Electrochemistry of [(TMpyP)M(II)]4+ (X-)4 (X- = Cl- or BPh4-) and [(TMpyP)M(III)Cl]4+ (Cl-)4 in N,N-dimethylformamide where M is one of 15 different metal ions

The electrochemistry of 16 different water-soluble porphyrins of the type [(TMpyP)M(II)]4+ (X-)4 or [(TMpyP)M(III)Cl]4+ (Cl-)4 is reported in nonaqueous media where TMpyP is the dianion of meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridiniumyl)porphyrin and X- = Cl- or BPh4-. These studies were carried out to examine the effect of the metal ion and porphyrin counterion (X-) on the electrochemical properties of the TMpyP complexes with a special emphasis being given to the overall number of electrons added and the number of electrode processes upon reduction. All of the investigated compounds with electroinactive central metal ions undergo an overall addition of six electrons. This occurs for most compounds via three two-electron-transfer steps, but more than three processes are observed for porphyrins having metal ions with a low electronegativity (e.g., Cd(II)). The first reduction of each porphyrin having an M(II) ion or an electroinactive M(III) ion yields a porphyrin dianion which is characterized by an intense band located close to 800 nm, and this reversible reduction is followed by further reductions of the 1-methyl-4-pyridyl groups at more negative potentials. Four of the compounds with electroactive central metal ions, [(TMpyP)M(III)Cl]4+(Cl-)4 (M = Co, Fe, Mn, or Au), undergo an additional reversible M(III)/M(II) process prior to reactions involving the porphyrin pi-ring system and the 1-methyl-4-pyridyl substituents.     

Both nucleophile and substrate bind to the catalytic Fe(II)-center in the type-II methionyl aminopeptidase from Pyrococcus furiosus

Metalloproteases utilize their active site divalent metal ions to generate a nucleophilic water/hydroxide. For methionine aminopeptidases (MetAPs), the exact location of this nucleophile, as well as of the substrate, with respect to the active site metal ion is unknown. In order to address this issue, we have examined the catalytically competent Fe(II)-loaded form of PfMetAP-II ([Fe(PfMetAP-II)]) in the absence and presence of both nitric oxide (NO) and the substrate-analogue inhibitor butaneboronic acid (BuBA) by kinetic and spectroscopic (EPR, UV-vis) methods. NO binds to [Fe(PfMetAP-II)] with a Kd of 200 microM forming an {FeNO}7 complex. UV-vis spectra of the resulting [Fe(PfMetAP-II)]-NO complex indicate that the Fe(II) ion is six coordinate. These data suggest that NO binding occurs without displacing the bound aquo/hydroxo moiety in [Fe(PfMetAP-II)]. On the basis of EPR spectra, the resulting Fe-NO complex is best described as NO- (S = 1) antiferromagnetically coupled to a high-spin Fe(III) ion (S = 5/2). The addition of BuBA to [Fe(PfMetAP-II)]-NO displaces the coordinated water molecule forming a six-coordinate adduct. EPR data also indicate that an interaction between the bound NO- and BuBA occurs forming a complex that mimics an intermediate step between the Michaelis complex and the tetrahedral transition-state.     

A new paramagnetic intermediate formed during the reaction of nitrite with deoxyhemoglobin

