Osmium tetroxide

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Osmium tetroxide
Preferred IUPAC name

Osmium tetraoxide

Systematic name

Tetraoxoosmium

Other names

Osmiumtetroxide

Identifiers
CAS number 20816-12-0 YesY
PubChem 30318 YesY, 56370778 (monopotassiate) YesY, 75811001 (monoquinuclidiniate) YesY, 53113021 (monotemediate)
ChemSpider 28158 YesY
EC number 244-058-7
UN number UN 2471
MeSH Osmium+tetroxide
RTECS number RN1140000
Jmol-3D images {{#if:O=[Os](=O)(=O)=O|Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula OsO4
Molar mass 254.23 g/mol
Appearance white volatile solid
Odor acrid, chlorine-like
Density 4.9 g/cm3[2]
Melting point 40.25 °C
Boiling point 129.7 °C
Solubility in water 5.70 g/100 mL (10 °C)
6.23 g/100 mL (25 °C)
Solubility 375 g/100 mL (CCl4)
soluble in most organic solvents, ammonium hydroxide, phosphorus oxychloride
Structure
Crystal structure Monoclinic, mS20
Space group C2/c; a = 0.4515 nm, b = 0.52046 nm, c = 0.80838 nm, α = 77.677°, β = 73.784°, γ = 64.294°[1]
Hazards
MSDS ICSC 0528
EU Index 076-001-00-5
EU classification Very toxic (T+)
Corrosive (C)
R-phrases R26/27/28, R34
S-phrases (S1/2), S7/9, S26, S45
NFPA 704
0
4
1
OX
Related compounds
Other cations Ruthenium tetroxide
Related osmium oxides Osmium(IV) oxide
 YesY (verify) (what is: YesY/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Osmium(VIII) oxide (also called osmium tetroxide) is the chemical compound with the formula OsO4. The compound is noteworthy for its many uses, despite the rarity of osmium. It also has a number of interesting properties, one being that the solid is volatile. The compound is colourless, but most samples appear yellow.[3] This is most likely due to the presence of the impurity OsO2, which is yellow-brown in colour.[4]

Physical properties

Crystal structure of OsO4[1]

Osmium(VIII) oxide forms monoclinic crystals.[1][5] It has a characteristic acrid chlorine-like odor. The element name osmium is derived from osme, Greek for odor. OsO4 is volatile: it sublimes at room temperature. It is soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. It is also moderately soluble in water, with which it reacts reversibly to form osmic acid (see below).[6] Pure osmium(VIII) oxide is probably colourless[7] and it has been suggested that its yellow hue is due to osmium dioxide (OsO2) impurities.[8] The osmium tetroxide molecule is tetrahedral and therefore non-polar. This nonpolarity helps OsO4 penetrate charged cell membranes. OsO4 is 518 times more soluble in carbon tetrachloride than in water.

Structure and electron configuration

The osmium of OsO4 has an oxidation number of VIII, the highest known for a transition metal, however the metal does not possess a corresponding 8+ charge as the bonding in the compound is largely covalent in character (the ionization energy required to produce a formal 8+ charge also far exceeds the energies available in normal chemical reactions). The osmium atom has eight valence electrons (6s2, 5d6) with double bonds to the four oxide ligands resulting in a 16 electron complex. This is isoelectronic with permanganate and chromate ions.

Synthesis

OsO4 is formed slowly when osmium powder reacts with O2 at ambient temperature. Reaction of bulk solid requires heating to 400 °C.[9]

Os + 2 O2 → OsO4

Reactions

Oxidation of alkenes

Alkenes add to OsO4 to give diolate species that hydrolyze to cis-diols. The net process is called dihydroxylation. This proceeds via a [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between the OsO4 and alkene to form an intermediate osmate ester which rapidly hydrolyses to yield the vicinal diol. As the oxygen atoms are added in a concerted step the resulting stereochemistry is cis.

