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.     

Spectroscopic properties and electronic structure of five- and six-coordinate iron(II) porphyrin NO complexes: Effect of the axial N-donor ligand

In this paper, the differences in the spectroscopic properties and electronic structures of five- and six-coordinate iron(II) porphyrin NO complexes are explored using [Fe(TPP)(NO)] (1; TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin) and [Fe(TPP)(MI)(NO)] (2; MI = 1-methylimidazole) type systems. Binding of N-donor ligands in axial position trans to NO to five-coordinate complexes of type 1 is investigated using UV-vis absorption and 1H NMR spectroscopies. This way, the corresponding binding constants Keq are determined and the 1H NMR spectra of 1 and 2 are assigned for the first time. In addition, 1H NMR allows for the determination of the degree of denitrosylation in solutions of 1 with excess base. The influence of the axial ligand on the properties of the coordinated NO is then investigated. Vibrational spectra (IR and Raman) of 1 and 2 are presented and assigned using isotope substitution and normal-coordinate analysis. Obtained force constants are 12.53 (N-O) and 2.98 mdyn/A (Fe-NO) for 1 compared to 11.55 (N-O) and 2.55 mdyn/A (Fe-NO) for 2. Together with the NMR results, this provides experimental evidence that binding of the trans ligand weakens the Fe-NO bond. The principal bonding schemes of 1 and 2 are very similar. In both cases, the Fe-N-O subunit is strongly bent. Donation from the singly occupied pi* orbital of NO into d(z2) of iron(II) leads to the formation of an Fe-NO sigma bond. In addition, a medium-strong pi back-bond is present in these complexes. The most important difference in the electronic structures of 1 and 2 occurs for the Fe-NO sigma bond, which is distinctively stronger for 1 in agreement with the experimental force constants. The increased sigma donation from NO in 1 also leads to a significant transfer of spin density from NO to iron, as has been shown by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy in a preceding Communication (Praneeth, V. K. K.; Neese, F.; Lehnert, N. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 2570-2572). This is confirmed by the 1H NMR results presented here. Hence, further experimental and computational evidence is provided that complex 1 has noticeable Fe(I)NO+ character relative to 2, which is an Fe(II)NO(radical) complex. Finally, using MCD theory and quantum chemical calculations, the absorption and MCD C-term spectra of 1 and 2 are assigned for the first time.     

Five-coordinate Fe(III)NO and Fe(II)CO porphyrinates: where are the electrons and why does it matter?

Recent years have seen dramatic growth in our understanding of the biological roles of nitric oxide (NO). Yet, the fundamental underpinnings of its reactivities with transition metal centers in proteins and enzymes, the stabilities of their structures, and the relationships between structure and reactivity remains, to a significant extent, elusive. This is especially true for the so-called ferric heme nitrosyls ([FeNO](6) in the Enemark-Feltham scheme). The Fe-CO and C-O bond strengths in the isoelectronic ferrous carbonyl complexes are widely recognized to be inversely correlated and sensitive to structural, environmental, and electronic factors. On the other hand, the Fe-NO and N-O bonds in [FeNO](6) heme complexes exhibit seemingly inconsistent behavior in response to varying structure and environment. This report contains resonance Raman and density functional theory results that suggest a new model for FeNO bonding in five-coordinate [FeNO](6) complexes. On the basis of resonance Raman and FTIR data, a direct correlation between the nu(Fe)(-)(NO) and nu(N)(-)(O) frequencies of [Fe(OEP)NO](ClO(4)) and [Fe(OEP)NO](ClO(4)).CHCl(3) (two crystal forms of the same complex) has been established. Density functional theory calculations show that the relationship between Fe-NO and N-O bond strengths is responsive to FeNO electron density in three molecular orbitals. The highest energy orbital of the three is sigma-antibonding with respect to the entire FeNO unit. The other two comprise a lower-energy, degenerate, or nearly degenerate pair that is pi-bonding with respect to Fe-NO and pi-antibonding with respect to N-O. The relative sensitivities of the electron density distributions in these orbitals are shown to be consistent with all published indicators of Fe-N-O bond strengths and angles, including the examples reported here.     