The reduction of nitrite by deoxygenated hemoglobin chains has been implicated in red cell-induced vasodilation, although the mechanism for this process has not been established. We have previously demonstrated that the reaction of nitrite with deoxyhemoglobin produces a hybrid intermediate with properties of Hb(II)NO(+) and Hb(III)NO that builds up during the reaction retaining potential NO bioactivity. To explain the unexpected stability of this intermediate, which prevents NO release from the Hb(III)NO component, we had implicated the transfer of an electron from the β-93 thiol to NO(+) producing ·SHb(II)NO. To determine if this species is formed and to characterize its properties, we have investigated the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) changes taking place during the nitrite reaction. The EPR effects of blocking the thiol group with N-ethyl-maleimide and using carboxypeptidase-A to stabilize the R-quaternary conformation have demonstrated that ·SHb(II)NO is formed and that it has the EPR spectrum expected for NO bound to the heme in the β-chain plus that of a thiyl radical. This new NO-related paramagnetic species is in equilibrium with the hybrid intermediate "Hb(II)NO(+) ? Hb(III)NO", thereby further inhibiting the release of NO from Hb(III)NO. The formation of an NO-related paramagnetic species other than the tightly bound NO in Hb(II)NO was also confirmed by a decrease in the EPR signal by -20 °C incubation, which shifts the equilibrium back to the "Hb(II)NO(+) ? Hb(III)NO" intermediate. This previously unrecognized NO hemoglobin species explains the stability of the intermediates and the buildup of a pool of potentially bioactive NO during nitrite reduction. It also provides a pathway for the formation of β-93 cysteine S-nitrosylated hemoglobin [SNOHb:S-nitrosohemoglobin], which has been shown to induce vasodilation, by a rapid radical-radical reaction of any free NO with the thiyl radical of this new paramagnetic intermediate.     

A supramolecular receptor of diatomic molecules (O2, CO, NO) in aqueous solution

A per-O-methylated beta-cyclodextrin dimer, Py2CD, was conveniently prepared via two steps: the Williamson reaction of 3,5-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) yielding 2A,2'A-O-[3,5-pyridinediylbis(methylene)bis-beta-cyclodextrin (bisCD) followed by the O-methylation of all the hydroxy groups of the bisCD. Py2CD formed a very stable 1:1 complex (Fe(III)PCD) with [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphinato]iron(III) (Fe(III)TPPS) in aqueous solution. Fe(III)PCD was reduced with Na2S2O4 to afford the Fe (II)TPPS/Py2CD complex (Fe(II)PCD). Dioxygen was bound to Fe(II)PCD, the P(1/2)(O2) values being 42.4 +/- 1.6 and 176 +/- 3 Torr at 3 and 25 degrees C, respectively. The k(on)(O2) and k(off)(O2) values for the dioxygen binding were determined to be 1.3 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and 3.8 x 10(3) s(-1), respectively, at 25 degrees C. Although the dioxygen adduct was not very stable (K(O2) = k(on)(O2)/k(off)(O2) = 3.4 x 10(3) M(-1)), no autoxidation of the dioxygen adduct of Fe(II)PCD to Fe(III)PCD was observed. These results suggest that the encapsulation of Fe (II)TPPS by Py2CD strictly inhibits not only the extrusion of dioxygen from the cyclodextrin cage but also the penetration of a water molecule into the cage. The carbon monoxide affinity of Fe(II)PCD was much higher than the dioxygen affinity; the P(1/2)(CO), k(on)(CO), k(off)(CO), and K(CO) values being (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(-2) Torr, 2.4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), 4.8 x 10(-2) s(-1), and 5.0 x 10(7) M(-1), respectively, at 25 degrees C. Fe(II)PCD also bound nitric oxide. The rate of the dissociation of NO from (NO)Fe(II)PCD ((5.58 +/- 0.42) x 10(-5) s(-1)) was in good agreement with the maximum rate ((5.12 +/- 0.18) x 10(-5) s(-1)) of the oxidation of (NO)Fe(II)PCD to Fe(III)PCD and NO3(-), suggesting that the autoxidation of (NO)Fe(II)PCD proceeds through the ligand exchange between NO and O2 followed by the rapid reaction of (O2)Fe(II)PCD with released NO, affording Fe(II)PCD and the NO3(-) anion inside the cyclodextrin cage.     

Unravelling the intrinsic features of NO binding to iron(II)- and iron(III)-hemes

