Hydration sphere Hydrogen bonding

Water [579] is present in the structure of true crystalline hydrates [580] either as ligands co-ordinated with the cation (e.g. [Cu(OH2)4]2+ in CuS04 5 H20) or accommodated outside this co-ordination sphere within voids left in anion packing, further stabilized by hydrogen bonding (e.g. the remaining water molecule in CuS04 5 H20). 

In the course of our investigations to develop new chiral catalysts and catalytic asymmetric reactions in water, we focused on several elements whose salts are stable and behave as Lewis acids in water. In addition to the findings of the stability and activity of Lewis adds in water related to hydration constants and exchange rate constants for substitution of inner-sphere water ligands of elements (cations) (see above), it was expected that undesired achiral side reactions would be suppressed in aqueous media and that desired enanti-oselective reactions would be accelerated in the presence of water. Moreover, besides metal chelations, other factors such as hydrogen bonds, specific solvation, and hydrophobic interactions are anticipated to increase enantioselectivities in such media. 

In the calculations of the energy of hydration of metal complexes in the inner coordination sphere, one must consider hydrogen bond formation between the first-shell water molecules and those in bulk water, which leads to chains of hydrogen-bonded water molecules. Such hydrogen-bonded chains of ethanol molecules attached to the central metal ion have been found as a result of DFT B3LYP calculations on ethanol adducts to nickel acetylacetonate, where the calculated energy of hydrogen bonds correlated well with experimental data [90]. 

Fig. 5.2. Hydration spheres around cations showing the expected bond valences (a) Na6F(H20)] cluster, (b) Mg(H20)g, (c) Cr(H20)g. Note the strong hydrogen bonds to the second coordination sphere in (c).

There is a conceptual model of hydrated ions that includes the primary hydration shell as discussed above, secondary hydration sphere consists of water molecules that are hydrogen bonded to those in the primary shell and experience some electrostatic attraction from the central ion. This secondary shell merges with the bulk liquid water. A diagram of the model is shown in Figure 2.3. X-ray diffraction measurements and NMR spectroscopy have revealed only two different environments for water molecules in solution of ions. These are associated with the primary hydration shell and water molecules in the bulk solution. Both methods are subject to deficiencies, because of the generally very rapid exchange of water molecules between various positions around ions and in the bulk liquid. Evidence from studies of the electrical conductivities of ions shows that when ions move under the influence of an electrical gradient they tow with them as many as 40 water molecules, in dilute solutions. 

The hydration of anions is regarded as being electrostatic with additional hydrogen bonding. The number of water molecules in the primary hydration sphere of an anion depends upon the size, charge and nature of the species. Monatomic anions such as the halide ions are expected to have primary hydration spheres similar to those of monatomic cations. Many aqueous anions consist of a central ion in a... 

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