Simple Ligand Effects Switch a Hydrogenase Mimic between H2 and O2 Activation

Herein, we report a [NiRu] biomimetic system for O₂‐tolerant [NiFe]hydrogenases and demonstrate that electron donation to the [NiRu] center can switch the system between the activation of H₂ and O₂ through simple ligand effects by using hexamethylbenzene and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands, respectively. Furthermore, we present the synthesis and direct observations of a [NiRu]–peroxo species, which was formed by the oxygenation of a Ni‐SIa model [NiRu] complex, that we propose as a biomimetic analogue of O₂‐bound species (OBS) of O₂‐tolerant [NiFe]hydrogenases. The [NiRu]–peroxo complex was fully characterized by X‐ray analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), mass spectrometry, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The OBS analogue was capable of oxidizing p‐hydroquinone and sodium borohydride to turn back into the Ni‐SIa model complex.     

Synthetic Active Site Model of the [NiFeSe] Hydrogenase

A dinuclear synthetic model of the [NiFeSe] hydrogenase active site and a structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis of this complex is reported. [NiFe(‘S₂Se₂’)(CO)₃] (H₂‘S₂Se₂’=1,2‐bis(2‐thiabutyl‐3,3‐dimethyl‐4‐selenol)benzene) has been synthesized by reacting the nickel selenolate complex [Ni(‘S₂Se₂’)] with [Fe(CO)₃bda] (bda=benzylideneacetone). X‐ray crystal structure analysis confirms that [NiFe(‘S₂Se₂’)(CO)₃] mimics the key structural features of the enzyme active site, including a doubly bridged heterobimetallic nickel and iron center with a selenolate terminally coordinated to the nickel center. Comparison of [NiFe(‘S₂Se₂’)(CO)₃] with the previously reported thiolate analogue [NiFe(‘S₄’)(CO)₃] (H₂‘S₄’=H₂xbsms=1,2‐bis(4‐mercapto‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐thiabutyl)benzene) showed that the selenolate groups in [NiFe(‘S₂Se₂’)(CO)₃] give lower carbonyl stretching frequencies in the IR spectrum. Electrochemical studies of [NiFe(‘S₂Se₂’)(CO)₃] and [NiFe(‘S₄’)(CO)₃] demonstrated that both complexes do not operate as homogenous H₂ evolution catalysts, but are precursors to a solid deposit on an electrode surface for H₂ evolution catalysis in organic and aqueous solution.     

A Bis(silylene)‐Substituted ortho‐Carborane as a Superior Ligand in the Nickel‐Catalyzed Amination of Arenes

The synthesis and structure of the first 1,2‐bis(NHSi)‐substituted ortho‐carborane [(LSi:)C]₂B₁₀H₁₀ (termed SiCCSi) is reported (NHSi=N‐heterocyclic silylene; L=PhC(NtBu)₂). Its suitability to serve as a reliable bis(silylene) chelating ligand for transition metals is demonstrated by the formation of [SiCCSi]NiBr₂ and [SiCCSi]Ni(CO)₂ complexes. The CO stretching vibration modes of the latter indicate that the Si^II atoms in the SiCCSi ligand are even stronger σ donors than the P^III atoms in phosphines and C^II atoms in N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. Moreover, the strong donor character of the [SiCCSi] ligand enables [SiCCSi]NiBr₂ to act as an outstanding precatalyst (0.5 mol % loading) in the catalytic aminations of arenes, surpassing the activity of previously known molecular Ni‐based precatalysts (1–10 mol %).     

Computational Design of Iron Diphosphine Complexes with Pendant Amines for Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol: A Mimic of [NiFe] Hydrogenase

Inspired by the active‐site structure of the [NiFe] hydrogenase, we have computationally designed the iron complex [P^tBu₂N^tBu₂)Fe(CN)₂CO] by using an experimentally ready‐made diphosphine ligand with pendant amines for the hydrogenation of CO₂ to methanol. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the rate‐determining step in the whole catalytic reaction is the direct hydride transfer from the Fe center to the carbon atom in the formic acid with a total free energy barrier of 28.4 kcal mol^?1 in aqueous solution. Such a barrier indicates that the designed iron complex is a promising low‐cost catalyst for the formation of methanol from CO₂ and H₂ under mild conditions. The key role of the diphosphine ligand with pendent amine groups in the reaction is the assistance of the cleavage of H₂ by forming a Fe?H^δ????H^δ+?N dihydrogen bond in a fashion of frustrated Lewis pairs.     