OsO4 is expensive and highly toxic, making it an unappealing reagent to use in stoichiometric amounts. However its reactions are made catalytic by adding reagents to reoxidise the Os(VI) by-product back to Os(VIII). Typical reagents include H2O2, N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMO, see Upjohn dihydroxylation) and K3Fe(CN)6, as these will not react with the alkenes on their own. Other osmium compounds can be used as catalysts, including osmate(VI) salts ([OsO2(OH)4)]2−, and osmium trichloride hydrate (OsCl3·xH2O). These species oxidise to osmium(VIII) in the presence of such oxidants.[10]

Lewis bases such as tertiary amines and pyridines increase the rate of dihydroxylation. This "ligand-acceleration" arises via the formation of adduct OsO4L, which adds more rapidly to the alkene. If the amine is chiral, then the dihydroxylation can proceed with enantioselectivity (see Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation).[11] OsO4 does not react with most carbohydrates.[12]

The process can be extended to give to aldehydes in the Lemieux–Johnson oxidation, which uses periodate to achieve diol cleavage and to regenerate the catalytic loading of OsO4. This process is equivalent to that of ozonolysis.

Coordination chemistry

OsO4 is a Lewis acid and a mild oxidant. Most of its reactions reflect this pattern. With alkaline aqueous solution to give the perosmate anion OsO4(OH)22−.[13] This species is easily reduced to osmate anion, OsO2(OH)44−.

When the Lewis bases is an amines, adducts are also formed. With tert-BuNH2 the imido derivative is produced:

OsO4 + Me3CNH2 → OsO3(NCMe3) + H2O

Similarly, with NH3 one obtains the nitrido complex:

OsO4 + NH3 + KOH → K[Os(N)O3] + 2 H2O

The [Os(N)O3]− anion is isoelectronic and isostructural with OsO4.

OsO4 is very soluble in tert-butanol and in solution is readily reduced by molecular hydrogen to osmium metal. The suspended osmium metal can be used to catalyze hydrogenation of a wide variety of organic chemicals containing double or triple bonds.

OsO4 + 4 H2 → Os (s) + 4 H2O

OsO4 undergoes "reductive carbonylation" with carbon monoxide in methanol at 400 K and 200 bar of pressure to produce the triangular cluster Os3(CO)12:

3 OsO4 + 24 CO → Os3(CO)12 + 12 CO2[9]

Oxofluorides

Osmium forms several oxofluorides, all of which are very sensitive to moisture. Purple cis-OsO2F4 forms at 77 K in an anhydrous HF solution:[14]

OsO4 + 2 KrF2 → cis-OsO2F4 + 2 Kr + O2

OsO4 also reacts with F2 to form yellow OsO3F2:[15]

2 OsO4 + 2 F2 → 2 OsO3F2 + O2

OsO4 reacts with one equivalent of [Me4N]F at 298 K and 2 equivalents at 253 K:[9]

OsO4 + [Me4N]F → [Me4N][OsO4F]
OsO4 + 2 [Me4N]F → [Me4N]2[cis-OsO4F2]

Uses

Organic synthesis

In organic synthesis OsO4 is widely used to oxidise alkenes to the vicinal diols, adding two hydroxyl groups at the same side (syn addition). See reaction and mechanism above. This reaction has been made both catalytic (Upjohn dihydroxylation) and asymmetric (Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation).

Osmium(VIII) oxide is also used in catalytic amount in the Sharpless oxyamination to give vicinal amino-alcohols.

