Variable-temperature, variable-field magnetic circular dichroism studies of tris-hydroxy- and mu3-oxo-bridged trinuclear Cu(II) complexes: evaluation of proposed structures of the native intermediate of the multicopper oxidases

Multicopper oxidases catalyze the 4e- reduction of O2 to H2O. Reaction of the fully reduced enzyme with O2 produces the native intermediate (NI) that consists of four oxidized Cu centers, three of which form a trinuclear cluster site, all bridged by the product of full O2 reduction. The most characteristic feature of NI is the intense magnetic circular dichroism pseudo-A feature (a pair of temperature-dependent C-terms with opposite signs) associated with O --> Cu(II) ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) that derives from the strong Cu-O bonds in the trinuclear site. In this study, the two most plausible Cu-O structures of the trinuclear site, the tris-mu2-hydroxy-bridged and the mu3-oxo-bridged structures, are evaluated through spectroscopic and electronic structure studies on relevant model complexes, TrisOH and mu3O. It is found that the two components of a pseudo-A-term for TrisOH are associated with LMCT to the same Cu that are coupled by a metal-centered excited-state spin-orbit coupling (SOC), whereas for mu3O they are associated with LMCT to different Cu centers that are coupled by oxo-centered excited state SOC. Based on this analysis of the two candidate models, only the mu3-oxo-bridged structure is consistent with the spectroscopic properties of NI. The Cu-O sigma-bonds in the mu3-oxo-bridged structure would provide the thermodynamic driving force for the 4e- reduction of O2 and would allow the facile electron transfer to all Cu centers in the trinuclear cluster that is consistent with its involvement in the catalytic cycle.     

Fast reduction of a copper center in laccase by nitric oxide and formation of a peroxide intermediate

The rapid reduction of one of the copper atoms (type 2) of tree laccase by nitric oxide (NO) has been detected. Addition of NO to native laccase in the presence of oxygen leads to EPR changes consistent with fast reduction and slow reoxidation of this metal center. These events are paralleled by optical changes that are reminiscent of formation and decay of the peroxide intermediate in a fraction of the enzyme population. Formation of this species is only possible if the trinuclear copper cluster (type 2 plus type 3) is fully reduced. This condition can only be met if, as suggested previously, a fraction of the enzyme contains both type 3 coppers already reduced before addition of NO. Our data are consistent with this assumption. We have suggested recently that fast reduction of copper is the mechanism by which NO interacts with the oxidized dinuclear center in cytochrome c oxidase. The present experiments using laccase strongly support this view and suggest this reaction as a general mechanism by which copper proteins interact with NO. In addition, this provides an unexploited way to produce a stable peroxide intermediate in copper oxidases in which the full complement of copper atoms is present. This enables the O-O scission step in the catalytic cycle to be studied by electron addition to the peroxide derivative through the native electron entry site, type 1 copper.     

A combined quantum and molecular mechanical study of the O2 reductive cleavage in the catalytic cycle of multicopper oxidases

The four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water in multicopper oxidases takes place in a trinuclear copper cluster, which is linked to a mononuclear blue copper site, where the substrates are oxidized. Recently, several intermediates in the catalytic cycle have been spectroscopically characterized, and two possible structural models have been suggested for both the peroxy and native intermediates. In this study, these spectroscopic results are complemented by hybrid quantum and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations, taking advantage of recently available crystal structures with a full complement of copper ions. Thereby, we obtain optimized molecular structures for all of the experimentally studied intermediates involved in the reductive cleavage of the O(2) molecule and energy profiles for individual reaction steps. This allows identification of the experimentally observed intermediates and further insight into the reaction mechanism that is probably relevant for the whole class of multicopper oxidases. We suggest that the peroxy intermediate contains an O(2)(2-) ion, in which one oxygen atom bridges the type 2 copper ion and one of the type 3 copper ions, whereas the other one coordinates to the other type 3 copper ion. One-electron reduction of this intermediate triggers the cleavage of the O-O bond, which involves the uptake of a proton. The product of this cleavage is the observed native intermediate, which we suggest to contain a O(2-) ion coordinated to all three of the copper ions in the center of the cluster.     