Spin density distribution in five- and six-coordinate iron(II)-porphyrin NO complexes evidenced by magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy

Using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy together with DFT calculations, the spin density distributions in five-coordinate [Fe(TPP)(NO)] (I) and six-coordinate [Fe(TPP)(MI)(NO)] (II, MI = 1-methylimidazole) are defined. In the five-coordinate complex, a strong Fe-NO sigma bond between pi(*)(h) and d(z)(2) is present that leads to a large transfer of spin density from the NO ligand to Fe(II) corresponding to an electronic structure with noticeable Fe(I)-NO(+) character. Consequently, the MCD spectrum is dominated by paramagnetic C-term contributions. On coordination of the sixth ligand, the spin density is pushed back from the iron toward the NO ligand, resulting in an Fe(II)-NO(radical) type of electronic structure. This is reflected by the fact that the MCD spectrum is dominated by diamagnetic contributions.     

Resonance Raman detection of a ferrous five-coordinate nitrosylheme b(3) complex in cytochrome cbb(3) oxidase from Pseudomonas stutzeri

Understanding the chemical nature of the nitric oxide (NO) moiety of nitrosylheme copper oxidases is crucial for elucidation of the NO activation process. In the present work, direct resonance Raman spectroscopic observation of both the Fe(2+)-NO and the N-O stretching modes unambiguously establishes the vibrational characteristics of the NO-bound heme moiety in cytochrome cbb(3) from Pseudomonas stutzeri. Addition of NO to fully reduced enzyme causes the rupture of the proximal His-heme b(3) bond resulting in the formation of a five-coordinate heme b(3)(2+)-NO species with nu(Fe-NO) and nu(NO) at 524 and 1679 cm(-1), respectively. The frequencies of the nitrosyl species we detect are very similar to those obtained in other model- and protein heme-NO complexes. To account for this observation, we propose a model describing the oxidation and ligand-binding states in fully reduced cytochrome cbb(3) upon addition of NO.     

Influence of thiolate ligands on reductive N-O bond activation. Probing the O2(-) binding site of a biomimetic superoxide reductase analogue and examining the proton-dependent reduction of nitrite

Nitric oxide (NO) is frequently used to probe the substrate-binding site of "spectroscopically silent" non-heme Fe(2+) sites of metalloenzymes, such as superoxide reductase (SOR). Herein we use NO to probe the superoxide binding site of our thiolate-ligated biomimetic SOR model [Fe(II)(S(Me(2))N(4)(tren))](+) (1). Like NO-bound trans-cysteinate-ligated SOR (SOR-NO), the rhombic S = 3/2 EPR signal of NO-bound cis-thiolate-ligated [Fe(S(Me(2))N(4)(tren)(NO)](+) (2; g = 4.44, 3.54, 1.97), the isotopically sensitive ν(NO)(ν((15)NO)) stretching frequency (1685(1640) cm(-1)), and the 0.05 ? decrease in Fe-S bond length are shown to be consistent with the oxidative addition of NO to Fe(II) to afford an Fe(III)-NO(-) {FeNO}(7) species containing high-spin (S = 5/2) Fe(III) antiferromagnetically coupled to NO(-) (S = 1). The cis versus trans positioning of the thiolate does not appear to influence these properties. Although it has yet to be crystallographically characterized, SOR-NO is presumed to possess a bent Fe-NO similar to that of 2 (Fe-N-O = 151.7(4)°). The N-O bond is shown to be more activated in 2 relative to N- and O-ligated {FeNO}(7) complexes, and this is attributed to the electron-donating properties of the thiolate ligand. Hydrogen-bonding to the cysteinate sulfur attenuates N-O bond activation in SOR, as shown by its higher ν(NO) frequency (1721 cm(-1)). In contrast, the ν(O-O) frequency of the SOR peroxo intermediate and its analogues is not affected by H-bonds to the cysteinate sulfur or other factors influencing the Fe-SR bond strength; these only influence the ν(Fe-O) frequency. Reactions between 1 and NO(2)(-) are shown to result in the proton-dependent heterolytic cleavage of an N-O bond. The mechanism of this reaction is proposed to involve both Fe(II)-NO(2)(-) and {FeNO}(6) intermediates similar to those implicated in the mechanism of NiR-promoted NO(2)(-) reduction.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of nitrophorin 1, a nitric oxide-binding heme protein from Rhodnius prolixus, and its nitrosyl and cyano adducts.