Electrospray ionization of appropriate precursors is used to deliver [Fe (III)-heme] (+) and [Fe (II)-hemeH] (+) ions as naked species in the gas phase where their ion chemistry has been examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. In the naked, four-coordinate [Fe (II)-hemeH] (+) and [Fe (III)-heme] (+) ions, the intrinsic reactivity of iron(II)- and iron(III)-hemes is revealed free from any influence due to axial ligand, counterion, or solvent effects. Ligand (L) addition and ligand transfer equilibria with a series of selected neutrals are attained when [Fe (II)-hemeH] (+), corresponding to protonated Fe (II)-heme, is allowed to react in the FT-ICR cell. A Heme Cation Basicity (HCB) ladder for the various ligands toward [Fe (II)-hemeH] (+), corresponding to -Delta G degrees for the process [Fe (II)-hemeH] (+) + L --> [Fe (II)-hemeH(L)] (+) and named HCB (II), can thus be established. The so-obtained HCB (II) values are compared with the corresponding HCB (III) values for [Fe (III)-heme] (+). In spite of pronounced differences displayed by various ligands, NO shows a quite similar HCB of about 67 kJ mol (-1) at 300 K toward both ions, estimated to correspond to a binding energy of 124 kJ mol (-1). Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations confirm the experimental results, yielding very similar values of NO binding energies to [Fe (II)-hemeH] (+) and [Fe (III)-heme] (+), equal to 140 and 144 kJ mol (-1), respectively. The kinetic study of the NO association reaction supports the equilibrium HCB data and reveals that the two species share very close rate constant values both for the forward and for the reverse reaction. These gas phase results diverge markedly from the kinetics and thermodynamic behavior of NO binding to iron(II)- and iron(III)-heme proteins and model complexes in solution. The requisite of either a very labile or a vacant coordination site on iron for a facile addition of NO to occur, suggested to explain the bias for typically five-coordinate iron(II) species in solution, is fully supported by the present work.     

Spectroscopic approach in characterization of chromium(III), manganese(II), iron(III) and copper(II) complexes with a nitrogen donor tetradentate, 14-membered azamacrocyclic ligand

The complexes of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III) and Cu(II) were synthesized with the macrocyclic ligand i.e. 2,3,9,10-tetraketo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane. The ligand was prepared by the [2 + 2] condensation reaction of diethyloxalate and 1,3-diamino propane. These complexes were found to have the general composition M(L)X3 and M'(L)X2 [where M = Mn(II) and Cu(II), M' = Cr(III) and Fe(III), L = ligand (N4) and X = Cl-, NO3-, 1/2SO4(2-) and [CH3COO-]. The ligand and its transition metal complexes were characterized by the elemental analyses, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, mass, IR, electronic, and EPR spectral studies. On the basis of IR, electronic and EPR spectral studies an octahedral geometry has been assigned for Cr(III), Mn(II) and Fe(III) and a tetragonal geometry for Cu(II) complexes.     

Models of the cytochromes: crystal structures and EPR spectral characterization of low-spin bis-imidazole complexes of (OETPP)Fe(III) having intermediate ligand plane dihedral angles

The preparation, EPR spectra, and crystal structures of octaethyltetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III) having two imidazole, N-benzylimidazole, and N-methylimidazole axial ligands are reported, [(OETPP)Fe(HIm)2]Cl, [(OETPP)Fe(N-BzIm)2]Cl, and [(OETPP)Fe(N-MeIm)2]Cl. Despite large variation in axial ligand size, the unit cell parameters for all complexes are very similar; each structure has the same basic motif, with large voids formed by the extended porphyrin framework (filled by ordered or disordered axial ligands and disordered solvent), which allows differently sized ligands to fit within the same cell dimensions. Each porphyrin core adopts a saddled conformation with absolute value(deltaC(beta)) = 1.13-1.15 A. The dihedral angles between axial ligand planes, delta phi, are far from being either ideal parallel or perpendicular: 30.1 degrees, 57.2 degrees for [(OETPP)Fe(HIm)2]Cl (molecules 1 and 2), 56.8 degrees for [(OETPP)Fe(N-BzIm)(2)]Cl, and 16.0 degrees, 44.6 degrees, 59.6 degrees, and 88.1 degrees for [(OETPP)Fe(N-MeIm)2]Cl, which has disordered axial ligands. Among the complexes of this study, an axial ligand delta phi of 56.8 degrees is found to be the largest "parallel" angle (as defined by the observation of a normal rhombic or Type II EPR signal (N-BzIm, g = 3.08, 2.19, 1.31)), while 57.2 degrees is found to be the smallest "perpendicular" delta phi (as defined by the observation of a "large gmax" or Type I EPR signal (HIm, gmax = 3.24)). From the results of this study, it is clear that the size of the largest g for Types I and II complexes varies continuously, with no break between the two. While the switch in EPR signal type, from Type II to Type I, appears to be very sharp in this study, this may be somewhat artificial based upon limited numbers of examples and the required saddle distortion of the (OETPP)Fe(III) complexes. However, in comparison to several proteins with dihedral angles near 60 degrees and Type II EPR spectra, we may conclude that the switch in EPR signal type occurs near 57 degrees +/- 3-5 degrees.     