Activation of N2O reduction by the fully reduced micro4-sulfide bridged tetranuclear Cu Z cluster in nitrous oxide reductase

The tetranuclear CuZ cluster catalyzes the two-electron reduction of N2O to N2 and H2O in the enzyme nitrous oxide reductase. This study shows that the fully reduced 4CuI form of the cluster correlates with the catalytic activity of the enzyme. This is the first demonstration that the S = 1/2 form of CuZ can be further reduced. Complementary DFT calculations support the experimental findings and demonstrate that N2O binding in a bent mu-1,3-bridging mode to the 4CuI form is most efficient due to strong back-bonding from two reduced copper atoms. This back-donation activates N2O for electrophilic attack by a proton.     

Mechanism of N2O reduction by the mu4-S tetranuclear CuZ cluster of nitrous oxide reductase

Reaction thermodynamics and potential energy surfaces are calculated using density functional theory to investigate the mechanism of the reductive cleavage of the N-O bond by the mu(4)-sulfide-bridged tetranuclear Cu(Z) site of nitrous oxide reductase. The Cu(Z) cluster provides an exogenous ligand-binding site, and, in its fully reduced 4Cu(I) state, the cluster turns off binding of stronger donor ligands while enabling the formation of the Cu(Z)-N(2)O complex through enhanced Cu(Z) --> N(2)O back-donation. The two copper atoms (Cu(I) and Cu(IV)) at the ligand-binding site of the cluster play a crucial role in the enzymatic function, as these atoms are directly involved in bridged N(2)O binding, bending the ligand to a configuration that resembles the transition state (TS) and contributing the two electrons for N(2)O reduction. The other atoms of the Cu(Z) cluster are required for extensive back-bonding with minimal sigma ligand-to-metal donation for the N(2)O activation. The low reaction barrier (18 kcal mol(-)(1)) of the direct cleavage of the N-O bond in the Cu(Z)-N(2)O complex is due to the stabilization of the TS by a strong Cu(IV)(2+)-O(-) bond. Due to the charge transfer from the Cu(Z) cluster to the N(2)O ligand, noncovalent interactions with the protein environment stabilize the polar TS and reduce the activation energy to an extent dependent on the strength of proton donor. After the N-O bond cleavage, the catalytic cycle consists of a sequence of alternating protonation/one-electron reduction steps which return the Cu(Z) cluster to the fully reduced (4Cu(I)) state for future turnover.     

Spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of "alternative resting" and "resting oxidized" enzyme forms of bilirubin oxidase: implications for activity and electrochemical behavior of multicopper oxidases

While there is broad agreement on the catalytic mechanism of multicopper oxidases (MCOs), the geometric and electronic structures of the resting trinuclear Cu cluster have been variable, and their relevance to catalysis has been debated. Here, we present a spectroscopic characterization, complemented by crystallographic data, of two resting forms occurring in the same enzyme and define their interconversion. The resting oxidized form shows similar features to the resting form in Rhus vernicifera and Trametes versicolor laccase, characterized by "normal" type 2 Cu electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) features, 330 nm absorption shoulder, and a short type 3 (T3) Cu-Cu distance, while the alternative resting form shows unusually small A(||) and high g(||) EPR features, lack of 330 nm absorption intensity, and a long T3 Cu-Cu distance. These different forms are evaluated with respect to activation for catalysis, and it is shown that the alternative resting form can only be activated by low-potential reduction, in contrast to the resting oxidized form which is activated via type 1 Cu at high potential. This difference in activity is correlated to differences in redox states of the two forms and highlights the requirement for efficient sequential reduction of resting MCOs for their involvement in catalysis.     