The resonance Raman (RR) spectra of nitrophorin 1 (NP1) from the saliva of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus, in the absence and presence of nitric oxide (NO) and in the presence of cyanide (CN(-)), have been studied. The NP1 displayed RR spectra characteristic of six-coordinate high-spin (6cHS) ferric heme at room temperature and six-coordinate low-spin heme (6cLS) at low temperature (77 K). NO and CN(-) each bind to Fe(III), both ligands forming 6cLS complexes with NP1. The Fe(III)-NO stretching and bending vibrational frequencies of nitrosyl NP1 were identified at 591 and 578 cm(-1), respectively, on the basis of 15NO isotope shifts. These frequencies are typical of Fe-NO ferric heme proteins, indicating that the NP1 nitrosyl adduct has typical bond strength. Thus, the small NO release rate displayed by NP1 must be due to other protein interactions. Room and cryogenic temperature (77 K) RR spectroscopy and 13C, 15N, and 13C15N isotope substitutions have been used to determine vibrational mode frequencies associated with the Fe(III)-CN(-) bond for the cyano adducts at 454, 443, 397, and 357 cm(-1). The results were analyzed by normal mode calculations to support the assignment of the modes and to assess the NO and CN(-) binding geometries. The observed isotope shifts for the cyano NP1 are smaller than expected and reveal vibrational coupling of Fe(III)-CN(-) modes with heme modes. We also find that the observed frequencies are consistent with the presence of a nearly linear Fe(III)CN(-) linkage (173 degrees ) coexisting with a population with a bent structure (155 degrees ).     

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.     

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.     

Syntheses, structures, and reactivities of (Fe-NO)6 nitrosyls derived from polypyridine-carboxamide ligands: photoactive NO-donors and reagents for S-nitrosylation of alkyl thiols

Two new iron nitrosyls derived from two designed pentadentate ligands N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine-N'-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide and N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine-N'-[1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]acetamide (PcPy(3)H and MePcPy(3)H, respectively, where H is the dissociable amide proton) have been structurally characterized. These complexes are similar to a previously reported (Fe-NO)6 complex, [(PaPy(3))Fe(NO)](ClO(4))(2) (1) that releases NO under mild conditions. The present nitrosyls, namely [(PcPy(3))Fe(NO)](ClO(4))(2) (2) and [(MePcPy(3))Fe(NO)](ClO(4))(2) (3), belong to the same (Fe-NO)6 family and exhibit (a) clean (1)H NMR spectra in CD(3)CN indicating S = 0 ground state, (b) almost linear Fe-N-O angles (177.3(5) degrees and 177.6(4) degrees for 2 and 3, respectively), and (c) N-O stretching frequencies (nu(NO)) in the range 1900-1925 cm(-)(1). The binding of NO at the non-heme iron centers of 1-3 is completely reversible and all three nitrosyls rapidly release NO when exposed to light (50 W tungsten bulb). In addition to acting as photoactive NO-donors, these complexes also nitrosylate thiols such as N-acetylpenicillamine, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, and N-acetyl-cysteine-methyl-ester in yields that range from 30 to 90% in the absence of light. The addition of alkyl or aryl thiolate (RS(-)) to the (Fe-NO)6 complexes in the absence of dioxygen results in the reduction of the iron metal center to afford the corresponding (Fe-NO)7 species.     

Detection of the His-heme Fe2+-NO species in the reduction of NO to N2O by ba3-oxidase from thermus thermophilus

Reaction pathways in the enzymatic formation and cleavage of the N-N and N-O bonds, respectively, are difficult to verify without the structure of the intermediates, but we now have such information on the heme a(3)(2+)-NO species formed in the reaction of ba(3)-oxidase with NO from resonance Raman spectroscopy. We have identified the His-heme a(3)(2+)-NO/Cu(B)(1+) species by its characteristic Fe-NO and N-O stretching frequencies at 539 and 1620 cm(-)(1), respectively. The Fe-NO and N-O frequencies in ba(3)-oxidase are 21 and 7 cm(-)(1) lower and higher, respectively, than those observed in Mb-NO. From these results and earlier Raman and FTIR measurements, we demonstrate that the protein environment of the proximal His384 that is part of the Q-proton pathway controls the strength of the Fe-His384 bond upon ligand (CO vs NO) binding. We also show by time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy that Cu(B)(1+) has a much lower affinity for NO than for CO. We suggest that the reduction of NO to N(2)O by ba(3)-oxidase proceeds by the fast binding of the first NO molecule to heme a(3) with high-affinity, and the second NO molecule binds to Cu(B) with low-affinity, producing the temporal co-presence of two NO molecules in the heme-copper center. The low-affinity of Cu(B) for NO binding also explains the NO reductase activity of the ba(3)-oxidase as opposed to other heme-copper oxidases. With the identification of the His-heme a(3)(2+)-NO/Cu(B)(1+) species, the structure of the binuclear heme a(3)-Cu(B)(1+) center in the initial step of the NO reduction mechanism is known.     