An S‐Oxygenated [NiFe] Complex Modelling Sulfenate Intermediates of an O2‐Tolerant Hydrogenase

To understand the molecular details of O₂‐tolerant hydrogen cycling by a soluble NAD⁺‐reducing [NiFe] hydrogenase, we herein present the first bioinspired heterobimetallic S‐oxygenated [NiFe] complex as a structural and vibrational spectroscopic model for the oxygen‐inhibited [NiFe] active site. This compound and its non‐S‐oxygenated congener were fully characterized, and their electronic structures were elucidated in a combined experimental and theoretical study with emphasis on the bridging sulfenato moiety. Based on the vibrational spectroscopic properties of these complexes, we also propose novel strategies for exploring S‐oxygenated intermediates in hydrogenases and similar enzymes.     

X‐ray Crystallography and Vibrational Spectroscopy Reveal the Key Determinants of Biocatalytic Dihydrogen Cycling by [NiFe] Hydrogenases

[NiFe] hydrogenases are complex model enzymes for the reversible cleavage of dihydrogen (H₂). However, structural determinants of efficient H₂ binding to their [NiFe] active site are not properly understood. Here, we present crystallographic and vibrational‐spectroscopic insights into the unexplored structure of the H₂‐binding [NiFe] intermediate. Using an F₄₂₀‐reducing [NiFe]‐hydrogenase from Methanosarcina barkeri as a model enzyme, we show that the protein backbone provides a strained chelating scaffold that tunes the [NiFe] active site for efficient H₂ binding and conversion. The protein matrix also directs H₂ diffusion to the [NiFe] site via two gas channels and allows the distribution of electrons between functional protomers through a subunit‐bridging FeS cluster. Our findings emphasize the relevance of an atypical Ni coordination, thereby providing a blueprint for the design of bio‐inspired H₂‐conversion catalysts.     

Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy reveals the FeS cluster composition and active site vibrational properties of an O2-tolerant NAD+-reducing [NiFe] hydrogenase

Hydrogenases are complex metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible splitting of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons essentially without overpotential. The NAD⁺-reducing soluble hydrogenase (SH) from Ralstonia eutropha is capable of H₂ conversion even in the presence of usually toxic dioxygen. The molecular details of the underlying reactions are largely unknown, mainly because of limited knowledge of the structure and function of the various metal cofactors present in the enzyme. Here, all iron-containing cofactors of the SH were investigated by ⁵⁷Fe specific nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). Our data provide experimental evidence for one [2Fe2S] center and four [4Fe4S] clusters, which is consistent with the amino acid sequence composition. Only the [2Fe2S] cluster and one of the four [4Fe4S] clusters were reduced upon incubation of the SH with NADH. This finding explains the discrepancy between the large number of FeS clusters and the small amount of FeS cluster-related signals as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of several NAD⁺-reducing hydrogenases. For the first time, Fe–CO and Fe–CN modes derived from the [NiFe] active site could be distinguished by NRVS through selective ¹³C labeling of the CO ligand. This strategy also revealed the molecular coordinates that dominate the individual Fe–CO modes. The present approach explores the complex vibrational signature of the Fe–S clusters and the hydrogenase active site, thereby showing that NRVS represents a powerful tool for the elucidation of complex biocatalysts containing multiple cofactors.     

Cyclopentadienyl Ruthenium–Nickel Catalysts for Biomimetic Hydrogen Evolution: Electrocatalytic Properties and Mechanistic DFT Studies