Ferromagnetism in malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes. Synthesis,crystal structures,and magnetic properties of [[Cu(H2O)3][Cu(mal)2(H2O)]]n and [[Cu(H2O)4]2[Cu(mal)2(H2O)]][Cu(mal)2(H2O)2][[Cu(H2O)4][Cu(mal)2(H2O)2][(H2mal = malonic acid)

Three malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of the formulas [[Cu(H2O)3][Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)]]n (1), [[Cu(H2O)4]2[Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)]] [Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2][[Cu(H2O)4][Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2]] (2), and [Cu(H2O)4][Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2] (3) (C3H2O4 = malonate dianion) have been prepared, and the structures of the two former have been solved by X-ray diffraction methods. The structure of compound 3 was already known. Complex 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pcab, Z = 8, with unit cell parameters of a = 10.339(1) A, b = 13.222(2) A, and c = 17.394(4) A. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2/c, Z = 4, with unit cell parameters of a = 21.100(4) A, b = 21.088(4) A, c = 14.007(2) A, and beta = 115.93(2) degrees. Complex 1 is a chain compound with a regular alternation of aquabis(malonato)copper(II) and triaquacopper(II) units developing along the z axis. The aquabis(malonato)copper(II) unit acts as a bridging ligand through two slightly different trans-carboxylato groups exhibiting an anti-syn coordination mode. The four carboxylate oxygens, in the basal plane, and the one water molecule, in the apical position, describe a distorted square pyramid around Cu1, whereas the same metal surroundings are observed around Cu2 but with three water molecules and one carboxylate oxygen building the equatorial plane and a carboxylate oxygen from another malonato filling the apical site. Complex 2 is made up of discrete mono-, di-, and trinuclear copper(II) complexes of the formulas [Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2]2-, [[Cu(H2O)4] [Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2]], and [[Cu(H2O)4]2[Cu(C3H2O4)2(H2O)]]2+, respectively, which coexist in a single crystal. The copper environment in the mononuclear unit is that of an elongated octahedron with four carboxylate oxygens building the equatorial plane and two water molecules assuming the axial positions. The neutral dinuclear unit contains two types of copper atoms, one that is six-coordinated, as in the mononuclear entity, and another that is distorted square pyramidal with four water molecules building the basal plane and a carboxylate oxygen in the apical position. The overall structure of this dinuclear entity is nearly identical to that of compound 3. Finally, the cationic trimer consists of an aquabis(malonato)copper(II) complex that acts as a bismonodentate ligand through two cis-carboxylato groups (anti-syn coordination mode) toward two tetraaqua-copper(II) terminal units. The environment of the copper atoms is distorted square pyramidal with four carboxylate oxygens (four water molecules) building the basal plane of the central (terminal) copper atom and a water molecule (a carboxylate oxygen) filling the axial position. The magnetic properties of 1-3 have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9-290 K. Overall, ferromagnetic behavior is observed in the three cases: two weak, alternating intrachain ferromagnetic interactions (J = 3.0 cm-1 and alpha J = 1.9 cm-1 with H = -J sigma i[S2i.S2i-1 + alpha S2i.S2i+1]) occur in 1, whereas the magnetic behavior of 2 is the sum of a magnetically isolated spin doublet and ferromagnetically coupled di- (J3 = 1.8 cm-1 from the magnetic study of the model complex 3) and trinuclear (J = 1.2 cm-1 with H = -J (S1.S2 + S1.S3) copper(II) units. The exchange pathway that accounts for the ferromagnetic coupling, through an anti-syn carboxylato bridge, is discussed in the light of the available magneto-structural data.     

Versatility of heterocyclic thioamides in the construction of a trinuclear cluster [Cu3I3(dppe)3 (SC5H4NH)] and Cu(I) linear polymers {Cu6(SC5H4NH)6I6}n x 2nCH3CN and {Cu(I)6 (SC3H6N2)6X6}n (X = Br, I)