Synthesis, structure, and properties of an Fe(II) carbonyl [(PaPy3)Fe(CO)](ClO4): insight into the reactivity of Fe(II)-CO and Fe(II)-NO moieties in non-heme iron chelates of N-donor ligands

An Fe(II) carbonyl complex [(PaPy3)Fe(CO)](ClO4) (1) of the pentadentate ligand N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-pyridine-2-carboxamide (PaPy3H, H is the dissociable amide proton) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. This Fe(II) carbonyl exhibits its nu(CO) at 1972 cm(-1), and its 1H NMR spectrum in degassed CD3CN confirms its S = 0 ground state. The bound CO in 1 is not photolabile. Reaction of 1 with an equimolar amount of NO results in the formation of the {Fe-NO}7 nitrosyl [(PaPy3)Fe(NO)](ClO4) (2), while excess NO affords the iron(III) nitro complex [(PaPy3)Fe(NO2)](ClO4) (5). In the presence of [Fe(Cp)2]+ and excess NO, 1 forms the {Fe-NO}6 nitrosyl [(PaPy3)Fe(NO)](ClO4)2 (3). Complex 1 also reacts with dioxygen to afford the iron(III) mu-oxo species [{(PaPy3)Fe}2O](ClO4)2 (4). Comparison of the metric and spectral parameters of 1 with those of the previously reported {Fe-NO}6,7 nitrosyls 3 and 2 provides insight into the electronic distributions in the Fe(II)-CO, Fe(II)-NO, and Fe(II)-NO+ bonds in the isostructural series of complexes 1-3 derived from a non-heme polypyridine ligand with one carboxamide group.     

Iron nitrosyls of a pentadentate ligand containing a single carboxamide group: syntheses, structures, electronic properties, and photolability of NO

Three iron complexes of a pentadentate ligand N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-pyridine-2-carboxamide (PaPy(3)H, H is the dissociable amide proton) have been synthesized. All three species, namely, two nitrosyls [(PaPy(3))Fe(NO)](ClO(4))(2) (2) and [(PaPy(3))Fe(NO)](ClO(4)) (3) and one nitro complex [(PaPy(3))Fe(NO(2))](ClO(4)) (4), have been structurally characterized. These complexes provide the opportunity to compare the structural and spectral properties of a set of isostructural [Fe-NO](6,7) complexes (2 and 3, respectively) and an analogous genuine Fe(III) complex with an "innocent" sixth ligand ([(PaPy(3))Fe(NO(2))](ClO(4)), 4). The most striking difference in the structural features of 2 and 3 is the Fe-N-O angle (Fe-N-O = 173.1(2) degrees in the case of 2 and 141.29(15) degrees in the case of 3). The clean (1)H NMR spectrum of 2 in CD(3)CN reveals its S = 0 ground state and confirms its [Fe-NO](6) configuration. The binding of NO at the non-heme iron center in 2 is completely reversible and the bound NO is photolabile. M?ssbauer data, electron paramagnetic resonance signal at g approximately 2.00, and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the S = (1)/(2) spin state of the [Fe-NO](7) complex 3. Analysis of the spectroscopic data suggests Fe(II)-NO(+) and Fe(II)-NO(*) formulations for 2 and 3, respectively. The bound NO in 3 does not show any photolability. However, in MeCN solution, it reacts rapidly with dioxygen to afford the nitro complex 4, which has also been synthesized independently from [(PaPy(3))Fe(MeCN)](2+) and NO(2)(-). Nucleophilic attack of hydroxide ion to the N atom of the NO ligand in 2 in MeCN in the dark gives rise to 4 in high yield.     

