, Am) and Fe3+/Fe2+ couples.

The reduction potentials of the AnO(2)(H(2)O)(5)(2+)/AnO(2)(H(2)O)(5)(+) couple (An = U, Np, Pu, and Am) and Fe(H(2)O)(6)(3+) to Fe(H(2)O)(6)(2+) in aqueous solution were calculated at MP2, CASPT2, and CCSD(T) levels of theory. Spin-orbit effects for all species were estimated at the CASSCF level. Solvation of the hydrated metal cations was modeled both by polarizable conductor model (PCM) calculation and by solvating the solutes with over one thousand TIP3P water molecules in the QM/MM framework.

Some quantum chemical aspects on outer-sphere electron-transfer reactions: the U(V)/Fe(III)-U(VI)/Fe(II) system.

The activation energy and rate constant of U(V)-Fe(III) to U(VI)-Fe(II) outer-sphere electron-transfer reaction was studied using Marcus model. Experimental values were used for Gibbs energy change of the reaction, and energy surfaces were calculated by quantum chemical methods. The calculated rate constant was in reasonable accord with experimental value.

Spin-orbit effects in electron transfer in neptunyl(VI)-neptunyl(V) complexes in solution.

The spin-orbit effects were investigated on the complexes involved in the electron self-exchange between Np(V) and Np(VI) in both the outer-sphere and inner-sphere mechanisms, the latter for binuclear complexes containing hydroxide, fluoride, and carbonate as bridging ligands. Results obtained with the variation-perturbation and the multireference single excitation spin-orbit CI calculations are compared. Both effects due to different relaxations of spinors within a multiplet (spin-orbit relaxation) and scalar (electrostatic) relaxation effects in the excited states are accounted for in the latter scheme.

Electron transfer in neptunyl(VI)-neptunyl(V) complexes in solution.

The rates and mechanisms of the electron self-exchange between Np(V) and Np(VI) in solution have been studied with quantum chemical methods and compared with previous results for the U(V)-U(VI) pair. Both outer-sphere and inner-sphere mechanisms have been investigated, the former for the aqua ions, the latter for binuclear complexes containing hydroxide, fluoride, and carbonate as bridging ligand. Solvent effects were calculated using the Marcus equation for the outer-sphere reactions and using a nonequilibrium PCM method for the inner-sphere reactions.

Electron transfer in uranyl(VI)-uranyl(V) complexes in solution.

The rates and mechanisms of the electron self-exchange between U(V) and U(VI) in solution have been studied with quantum chemical methods. Both outer-sphere and inner-sphere mechanisms have been investigated; the former for the aqua ions, the latter for binuclear complexes containing hydroxide, fluoride, and carbonate as bridging ligand. The calculated rate constant for the self-exchange reaction UO(2)(+)(aq) + UO(2)(2+)(aq) <=>UO(2)(2+)(aq) + UO(2)(+)(aq), at 25 degrees C, is k = 26 M(-1) s(-1).

The mechanism of water exchange in AmO2(H2O)5(2+) and in the isoelectronic UO2(H2O)5(+) and NpO2(H2O)5(2+) complexes as studied by quantum chemical methods.

The water exchange mechanism for AmO2(H2O)52+ and the isoelectronic UO2(H2O)5+ and NpO2(H2O)52+ ions has been investigated using quantum chemical methods and compared to previous findings in the uranyl(VI) system (Vallet, V. et al. J.

Chelate effect and thermodynamics of metal complex formation in solution: a quantum chemical study.

The accuracy of quantum chemical predictions of structures and thermodynamic data for metal complexes depends both on the quantum chemical methods and the chemical models used. A thermodynamic analogue of the Eigen-Wilkins mechanism for ligand substitution reactions (Model A) turns out to be sufficiently simple to catch the essential chemistry of complex formation reactions and allows quantum chemical calculations at the ab initio level of thermodynamic quantities both in gas phase and solution; the latter by using the conductor-like polarizable continuum (CPCM) model. Model A describes the complex formation as a two-step reaction: 1.

Structure and bonding in solution of dioxouranium(VI) oxalate complexes: isomers and intramolecular ligand exchange.

Structural isomers of [UO(2)(oxalate)(3)](4-), [UO(2)(oxalate)F(3)](3-), [UO(2)(oxalate)(2)F](3-), and [UO(2)(oxalate)(2)(H(2)O)](2-) have been studied by using EXAFS and quantum chemical ab initio methods. Theoretical structures and their relative energies were determined in the gas phase and in water using the CPCM model. The most stable isomers according to the quantum chemical calculations have geometries consistent with the EXAFS data, and the difference between measured and calculated bond distances is generally less than 0.

Rates and mechanism of fluoride and water exchange in UO(2)F(5)(3-) and [UO(2)F(4)(H(2)O)](2-) studied by NMR spectroscopy and wave function based methods.

The reaction mechanism for the exchange of fluoride in UO(2)F(5)(3-) and UO(2)F(4)(H(2)O)(2-) has been investigated experimentally using (19)F NMR spectroscopy at -5 degrees C, by studying the line broadening of the free fluoride, UO(2)F(4)(2-)(aq) and UO(2)F(5)(3-), and theoretically using quantum chemical methods to calculate the activation energy for different pathways. The new experimental data allowed us to make a more detailed study of chemical equilibria and exchange mechanisms than in previous studies. From the integrals of the different individual peaks in the new NMR spectra, we obtained the stepwise stability constant K(5) = 0.