In combination with sodium periodate, OsO4 is used for the oxidative cleavage of alkenes (Lemieux-Johnson oxidation) when the periodate serves both to cleave the diol formed by dihydroxylation, and to reoxidize the OsO3 back to OsO4. The net transformation is identical to that produced by ozonolysis. Below an example from the total synthesis of Isosteviol.[16]

Biological staining

Electron micrograph of (organic) plant tissue without (top) and with OsO4 staining

OsO4 is a widely used staining agent used in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to provide contrast to the image.[17] As a lipid stain, it is also useful in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as an alternative to sputter coating. It embeds a heavy metal directly into cell membranes, creating a high electron scattering rate without the need for coating the membrane with a layer of metal, which can obscure details of the cell membrane. In the staining of the plasma membrane, osmium(VIII) oxide binds phospholipid head regions, thus creating contrast with the neighbouring protoplasm (cytoplasm). Additionally, osmium(VIII) oxide is also used for fixing biological samples in conjunction with HgCl2. Its rapid killing abilities are used to quickly kill specimen like protozoa. OsO4 stabilizes many proteins by transforming them into gels without destroying structural features. Tissue proteins that are stabilized by OsO4 are not coagulated by alcohols during dehydration.[12] Osmium(VIII) oxide is also used as a stain for lipids in optical microscopy.[18] OsO4 also stains the human cornea (see safety considerations).

A sample of cells fixed/stained with osmium tetroxide (black) embedded in epoxy resin (amber). The cells are black as a result of the effects of osmium tetroxide.

Polymer staining

It is also used to stain copolymers preferentially, the best known example being block copolymers where one phase can be stained so as to show the microstructure of the material. For example, styrene-butadiene block copolymers have a central polybutadiene chain with polystyrene end caps. When treated with OsO4, the butadiene matrix reacts preferentially and so absorbs the oxide. The presence of a heavy metal is sufficient to block the electron beam, so the polystyrene domains are seen clearly in thin films in TEM.

Osmeth

OsO4 can be recycled and stored in the form of osmeth, a golden crystalline solid. Osmeth is OsO4 complexed with hexamine and does not emit toxic fumes as opposed to pure OsO4. It can be dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and diluted in an aqueous buffer solution to make a dilute (0.25%) working solution of OsO4.[19]

Osmium ore refining

OsO4 is an intermediate in osmium ore refining. Osmium residues are reacted with Na2O2 forming [OsO4(OH)2]2− anions, which, when reacted with chlorine (Cl2) gas and heated, form OsO4. The oxide is dissolved in alcoholic NaOH forming [OsO2(OH)4]2− anions, which, when reacted with NH4Cl, forms OsO2Cl2(NH4)4. This is ignited under hydrogen (H2) gas leaving behind pure osmium (Os).[6]

Buckminsterfullerene adduct

OsO4 allowed for the confirmation of the soccer ball model of buckminsterfullerene, a 60 atom carbon allotrope. The adduct, formed from a derivative of OsO4, was C60(OsO4)(4-tert-butylpyridine)2. The adduct broke the fullerene's symmetry allowing for crystallization and confirmation of the structure of C60 by X-ray crystallography.[20]

Safety considerations

Label with poison warning
OsO4 is highly poisonous, even at low exposure levels, and must be handled with appropriate precautions. In particular, inhalation at concentrations well below those at which a smell can be perceived can lead to pulmonary edema, and subsequent death. Noticeable symptoms can take hours to appear after exposure.

OsO4 also stains the human cornea, which can lead to blindness if proper safety precautions are not observed. The permissible exposure limit for osmium(VIII) oxide (8 hour time-weighted average) is 2 µg/m3.[5] Osmium(VIII) oxide can penetrate plastics and therefore is stored in glass in a cold place.[12]