Iron(III)-nitro porphyrins: theoretical exploration of a unique class of reactive molecules

DFT(PW91/TZP) calculations, including full geometry optimizations, have been carried on [FeII(P)(NO2)]-, Fe(III)(P)(NO2), [Fe(II)(P)(NO2)(py)]-, Fe(III)(P)(NO2)(py), [Fe(III)(P)(NO2)2]-, and Fe(III)(P)(NO2)(NO), where P is the unsubstituted porphine dianion, as well as on certain picket fence porphyrin (TPivPP) analogues. The bonding in [Fe(II)(P)(NO2)]- and Fe(III)(P)(NO2), as well as in their pyridine adducts, reveals a sigma-donor interaction of the nitrite HOMO and the Fe dz2 orbital, where the Fe-Nnitro axis is defined as the z direction and the nitrite plane is identified as xz. Both molecules also feature a pi-acceptor interaction of the nitrite LUMO and the Fe dyz orbital, whereas the SOMO of the Fe(III)-nitro complexes may be identified as dxz. The Fe(III)-nitro porphyrins studied all exhibit extremely high adiabatic electron affinities, ranging from about 2.5 eV for Fe(III)(P)(NO2) and Fe(III)(P)(NO2)(py) to about 3.4 eV for their TPivPP analogues. Transition-state optimizations for oxygen-atom transfer from Fe(III)(P)(NO2) and Fe(III)(P)(NO2)(py) to dimethyl sulfide yielded activation energies of 0.45 and 0.77 eV, respectively, which is qualitatively consistent with the observed far greater stability of Fe(III)(TPivPP)(NO2)(py) relative to Fe(III)(TPivPP)(NO2). Addition of NO to yield {FeNO}6 nitro-nitrosyl adducts such as Fe(P)(NO2)(NO) provides another mechanism whereby Fe(III)-nitro porphyrins can relieve their extreme electron affinities. In Fe(P)(NO2)(NO), the bonding involves substantial Fe-NO pi-bonding, but the nitrite acts essentially as a simple sigma-donor, which accounts for the relatively long Fe-Nnitro distance in this molecule.     

First Synthesis of a Binuclear [Mn(II)(bipy)-Fe(III)(porphyrin)] Complex: Spectroscopic Characterization and First Evidence of Reversible Formation of Manganese(III) as Manganese Peroxidase

A [(P)Fe(III)-Mn(II)] bimetallic complex, mimicking the active site of manganese peroxidase, has been synthesized. A modified highly fluorinated porphyrin, 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)-20-(o-aminophenyl)porphyrin, has been used to introduce, through a short spacer linked to the amino function, a manganese auxiliary ligand, 6-aminomethyl-2,2'-bipyridine. Two successive metalations by FeCl(2) and MnCl(2) afforded the [(P)Fe(III)-Mn(II)] bimetallic complex that has been characterized by elemental analysis and FAB(+) mass spectrometry. X-band EPR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements were in agreement with two high spin Fe(III) and Mn(II) centers without magnetic exchange interaction. Moreover, there is no higher intermolecular association through &mgr;-chloro bridging as observed by EPR with a simpler chloromanganese complex, Mn(bipy)(2)Cl(2), at high concentration. Addition of pentafluoroiodosobenzene in methanol at 0 degrees C led to the progressive and complete disappearance of the EPR Mn(II) signals, that were recovered after addition of a phenol. This result is consistent with Mn(III) formation. This production of Mn(III) requires the presence of the iron porphyrin and is proposed to occur through the intermediate formation of a Fe(IV) dimethoxide species which can be related to the oxidation of Mn(II) catalyzed by manganese peroxidase compound II.     