Reaction of copper(I) iodide with pyridine-2-thione (2-SC5H4NH) and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) in a CH3CN-CHCl3 mixture yielded a triangular cluster, [Cu3I3(mu2-P,P-dppe)3 (eta1-SC5H4NH)], 1. Similar reaction with 2-SC5H4NH and a series of diphosphanes, Ph2P-X-Ph2P {X = -CH2- (dppm), -(CH2)3- (dppp), -(CH2)4- (dppb), -CH=CH- (dppen)}, gave a novel iodo-bridged hexanuclear Cu(I) linear polymer,{Cu6(mu3-SC5H4NH)4 (mu2-SC5H4NH)2 (I4)(mu-I)2-}n x 2nCH3CN, 2. Reactions of copper(I) iodide/copper(I) bromide with 1,3-imidazolidine-2-thione (SC3H6N2) in a CH3CN-CHCl3 mixture yielded hexanuclear Cu(I) linear chain polymers, [{Cu6(mu3-SC3H6N2)2 (mu2-SC3H6N2)4X2 (mu-X)4}n] (X = Br, 4; I, 5). In compound 1, two iodide atoms and one dppe form the dinuclear Cu(mu2-I)2 (mu2-dppe)Cu core, and two dppe ligands bridge this core with the third Cu(I) center coordinated to 2-SC5H4NH via the S atom. The chain polymer 2 has a centrosymmetric hexanuclear central core, Cu6S6I4 (mu-I)2--, formed by dimerization of six-membered trinuclear motifs, Cu3(mu2-SC3H6N2)3I3 via (mu3-S) bonding modes of the thione ligand, and has four terminal and two bridging iodine atoms in trans-orientations. Linear chains are separated by the nonbonded acetonitrile molecules. In 4 and 5, three copper(I) bromide or copper(I) iodide moieties and three SC3H6N2 ligands combined via bridging S donor atoms to form the six-membered trinuclear Cu3(mu2-SC3H6N2)3I3 cores which polymerized via S and X atoms in a side-on fashion to form linear chain polymers, [{Cu6(mu3-SC3H6N2)2 (mu2-SC3H6N2)4X2(mu-X)4}n]. The (mu3-S) modes of bonding of neutral heterocyclic thioamides are first examples, as are trinuclear cluster and linear polymers rare examples in copper chemistry.     

Combination of lacunary polyoxometalates and high-nuclear transition metal clusters under hydrothermal conditions. 3. Structure and characterization of [Cu(enMe)2]2{[Cu(enMe)2(H2O)]2[Cu6(enMe)2(B-a-SiW9O34)2]}.4H2O

A novel sandwich-type polyoxometalate incorporating a unique hybrid hexanuclear copper cluster, [Cu(enMe)2]2{[Cu(enMe)2(H2O)]2[Cu6(enMe)2(B-a-SiW9O34)2]}.4H2O (1, enMe=1,2-diaminopropane), has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by the elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, TG analysis, magnetic properties, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for 1: triclinic, P; a=12.5105(2), b=14.3710(2), c=17.2687(2) A; alpha=98.834(1), beta=110.744(1), gamma=104.711(1) degrees; V=2704.57(7) A3; rho=3.646 g/cm3; Z=1. X-ray crystallographic study shows that the molecular structure of 1 contains 10 copper ions: Six of them form an unprecedented inorganic-organic hybrid Cu6 cluster via edge-sharing combination of two CuO6 octahedra, two CuO5, and two CuO3N2 square pyramids and are encapsulated between two {B-a-SiW9O34} units. Two of them form two [Cu(enMe)2(H2O)]2+ complexes and further attach to the two {B-a-SiW9O34} units via two Cu-O=W bridges, acting as a decorated role. The remaining two form isolated [Cu(enMe)2]2+ complexes playing roles of charge-compensation and space-fillers. Magnetization measurement reveals that the hexanuclear copper cluster exhibits overall ferromagnetic interactions.     