On April 6, 2004 British intelligence sources believed they had foiled a plot to detonate a bomb involving OsO4.[21] Experts interviewed by New Scientist affirmed osmium(VIII) oxide's toxicity, though some highlighted the difficulties of using it in a weapon: osmium(VIII) oxide is very expensive. The osmium(VIII) oxide may be destroyed by the blast; what remaining toxic fumes may also be dispersed by the blast as well.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Krebs, B.; Hasse, K. D. (1976). "Refinements of the Crystal Structures of KTcO4, KReO4 and OsO4. The Bond Lengths in Tetrahedral Oxo-Anions and Oxides of d0 Transition Metals". Acta Crystallographica B 32 (5): 1334–1337. doi:10.1107/S056774087600530X. 
  2. ↑ "Osmium tetroxide ICSC: 0528". InChem. 
  3. ↑ Gregory Girolami "Osmium weighs in" Nature Chemistry 2012, vol. 4, 954. doi:10.1038/nchem.1479
  4. ↑ Cotton and Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, p.1002
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Osmium tetroxide (as Os)". Documentation for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs). Centers for Disease Control. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thompson, M. "Osmium tetroxide (OsO4)". Bristol University. Retrieved 2012-04-07. 
  7. ↑ Butler, I. S.; Harrod, J. F. (1989). Inorganic Chemistry: Principles and Applications. Benjamin / Cummings. p. 343. ISBN 978-0-8053-0247-9. Retrieved 2012-04-07. 
  8. ↑ Cotton, F. A. (2007). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (6th ed.). New Delhi, India: J. Wiley. p. 1002. ISBN 978-81-265-1338-3. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G. (2004). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. pp. 671–673, 710. ISBN 978-0130399137. 
  10. ↑ Ogino, Y.; Chen, H.; Kwong, H.-L.; Sharpless, K. B. (1991). "On the timing of hydrolysis / reoxidation in the osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins using potassium ferricyanide as the reoxidant". Tetrahedron Letters 32 (32): 3965–3968. doi:10.1016/0040-4039(91)80601-2. 
  11. ↑ Berrisford, D. J.; Bolm, C.; Sharpless, K. B. (1995). "Ligand-Accelerated Catalysis". Angewandte Chemie International Edition 34 (10): 1059–1070. doi:10.1002/anie.199510591. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Hayat, M. A. (2000). Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy: Biological Applications. Cambridge University Press. pp. 45–61. ISBN 0-521-63287-0. 
  13. ↑ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0080379419. 
  14. ↑ Christe, K. O.; Dixon, D. A.; Mack, H. G.; Oberhammer, H.; Pagelot, A.; Sanders, J. C. P.; Schrobilgen, G. J. (1993). "Osmium tetrafluoride dioxide, cis-OsO2F4". Journal of the American Chemical Society 115 (24): 11279–11284. doi:10.1021/ja00077a029. 
  15. ↑ Cotton, S. A. (1997). Chemistry of Precious Metals. London: Chapman and Hall. ISBN 0-7514-0413-6. 
  16. ↑ Snider, B. B.; Kiselgof, J. Y.; Foxman, B. M. (1998). "Total Syntheses of (±)-Isosteviol and (±)-Beyer-15-ene-3β,19-diol by Manganese(III)-Based Oxidative Quadruple Free-Radical Cyclization". Journal of Organic Chemistry 63 (22): 7945–7952. doi:10.1021/jo981238x. 
  17. ↑ Bozzola, J. J.; Russell, L. D. (1999). "Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy". Electron Microscopy : Principles and Techniques for Biologists. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. pp. 21–31. ISBN 978-0-7637-0192-5. 
  18. ↑ Di Scipio, F.; Raimondo, S.; Tos, P.; Geuna, S. (2008). "A simple protocol for paraffin-embedded myelin sheath staining with osmium(VIII) oxide for light microscope observation". Microscopy Research and Technique 71 (7): 497–502. doi:10.1002/jemt.20577. PMID 18320578. 
  19. ↑ Kiernan, J. A. "Re: "Disposal" of Osmium Tetroxide "Waste"". Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario. 
  20. ↑ Hawkins, J. M.; Meyer, A.; Lewis, T. A.; Loren, S.; Hollander, F. J. (1991). "Crystal Structure of Osmylated C60: Confirmation of the Soccer Ball Framework". Science 252 (5003): 312–313. doi:10.1126/science.252.5003.312. PMID 17769278. 
  21. ↑ "Chemical 'bomb plot' in UK foiled". BBC News. 2004-04-06. 
  22. ↑ Bhattacharya, S. (2004-04-07). "Experts divided over poison bomb claim". New Scientist. 

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