Spectroscopic and catalytic characterization of a functional Fe(III)Fe(II) biomimetic for the active site of uteroferrin and protein cleavage

A mixed-valence complex, [Fe(III)Fe(II)L1(μ-OAc)(2)]BF(4)·H(2)O, where the ligand H(2)L1 = 2-{[[3-[((bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl](pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl]phenol}, has been studied with a range of techniques, and, where possible, its properties have been compared to those of the corresponding enzyme system purple acid phosphatase. The Fe(III)Fe(II) and Fe(III)(2) oxidized species were studied spectroelectrochemically. The temperature-dependent population of the S = 3/2 spin states of the heterovalent system, observed using magnetic circular dichroism, confirmed that the dinuclear center is weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (H = -2JS(1)·S(2), where J = -5.6 cm(-1)) in a frozen solution. The ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transitions are correlated with density functional theory calculations. The Fe(III)Fe(II) complex is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-silent, except at very low temperatures (<2 K), because of the broadening caused by the exchange coupling and zero-field-splitting parameters being of comparable magnitude and rapid spin-lattice relaxation. However, a phosphate-bound Fe(III)(2) complex showed an EPR spectrum due to population of the S(tot) = 3 state (J= -3.5 cm(-1)). The phosphatase activity of the Fe(III)Fe(II) complex in hydrolysis of bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (k(cat.) = 1.88 × 10(-3) s(-1); K(m) = 4.63 × 10(-3) mol L(-1)) is similar to that of other bimetallic heterovalent complexes with the same ligand. Analysis of the kinetic data supports a mechanism where the initiating nucleophile in the phosphatase reaction is a hydroxide, terminally bound to Fe(III). It is interesting to note that aqueous solutions of [Fe(III)Fe(II)L1(μ-OAc)(2)](+) are also capable of protein cleavage, at mild temperature and pH conditions, thus further expanding the scope of this complex's catalytic promiscuity.     

1H pulsed ENDOR and ESEEM evidence that the bis-imidazole complexes of iron(III) tetraphenylchlorin and tetraphenylporphyrin have the same order of g values, and the same electronic ground state.

The electronic structures of the bis-imidazole complexes of iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin ([(TPP)Fe(ImH)(2)](+)) and iron(III) tetraphenylchlorin ([(TPC)Fe(ImH)(2)](+)) in frozen glassy solutions have been studied by the pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) technique of Mims and by electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy. ESEEM spectra have been used to determine the orientation of the imidazole ligand planes with respect to the g tensor axes. In the ENDOR spectra, the manifestations of the implicit TRIPLE effect described and explained earlier by Doan et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 7014) were seen. In this work, the explicit expressions describing this effect were derived for the first time and used to successfully simulate the proton ENDOR spectra at the low- (LF) and high-field (HF) edges of the EPR spectrum. Using pulsed ENDOR, we have been able to determine the spin density distributions in the pi-systems of both tetrapyrroles and show that [(TPC)Fe(ImH)(2)](+) has the electronic orbital ground state (d(xy)())(2)(d(xz)(),d(yz)())(3), the same as that known for [(TPP)Fe(ImH)(2)](+), and the largest principal g value corresponds to the g tensor axis 3, which is normal to the heme plane. For the TPP complex, the g tensor axis 1, corresponding to the smallest principal g value, was found to be at an angle phi(1) of 30-35 degrees from the N-Fe-N axis, with the ligand planes rotated by the angle of 20-25 degrees in the opposite direction. For the TPC complex, phi(1) was found to be about 25 degrees from the direction N(I)-Fe-N(III), where N(I) corresponds to the nitrogen of the saturated pyrrole ring. The ligand planes in this complex were found to be oriented at an angle of about 10 degrees in the opposite direction.     

Rational tuning of the thiolate donor in model complexes of superoxide reductase: direct evidence for a trans influence in Fe(III)-OOR complexes