Electron delocalisation in a trinuclear copper(II) complex: high-field EPR characterization and magnetic properties of Na3[Cu3(mal)3(H2O)] x 8H2O

The complex Na3[Cu3(mal)3(H2O)] x 8H2O was obtained from evaporation of an aqueous solution containing Cu(OAc)2, malic acid (HO2CCH2CHOHCO2H) and NaOH and was characterised by X-ray diffraction on single crystal, X-band and high-field EPR spectroscopy (HF-EPR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The trinuclear complex [Cu3(mal)3(H2O)]3- is trapped in a three-dimensional network with sodium cations. The three copper atoms are connected by alkoxo bridges and form an almost isosceles triangle with Cu...Cu distances of 3.076(1), 3.504(1) and 3.513(1) A. Two of the copper ions are also bridged by an extra aquo ligand. EPR spectroscopy combined with magnetic susceptibility measurements provide a powerful tool to resolve the electronic structure of the complex. The overall magnetic behaviour corresponds to an antiferromagnetically coupled triangular system. The 285 GHz-EPR spectrum (g = 2; 10.18 T) is characteristic of a spin state S = 1/2, with a rhombic anisotropy of [g]. This rhombic pattern allows us to propose that the electronic spin density is delocalised on the three copper ions.     

Hydrothermal reaction of Cu(II)/pyrazine-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid and characterization of the copper(II) complexes

Four copper(II) complexes [Cu3(PZHD)2(2,2'-bpy)2(H2O)2].3H2O (1), [Cu3(DHPZA)2(2,2'-bpy)2] (2), [Cu(C2O4)phen(H2O)].H2O (3), and [Cu3(PZTC)2(2,2'-bpy)2].2H2O (4) were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions, in which the complexes 1-3 were obtained by the in situ Cu(II)/H3PZTC reactions (PZHD3- = 2-hydroxypyrazine-3,5-dicarboxylate, 2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, DHPZA3- = 2,3-dihydroxypyrazine-5-carboxylate, C2O42- = oxalate, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and H3PZTC = pyrazine-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid). The Cu(II)/H3PZTC hydrothermal reaction with 2,2'-bpy, without addition of NaOH, results in the formation of complex 4. The complexes 1-4 and transformations from H3PZTC to PZHD3-, DHPZA3-, and C2O4(2-) were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and theoretical calculations. In the complexes 1, 2, and 4, the ligands PZHD3-, DPHZA3-, and PZTC3- all show pentadentate coordination to Cu(II) ion forming three different trinuclear units. The trinuclear units in 1 are assembled by hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi stacking to form a 3D supramolecular network. The trinuclear units in 2 acting as building blocks are connected by the carboxylate oxygen atoms forming a 2D metal-organic framework (MOF) with (4,4) topology. While the trinuclear units in 4 are linked together by the carboxylate oxygen atoms to form a novel 2D MOF containing right- and left-handed helical chains. The theoretical characterization testifies that electron transfer between OH- and Cu2+ and redox of Cu 2+ and Cu+ are the most important processes involved in the in situ copper Cu(II)/H3PZTC reactions, forming complexes of 1-3.     

Unusual physical and chemical properties of Cu in Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) oxides

The structural and electronic properties of Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) nano systems prepared by a reverse microemulsion method were characterized with synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. The Cu atoms embedded in ceria had an oxidation state higher than those of the cations in Cu(2)O or CuO. The lattice of the Ce(1)(-x)Cu(x)O(2) systems still adopted a fluorite-type structure, but it was highly distorted with multiple cation-oxygen distances with respect to the single cation-oxygen bond distance seen in pure ceria. The doping of CeO(2) with copper introduced a large strain into the oxide lattice and favored the formation of O vacancies, leading to a Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2-y) stoichiometry for our materials. Cu approached the planar geometry characteristic of Cu(II) oxides, but with a strongly perturbed local order. The chemical activities of the Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) nanoparticles were tested using the reactions with H(2) and O(2) as probes. During the reduction in hydrogen, an induction time was observed and became shorter after raising the reaction temperature. The fraction of copper that could be reduced in the Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) oxides also depended strongly on the reaction temperature. A comparison with data for the reduction of pure copper oxides indicated that the copper embedded in ceria was much more difficult to reduce. The reduction of the Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2) nanoparticles was rather reversible, without the generation of a significant amount of CuO or Cu(2)O phases during reoxidation. This reversible process demonstrates the unusual structural and chemical properties of the Cu-doped ceria materials.     

