Comparative studies on the adsorption and association of 3-methylxanthine and 7-methylxanthine at a charged interface

Abstract

A systematic comparative study of the adsorption and association of 3-methylxanthine (3MXan) and 7-methylxanthine (7MXan) at mercury-solution interfaces in acidic, neutral, and alkaline buffer solutions was undertaken by ac voltammetry. At bulk concentrations of3MXan above a threshold value, the stacking interactions between vertically oriented molecules lead to a slow reorientation aroundEecm, and the molecules adopt a perpendicular orientation. The association of the adsorbed molecules of7MXan is hindered and is not effective in promoting base-base stacking interactions. The enhanced surface activity of3MXan compared to7MXan results from the different position of the methyl group in the purine moiety. The effect of some divalent metal ions on adsorption stages and association of the investigated compounds has been studied. The results indicate that the complexation of methylated xanthine enhances the stacking interactions and hence would be expected to facilitate the formation of perpendicularly stacked layers ofM(II)-MXan complexes on the electrode surface. The adsorption parameters of the investigated compounds have been computed in absence and presence of Cu(II) at differentpH values. The results are compared with the behaviour of xanthine.