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Imidazolium-based cations and the hexafluorophosphate anion are among the most commonly used ionic liquids (ILs). Yet, the nature and strength of the intrinsic cation–anion interactions, and how they influence the macroscopic properties of these ILs are still not well understood. Threshold collision-induced dissociation is utilized to determine the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the 2 : 1 clusters of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations and the hexafluorophosphate anion, [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + . The cation, [C n mim] + , is varied across the series, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium [C 2 mim] + , 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium [C 4 mim] + , 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium [C 6 mim] + , 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium [C 8 mim] + , to examine the structural and energetic effects of the size of the 1-alkyl substituent of the cation on the binding to [PF 6 ] − . Complementary electronic structure methods are employed for the [C n mim] + cations, (C n mim:PF 6 ) ion pairs, and [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + clusters to elucidate details of the cation–anion interactions and their impact on structure and energetics. Multiple levels of theory are benchmarked with the measured BDEs including B3LYP, B3LYP-GD3BJ, and M06-2X each with the 6-311+G(d,p) basis set for geometry optimizations and frequencymore »analyses and the 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set for energetic determinations. The modest structural variation among the [C n mim] + cations produces only minor structural changes and variation in the measured BDEs of the [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + clusters. Present results are compared to those previously reported for the analogous 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate IL clusters to compare the effects of these anions on the nature and strength of the intrinsic binding interactions.« less

Cisplatin, (NH 3 ) 2 PtCl 2 , has been known as a successful metal-based anticancer drug for more than half a century. Its analogue, Argplatin, arginine-linked cisplatin, (Arg)PtCl 2 , is being investigated because it exhibits reactivity towards DNA and RNA that differs from that of cisplatin. In order to understand the basis for its altered reactivity, the deprotonated and sodium cationized forms of Argplatin, [(Arg-H)PtCl 2 ] − and [(Arg)PtCl 2 + Na] + , are examined by infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) action spectroscopy in the IR fingerprint and hydrogen-stretching regions. Complementary electronic structure calculations are performed using density functional theory approaches to characterize the stable structures of these complexes and to predict their infrared spectra. Comparison of the theoretical IR spectra predicted for various stable conformations of these Argplatin complexes to their measured IRMPD spectra enables determination of the binding mode(s) of Arg to the Pt metal center to be identified. Arginine is found to bind to Pt in a bidentate fashion to the backbone amino nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen atoms in both the [(Arg-H)PtCl 2 ] − and [(Arg)PtCl 2 + Na] + complexes, the NO − binding mode. The neutral side chain of Argmore »also interacts with the Pt center to achieve additional stabilization in the [(Arg-H)PtCl 2 ] − complex. In contrast, Na + binds to both chlorido ligands in the [(Arg)PtCl 2 + Na] + complex and the protonated side chain of Arg is stabilized via hydrogen-bonding interactions with the carboxylate moiety. These findings are consistent with condensed-phase results, indicating that the NO − binding mode of arginine to Pt is preserved in the electrospray ionization process even under variable pH and ionic strength.« less