Characterization of Pd-Cu alloy nanoparticles on gamma-Al2O3-supported catalysts

Cu-Pd/Al2O3 bimetallic catalysts have been characterized by XRD, TEM, and EDX techniques. The surface structure has been investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy of low-temperature adsorbed CO in the reduced and in the oxidized state. Evidence has been provided of the formation of Cu-Pd alloy nanoparticles, both of the alpha-phase (disordered fcc) and of the beta-phase (ordered CsCl-type). IR spectra suggest that Cu likely decorates the edges while Pd mostly stays at the main faces. Part of copper disperses as Cu+ on the support even after reduction. The presence of copper seems to modify strongly the sate of oxidized Pd centers in oxidized high-Pd content materials. The redox chemistry of the system, where Pd is reduced more easily than Cu, appears to be very complex.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Dinuclear Cu(Ⅱ) Complex [Cu(C_(13)H_9N_2O)Cl]_2·(CH_3CN)_2 with Ligand 2-Benzimidazol

A new dinuclear copper complex, [Cu(C13H9N2O)Cl]2·(CH3CN)2 (C30H24Cl2Cu2N6O2), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray structure determination. It crystallizes in the tricli- nic system, space group P1, with a = 7.6677(14), b = 9.2375(17), c = 11.227(2) , α = 81.338(3), β = 88.173(4), γ = 66.199(3)o, V = 718.9(2) 3, Z = 1, Mr = 698.53, F(000) = 354, Dc = 1.613 g/cm3, μ(MoKα) = 1.705 mm-1, the final R = 0.0645 and wR = 0.1364 for 2474 unique reflections with 1809 observed ones (I > 2σ(I)). In the title complex, each copper(II) atom is located at the center of a distorted tetrahedron consisting of four coordinate atoms (one nitrogen atom, two oxygen anions, and one chlorine atom). Two copper(II) atoms are bridged by two oxygen anions (O(1) and O(1a)) of two phenolates to form a Cu(II)–Cu(II) binuclear entity, and the distance between two copper(II) atoms is 3.0144(15) .     

Synthesis and Structure of a New Copper(II) Complex Cu(C_(13)H_9N_3O_2Br)_2.H_2O

1 INTRODUCTION Owing to their biological activities and chemical/industrial versalities, considerable attention has been continually attracted to metal-hydrazine complexes. For instance, Schiff base hydrazine and its analogues have been well studied in order to better understand the action mechanism of Vitamin B6-containing enzymes[1~3]. Six-coordinated copper(Ⅱ) complexes are of considerable interest, mainly due to their coordination geometry and spectroscopic properties[4]. Due to th…     

Decay of the peroxide intermediate in laccase: reductive cleavage of the O-O bond.

Laccase is a multicopper oxidase that contains four Cu ions, one type 1, one type 2, and a coupled binuclear type 3 Cu pair. The type 2 and type 3 centers form a trinuclear Cu cluster that is the active site for O(2) reduction to H(2)O. To examine the reaction between the type 2/type 3 trinuclear cluster and dioxygen, the type 1 Cu was removed and replaced with Hg(2+), producing the T1Hg derivative. When reduced T1Hg laccase is reacted with dioxygen, a peroxide intermediate (P) is formed. The present study examines the kinetics and mechanism of formation and decay of P in T1HgLc. The formation of P was found to be independent of pH and did not involve a kinetic solvent isotope effect, indicating that no proton is involved in the rate-determining step of formation of P. Alternatively, pH and isotope studies on the decay of P revealed that a proton enhances the rate of decay by 10-fold at low pH. This process shows an inverse k(H)/k(D) kinetic solvent isotope effect and involves protonation of a nearby residue that assists in catalysis, rather than direct protonation of the peroxide. Decay of P also involves a significant oxygen isotope effect (k(16)O(2)/k(18)O(2)) of 1.11 +/- 0.05, indicating that reductive cleavage of the O-O bond is the rate-determining step in the decay of P. The activation energy for this process was found to be approximately 9.0 kcal/mol. The exceptionally slow rate of decay of P is explained by the fact that this process involves a 1e(-) reductive cleavage of the O-O bond and there is a large Franck-Condon barrier associated with this process. Alternatively, the 2e(-) reductive cleavage of the O-O bond has a much larger driving force which minimizes this barrier and accelerates the rate of this reaction by approximately 10(7) in the native enzyme. This large difference in rate for the 2e(-) versus 1e(-) process supports a molecular mechanism for multicopper oxidases in which O(2) is reduced to H(2)O in two 2e(-) steps.     