Iron peroxide species have been identified as important intermediates in a number of nonheme iron as well as heme-containing enzymes, yet there are only a few examples of such species either synthetic or biological that have been well characterized. We describe the synthesis and structural characterization of a new series of five-coordinate (N4S(thiolate))Fe(II) complexes that react with tert-butyl hydroperoxide ((t)BuOOH) or cumenyl hydroperoxide (CmOOH) to give metastable alkylperoxo-iron(III) species (N4S(thiolate)Fe(III)-OOR) at low temperature. These complexes were designed specifically to mimic the nonheme iron active site of superoxide reductase, which contains a five-coordinate iron(II) center bound by one Cys and four His residues in the active form of the protein. The structures of the Fe(II) complexes are analyzed by X-ray crystallography, and their electrochemical properties are assessed by cyclic voltammetry. For the Fe(III)-OOR species, low-temperature UV-vis spectra reveal intense peaks between 500-550 nm that are typical of peroxide to iron(III) ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions, and EPR spectroscopy shows that these alkylperoxo species are all low-spin iron(III) complexes. Identification of the vibrational modes of the Fe(III)-OOR unit comes from resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy, which shows nu(Fe-O) modes between 600-635 cm(-1) and nu(O-O) bands near 800 cm(-1). These Fe-O stretching frequencies are significantly lower than those found in other low-spin Fe(III)-OOR complexes. Trends in the data conclusively show that this weakening of the Fe-O bond arises from a trans influence of the thiolate donor, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations support these findings. These results suggest a role for the cysteine ligand in SOR, and are discussed in light of the recent assessments of the function of the cysteine ligand in this enzyme.     

Ferric and ferrous iron in nitroso-myoglobin: computer simulations of stable and metastable States and their infrared spectra.

The binding of NO to iron is involved in the biological function of many heme proteins. Contrary to ligands like CO and O(2), which only bind to ferrous (Fe(II)) iron, NO binds to both ferrous and ferric (Fe(III)) iron. In a particular protein, the natural oxidation state can therefore be expected to be tailored to the required function. Herein, we present an ab initio potential-energy surface for ferric iron interacting with NO. This potential-energy surface exhibits three minima corresponding to eta(1)-NO coordination (the global minimum), eta(1)-ON coordination and eta(2) coordination. This contrasts with the potential-energy surface for Fe(II)-NO, which exhibits only two minima (the eta(2) coordination mode for Fe(II) is a transition state, not a minimum). In addition, the binding energies of NO are substantially larger for Fe(III) than for Fe(II). We have performed molecular dynamics simulations for NO bound to ferric myoglobin (Mb(III)) and compare these with results obtained for Mb(II). Over the duration of our simulations (1.5 ns), all three binding modes are found to be stable at 200 K and transiently stable at 300 K, with eventual transformation to the eta(1)-NO global-minimum conformation. We discuss the implication of these results related to studies of rebinding processes in myoglobin.     

Bismercaptoethanediazacyclooctane as a N2S2 chelating agent and Cys-X-Cys mimic for Fe(NO) and Fe(NO)2

The N-protonated bismercaptoethanediazacyclooctane serves as a bidentate dithiolate ligand to oxidized Fe(NO)(2) of Enemark-Feltam notation, E-F [Fe(NO)(2)],(9) mimicking Cys-X-Cys binding of Fe(NO)(2) to proteins or thio-biomolecules. The neutral compound is characterized by the well-known g = 2.03 EPR signal which is a hallmark of dinitrosyl iron complexes, DNIC's. The Fe(NO)(2) unit can be removed from the chelate by excess PhS(-), producing (PhS)(2)Fe(NO)(2)(-). Transfer of NO from Fe(H(+)bme-daco)(NO)(2) (nu(NO) = 1740, 1696 cm(-)(1)) to Fe(II) of [(bme-daco)Fe](2) yields the five-coordinate, square-pyramidal N(2)S(2)Fe(NO) (nu(NO) = 1649 cm(-)(1)), where NO is in the apical position. Its isotropic EPR signal at g = 2.05 is consistent with E-F [Fe(NO)](7) formulation. In excess NO, Roussin's red ester-type molecules are formed as dinuclear or tetranuclear species, [(micro-SRS)[Fe(2)(NO)(4)]](n)() (n =1, 2). These well-characterized molecules furnish reference points for positions and patterns in nu(NO) vibrational spectroscopy expected to be useful for in vivo studies of NO degradation of iron-sulfur clusters in ferredoxins.     