Electronic structure of high-spin iron(III)-alkylperoxo complexes and its relation to low-spin analogues: reaction coordinate of O-O bond homolysis.

The spectroscopic properties of the high-spin Fe(III)-alkylperoxo model complex [Fe(6-Me(3)TPA)(OH(x))(OO(t)Bu)](x)(+) (1; TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, (t)Bu = tert-butyl, x = 1 or 2) are defined and related to density functional calculations of corresponding models in order to determine the electronic structure and reactivity of this system. The Raman spectra of 1 show four peaks at 876, 842, 637, and 469 cm(-1) that are assigned with the help of normal coordinate analysis, and corresponding force constants have been determined to be 3.55 mdyn/A for the O-O and 2.87 mdyn/A for the Fe-O bond. Complex 1 has a broad absorption feature around 560 nm that is assigned to a charge-transfer (CT) transition from the alkylperoxo to a t(2g) d orbital of Fe(III) with the help of resonance Raman profiles and MCD spectroscopy. An additional contribution to the Fe-O bond arises from a sigma interaction between and an e(g) d orbital of iron. The electronic structure of 1 is compared to the related low-spin model complex [Fe(TPA)(OH(x))(OO(t)Bu)](x)(+) and the reaction coordinate for O-O homolysis is explored for both the low-spin and the high-spin Fe(III)-alkylperoxo systems. Importantly, there is a barrier for homolytic cleavage of the O-O bond on the high-spin potential energy surface that is not present for the low-spin complex, which is therefore nicely set up for O-O homolysis. This is reflected by the electronic structure of the low-spin complex having a strong Fe-O and a weak O-O bond due to a strong Fe-O sigma interaction. In addition, the reaction coordinate of the Fe-O homolysis has been investigated, which is a possible decay pathway for the high-spin system, but which is thermodynamically unfavorable for the low-spin complex.     

Dissociation energies and charge distribution of the Co-NO bond for nitrosyl-alpha,beta,gamma,delta-tetraphenylporphinatocobalt(II) and nitrosyl-alpha,beta,gamma,delta-tetraphenylporphinatocobalt(III) in benzonitrile solution

The first two series of Co-NO bond dissociation enthalpies in benzonitrile solution were determined for 12 cobalt(II) nitrosyl porphyrins and for 12 cobalt(III) nitrosyl porphyrins by titration calorimetry with suitable thermodynamic cycles. The results display that the energy scales of the heterolytic Co(III)-NO bond dissociation, the homolytic Co(III)-NO bond dissociation, and the homolytic Co(II)-NO bond dissociation are 14.7-23.2, 15.1-17.5, and 20.8-24.6 kcal/mol in benzonitrile solution, respectively, which not only indicates that the thermodynamic stability of cobalt(II) nitrosyl porphyrins is larger than that of the corresponding cobalt(III) nitrosyl porphyrins for homolysis in benzonitrile solution but also suggests that both cobalt(III) nitrosyl porphyrins and cobalt(II) nitrosyl porphyrins are excellent NO donors, and in addition, cobalt(III) nitrosyl porphyrins are also excellent NO(+) contributors. Hammett-type linear free energy analyses suggest that the nitrosyl group carries negative charges of 0.49 +/- 0.06 and 0.27 +/- 0.04 in T(G)PPCo(II)NO and in T(G)PPCo(III)NO, respectively, which indicates that nitric oxide is an electron-withdrawing group both in T(G)PPCo(II)NO and in T(G)PPCo(III)NO, behaving in a manner similar to Lewis acids rather than to Lewis bases. The energetic and structural information disclosed in the present work is believed to furnish hints to the understanding of cobalt nitrosyl porphyrins' biological functions in vivo.     