Comparison of Adsorption Probabilities of O(2) and CO on Copper Cluster Cations and Anions

Reactions of size-selected copper cluster cations and anions, Cu(n)(±), with O(2) and CO have been systematically investigated under single collision conditions by using a tandem-mass spectrometer. In the reactions of Cu(n)(±) (n = 3-25) with O(2), oxidation of the cluster is prominently observed with and without releasing Cu atoms at the collision energy of 0.2 eV. The reactivity of Cu(n)(+) is governed to some extent by the electronic shell structure; the relatively small reaction cross sections observed at n = 9 and 21 correspond to the electronic shell closings, and those at odd sizes in n ≤ 16 match with the clusters having no unpaired electron. On the other hand, the reactivity of Cu(n)(-) exhibits no remarkable decrease by the electronic shell closings and the even-numbered electrons. These behaviors may be due to an influence of the electron detachment of the reaction intermediate, Cu(n)O(2)(-). Both the cations and anions show the dominant formation of Cu(n-1)O(2)(±) in n ≤ 16 and Cu(n)O(2)(±) in n ≥ 17 in the experimental time window. By contrast, Cu(n)(-) (n = 3-11) do not react with CO at the collision energy of 0.2 eV, while Cu(n)(+) (n = 3-19) adsorb CO though the cross sections are relatively small. The difference in the reactivity between the charge states can be understood in terms of the frontier orbitals of the Cu cluster and O(2) or CO.     

Fine-tuning of copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity by 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine bidentate ligands

Copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity has been examined using a series of 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine bidentate ligands (R1)Py1(R2,R3). The bidentate ligand with the methyl substituent on the pyridine nucleus (Me)Py1(Et,Bz) (N-benzyl-N-ethyl-2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)ethylamine) predominantly provided a (mu-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo)dicopper(II) complex, while the bidentate ligand without the 6-methyl group (H)Py1(Et,Bz) (N-benzyl-N-ethyl-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine) afforded a bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex under the same experimental conditions. Both Cu(2)O(2) complexes gradually decompose, leading to oxidative N-dealkylation reaction of the benzyl group. Detailed kinetic analysis has revealed that the bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex is the common reactive intermediate in both cases and that O[bond]O bond homolysis of the peroxo complex is the rate-determining step in the former case with (Me)Py1(Et,Bz). On the other hand, the copper(I) complex supported by the bidentate ligand with the smallest N-alkyl group ((H)Py1(Me,Me), N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine) reacts with molecular oxygen in a 3:1 ratio in acetone at a low temperature to give a mixed-valence trinuclear copper(II, II, III) complex with two mu(3)-oxo bridges, the UV-vis spectrum of which is very close to that of an active oxygen intermediate of lacase. Detailed spectroscopic analysis on the oxygenation reaction at different concentrations has indicated that a bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex is the precursor for the formation of trinuclear copper complex. In the reaction with 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DBP), the trinuclear copper(II, II, III) complex acts as a two-electron oxidant to produce an equimolar amount of the C[bond]C coupling dimer of DBP (3,5,3',5'-tetra-tert-butyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) and a bis(mu-hydroxo)dicopper(II) complex. Kinetic analysis has shown that the reaction consists of two distinct steps, where the first step involves a binding of DBP to the trinuclear complex to give a certain intermediate that further reacts with the second molecule of DBP to give another intermediate, from which the final products are released. Steric and/or electronic effects of the 6-methyl group and the N-alkyl substituents of the bidentate ligands on the copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity have been discussed.