The
structure of aqueous Cu(II)-bis-thiosemicarbazide, [Cu(tsc)2]2+, is reported following EXAFS and MXAN analyses
of the copper K-edge X-ray absorption (XAS) spectrum. The rising K-edge
feature at 8987.1 eV is higher energy than those of crystalline models,
implying unique electronic and structural solution states. EXAFS analysis
(k = 2–13 Å–1; 2 ×
Cu–N = 2.02 ± 0.01 Å; 2 × Cu–S = 2.27
± 0.01 Å; Cu–Oax = 2.41 ± 0.04 Å)
could not resolve 5- versus 6-coordinate models. However, MXAN fits
converged to an asymmetric broken symmetry 6-coordinate model with
cis-disposed TSC ligands (Cu–Oax = 2.07 and 2.54
Å; Cu–N = 1.94 Å, 1.98 Å; Cu–S = 2.20
Å, 2.41 Å). Transition dipole integral evaluation of the
sulfur K-edge XAS 1s → 3p valence transition feature at 2470.7
eV yielded a Cu–S covalence of 0.66 e–, indicating
Cu1.34+. The high Cu–S covalence and short Cu–S
bond in aqueous [Cu(tsc)2(H2O)2]2+ again contradict the need for a protein rack to explain
the unique structure of the blue copper active site. MXAN models of
dissolved Cu(II) complex ions have invariably featured broken centrosymmetry.
The potential energy ground state for dissolved Cu(II) evidently includes
the extended solvation field, providing a target for improved physical
theory. A revised solvation model for aqueous Cu(II), |[Cu(H2O)5]·14H2O|2+, is presented.