Octahedral (cis-cyclam)iron(III) complexes with O,N-coordinated o-iminosemiquinonate(1-) pi radicals and o-imidophenolate(2-) anions

Three octahedral complexes containing a (cis-cyclam)iron(III) moiety and an O,N-coordinated o-iminobenzosemiquinonate pi radical anion have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography at 100 K: [Fe(cis-cyclam)(L(1-3)(ISQ))](PF(6))(2) (1-3), where (L(1-3)(ISQ)) represents the monoanionic pi radicals derived from one-electron oxidations of the respective dianion of o-imidophenolate(2-), L(1), 2-imido-4,6-di-tert-butylphenolate(2-), L(2), and N-phenyl-2-imido-4,6-di-tert-butylphenolate(2-), L(3). Compounds 1-3 possess an S(t) = 0 ground state, which is attained via strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between a low-spin central ferric ion (S(Fe) = 1/2) and an o-imino-benzosemiquinonate(1-) pi radical (S(rad) = 1/2). Zero-field M?ssbauer spectra of 1-3 at 80 K confirm the low-spin ferric electron configuration: isomer shift delta = 0.26 mm s(-1) and quadrupole splitting DeltaE(Q) = 1.96 mm s(-1) for 1, 0.28 and 1.93 for 2, and 0.33 and 1.88 for 3. All three complexes undergo a reversible, one-electron reduction of the coordinated o-imino-benzosemiquinonate ligand, yielding an [Fe(III)(cis-cyclam)(L(1-3)(IP))](+) monocation. The monocations of 1 and 2 display very similar rhombic signals in the X-band EPR spectra (g = 2.15, 2.12, and 1.97), indicative of low-spin ferric species. In contast, the monocation of 3 contains a high-spin ferric center (S(Fe) = 5/2) as is deduced from its M?ssbauer and EPR spectra.     

Quantitative vibrational dynamics of iron in nitrosyl porphyrins

We use quantitative experimental and theoretical approaches to characterize the vibrational dynamics of the Fe atom in porphyrins designed to model heme protein active sites. Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) yields frequencies, amplitudes, and directions for 57Fe vibrations in a series of ferrous nitrosyl porphyrins, which provide a benchmark for evaluation of quantum chemical vibrational calculations. Detailed normal mode predictions result from DFT calculations on ferrous nitrosyl tetraphenylporphyrin Fe(TPP)(NO), its cation [Fe(TPP)(NO)]+, and ferrous nitrosyl porphine Fe(P)(NO). Differing functionals lead to significant variability in the predicted Fe-NO bond length and frequency for Fe(TPP)(NO). Otherwise, quantitative comparison of calculated and measured Fe dynamics on an absolute scale reveals good overall agreement, suggesting that DFT calculations provide a reliable guide to the character of observed Fe vibrational modes. These include a series of modes involving Fe motion in the plane of the porphyrin, which are rarely identified using infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The NO binding geometry breaks the four-fold symmetry of the Fe environment, and the resulting frequency splittings of the in-plane modes predicted for Fe(TPP)(NO) agree with observations. In contrast to expectations of a simple three-body model, mode energy remains localized on the FeNO fragment for only two modes, an N-O stretch and a mode with mixed Fe-NO stretch and FeNO bend character. Bending of the FeNO unit also contributes to several of the in-plane modes, but no primary FeNO bending mode is identified for Fe(TPP)(NO). Vibrations associated with hindered rotation of the NO and heme doming are predicted at low frequencies, where Fe motion perpendicular to the heme is identified experimentally at 73 and 128 cm-1. Identification of the latter two modes is a crucial first step toward quantifying the reactive energetics of Fe porphyrins and heme proteins.     

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.     