Influence of fluoride on the reversible binding of NO by [Fe(II)(EDTA)(H2O)]2-. Inhibition of autoxidation of [Fe(II)(EDTA)(H2O)]2-

The promising BioDeNO(x) process for NO removal from gaseous effluents suffers from an unsolved problem that results from the oxygen sensitivity of the Fe(II)-aminopolycarboxylate complexes used in the absorber unit to bind NO(g). The utilized [Fe(II)(EDTA)(H2O)](2-) complex is extremely oxygen sensitive and easily oxidized to give a totally inactive [Fe(III)(EDTA)(H2O)](-) species toward the binding of NO(g). We found that an in situ formed, less-oxygen-sensitive mixed-ligand complex, [Fe(II)(EDTA)(F)](3-), still reacts quantitatively with NO(g). The formation constant for the mixed ligand complex was determined spectrophotometrically. For [Fe(III)(EDTA)(F)](2-) we found log K(MLF)(F) = 1.7 +/- 0.1. The [Fe(II)(EDTA)(F)](3-) complex has a smaller value of log K(MLF)(F) = 1.3 +/- 0.2. The presence of fluoride does not affect the reversible binding of NO(g). Even over extended periods of time and fluoride concentrations of up to 1.0 M, the nitrosyl complex does not undergo any significant decomposition. The [Fe(III)(EDTA)(NO(-))](2-) complex releases bound NO on passing nitrogen through the solution to form [Fe(II)(EDTA)(H2O)](2-) almost completely. A reaction cycle is feasible in which fluoride inhibits the autoxidation of [Fe(II)(EDTA)(H2O)](2-) during the reversible binding of NO(g).     

A comparative mechanistic study of the reversible binding of NO to a water-soluble octa-cationic Fe(III) porphyrin complex

The water-soluble, non-mu-oxo dimer-forming porphyrin, [5,10,15,20-tetrakis-4'-t-butylphenyl-2',6'-bis-(N-methylene-(4'-t-butylpyridinium))porphyrinato]iron(III) octabromide, (P(8+))Fe(III), with eight positively charged substituents in the ortho positions of the phenyl rings, was characterized by UV-vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy and 17O NMR water-exchange studies in aqueous solution. Spectrophotometric titrations of (P(8+))Fe(III) indicated a pKa1 value of 5.0 for coordinated water in (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2. The monohydroxo-ligated (P(8+))Fe(III)(OH)(H2O) formed at 5 < pH < 12 has a weakly bound water molecule that undergoes an exchange reaction, k(ex) = 2.4 x 10(6) s(-1), significantly faster than water exchange on (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2, viz. k(ex) = 5.5 x 10(4) s(-1) at 25 degrees C. The porphyrin complex reacts with nitric oxide to yield the nitrosyl adduct, (P(8+))Fe(II)(NO+)(L) (L = H2O or OH-). The diaqua-ligated (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2 binds and releases NO according to a dissociatively activated mechanism, analogous to that reported earlier for other (P)Fe(III)(H2O)2 complexes. Coordination of NO to (P(8+))Fe(III)(OH)(H2O) at high pH follows an associative mode, as evidenced by negative deltaS(double dagger)(on) and deltaV(double dagger)(on) values measured for this reaction. The observed ca. 10-fold decrease in the NO binding rate on going from six-coordinate (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2 (k(on) = 15.1 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)) to (P(8+))Fe(III)(OH)(H2O) (k(on) = 1.56 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C) is ascribed to the different nature of the rate-limiting step for NO binding at low and high pH, respectively. The results are compared with data reported for other water-soluble iron(III) porphyrins with positively and negatively charged meso substituents. Influence of the porphyrin periphery on the dynamics of reversible NO binding to these (P)Fe(III) complexes as a function of pH is discussed on the basis of available experimental data.     

Establishing the NO oxidation state in complexes [Cl(5)(NO)M](n-), M = Ru or Ir, through experiments and DFT calculations

Predominantly NO-centered reduction was observed by EPR and IR spectroelectrochemistry to occur reversibly at low temperatures for [Cl(5)Ir(NO)](-). In contrast, the [Cl(5)Ru(NO)](2-) ion was found to undergo only irreversible reduction but reversible oxidation to a ruthenium(III) species at -40 degrees C. DFT calculations were used to establish the electronic structures and to rationalise the different stabilities. The calculations also reveal orientation-dependent energies and EPR properties between staggered and eclipsed conformations.