Electronic structure of six-coordinate iron(III) monoazaporphyrins

The electronic structures of six-coordinate iron(III) octaethylmonoazaporphyrins, [Fe(MAzP)L 2] (+/-) ( 1), have been examined by means of (1)H NMR and EPR spectroscopy to reveal the effect of meso-nitrogen in the porphyrin ring. The complexes carrying axial ligands with strong field strengths such as 1-MeIm, DMAP, CN (-), and (t)BuNC adopt the low-spin state with the (d xy ) (2)(d xz , d yz ) (3) ground state in a wide temperature range where the (1)H NMR and EPR spectra are taken. In contrast, the complexes with much weaker axial ligands, such as 4-CNPy and 3,5-Cl 2Py, exhibit the spin transition from the mainly S = 3/2 at 298 K to the S = 1/2 with the (d xy ) (2)(d xz , d yz ) (3) ground state at 4 K. Only the THF complex has maintained the S = 3/2 throughout the temperature range examined. Thus, the electronic structures of 1 resemble those of the corresponding iron(III) octaethylporphyrins, [Fe(OEP)L 2] (+/-) ( 2). A couple of differences have been observed, however, in the electronic structures of 1 and 2. One of the differences is the electronic ground state in low-spin bis( (t)BuNC) complexes. While [Fe(OEP)( (t)BuNC) 2] (+) adopts the (d xz , d yz ) (4)(d xy ) (1) ground state, like most of the bis( (t)BuNC) complexes reported previously, [Fe(MAzP)( (t)BuNC) 2] (+) has shown the (d xy ) (2)(d xz , d yz ) (3) ground state. Another difference is the spin state of the bis(3,5-Cl 2Py) complexes. While [Fe(OEP)(3,5-Cl 2Py) 2] (+) has maintained the mixed S = 3/2 and 5/2 spin state from 298 to 4 K, [Fe(MAzP)(3,5-Cl 2Py) 2] (+) has shown the spin transition mentioned above. These differences have been ascribed to the narrower N4 cavity and the presence of lower-lying pi* orbital in MAzP as compared with OEP.     

Electronic structure of ferric heme nitrosyl complexes with thiolate coordination

The effect of trans thiolate ligation on the coordinated nitric oxide in ferric heme nitrosyl complexes as a function of the thiolate donor strength, induced by variation of NH-S(thiolate) hydrogen bonds, is explored. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations (BP86/TZVP) are used to define the electronic structures of corresponding six-coordinate ferric [Fe(P)(SR)(NO)] complexes. In contrast to N-donor-coordinated ferric heme nitrosyls, an additional Fe-N(O) sigma interaction that is mediated by the dz2/dxz orbital of Fe and a sigma*-type orbital of NO is observed in the corresponding complexes with S-donor ligands. Experimentally, this is reflected by lower nu(N-O) and nu(Fe-N) stretching frequencies and a bent Fe-N-O moiety in the thiolate-bound case.     

Electronic structure and reactivity of low-spin Fe(III)-hydroperoxo complexes: comparison to activated bleomycin

The spectroscopic properties, electronic structure, and reactivity of the low-spin Fe(III)-hydroperoxo complex [Fe(N4Py)(OOH)](2+) (1, N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine) are investigated in comparison to those of activated bleomycin (ABLM). Complex 1 is characterized by Raman features at 632 (Fe-O stretch) and 790 cm(-1) (O-O stretch), corresponding to a strong Fe-O bond (force constant 3.62 mdyn/A) and a weak O-O bond (3.05 mdyn/A). The UV-vis spectrum of 1 shows a broad absorption band around 550 nm that is assigned to a charge-transfer transition from the hydroperoxo to a t(2g) d orbital of Fe(III) using resonance Raman and MCD spectroscopies and density functional (DFT) calculations. Compared to low-spin [Fe(TPA)(OH(x))(OO(t)Bu)](x+)(TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, x = 1 or 2), an overall similar Fe-OOR bonding results for low-spin Fe(III)-alkylperoxo and -hydroperoxo species. Correspondingly, both systems show similar reactivities and undergo homolytic cleavage of the O-O bond. From the DFT calculations, this reaction is more endothermic for 1 due to the reduced stabilization of the .OH radical compared to .O(t)Bu and the absence of the hydroxo ligand that helps to stabilize the resulting Fe(IV)=O species. In contrast, ABLM has a somewhat different electronic structure where no pi donor bond between the hydroperoxo ligand and iron(III) is present [Neese, F.; Zaleski, J. M.; Loeb-Zaleski, K.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 11703]. Possible reaction pathways for ABLM are discussed in relation to known experimental results.