The new dinuclear nickel–ruthenium complexes [Ni(xbsms)RuCp(L)][PF₆] (H₂xbsms=1,2‐bis(4‐mercapto‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐thiabutyl)benzene; Cp^?=cyclopentadienyl; L=DMSO, CO, PPh₃, and PCy₃) are reported and are bioinspired mimics of NiFe hydrogenases. These compounds were characterized by X‐ray diffraction techniques and display novel structural motifs. Interestingly, [Ni(xbsms)RuCpCO][PF₆] is stereochemically nonrigid in solution and an isomerization mechanism was derived with the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Because of an increased electron density on the metal centers [Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2007 , 18 , 2613–2626] with respect to the previously described [Ni(xbsms)Ru(CO)₂Cl₂] and [Ni(xbsms)Ru(p‐cymene)Cl]⁺ complexes, [Ni(xbsms)RuCp(dmso)][PF₆] catalyzes hydrogen evolution from Et₃NH⁺ in DMF with an overpotential reduced by 180 mV and thus represents the most efficient NiFe hydrogenase functional mimic. DFT calculations were carried out with several methods to investigate the catalytic cycle and, coupled with electrochemical measurements, allowed a mechanism to be proposed. A terminal or bridging hydride derivative was identified as the active intermediate, with the structure of the bridging form similar to that of the Ni? C active state of NiFe hydrogenases.     

Insight into the structures of [M(C5H4I)(CO)3] and [M2(C12H8)(CO)6] (M = Mn and Re) containing strong I...O and π(CO)–π(CO) interactions

The compounds tricarbonyl(η⁵‐1‐iodocyclopentadienyl)manganese(I), [Mn(C₅H₄I)(CO)₃], (I), and tricarbonyl(η⁵‐1‐iodocyclopentadienyl)rhenium(I), [Re(C₅H₄I)(CO)₃], (III), are isostructural and isomorphous. The compounds [μ‐1,2(η⁵)‐acetylenedicyclopentadienyl]bis[tricarbonylmanganese(I)] or bis(cymantrenyl)acetylene, [Mn₂(C₁₂H₈)(CO)₆], (II), and [μ‐1,2(η⁵)‐acetylenedicyclopentadienyl]bis[tricarbonylrhenium(I)], [Re₂(C₁₂H₈)(CO)₆], (IV), are isostructural and isomorphous, and their molecules display inversion symmetry about the mid‐point of the ligand C[triple‐bond]C bond, with the (CO)₃M(C₅H₄) (M = Mn and Re) moieties adopting a transoid conformation. The molecules in all four compounds form zigzag chains due to the formation of strong attractive I...O [in (I) and (III)] or π(CO)–π(CO) [in (I) and (IV)] interactions along the crystallographic b axis. The zigzag chains are bound to each other by weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds for (I) and (III), while for (II) and (IV) the chains are bound to each other by a combination of weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π(Csp²)–π(Csp²) stacking interactions between pairs of molecules. The π(CO)–π(CO) contacts in (II) and (IV) between carbonyl groups of neighboring molecules, forming pairwise interactions in a sheared antiparallel dimer motif, are encountered in only 35% of all carbonyl interactions for transition metal–carbonyl compounds.     

Simulation of 59Co NMR Chemical Shifts in Aqueous Solution

⁵⁹Co chemical shifts were computed at the GIAO‐B3LYP level for [Co(CN)₆]^3?, [Co(H₂O)₆]³⁺, [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺, and [Co(CO)₄]^? in water. The aqueous solutions were modeled by Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations, or by propagation on a hybrid quantum‐mechanical/molecular‐mechanical Born–Oppenheimer surface (QM/MM‐BOMD). Mean absolute deviations from experiment obtained with these methods are on the order of 400 and 600 ppm, respectively, over a total δ(⁵⁹Co) range of about 18 000 ppm. The effect of the solvent on δ(⁵⁹Co) is mostly indirect, resulting primarily from substantial metal–ligand bond contractions on going from the gas phase to the bulk. The simulated solvent effects on geometries and δ(⁵⁹Co) values are well reproduced by using a polarizable continuum model (PCM), based on optimization and perturbational evaluation of quantum‐mechanical zero‐point corrections.     

Spectroscopic and DFT studies of photoactivatable Mn(I) tricarbonyl complexes

A combined experimental study and density functional theory calculations of fac‐[MnBr (CO)₃L] complexes (L = 2‐(2′‐pyridyl)benzimidazole ligand, furnished with either morpholine (L^morph) or phthalimido (L^phth) side‐chain) were performed using different spectral and analytical tools. The synthesized complexes released carbon monoxide upon the exposure to LED source light at 468 nm. Illumination of fac‐[MnBr (CO)₃L] (10 μM) in the myoglobin solution (Mb) produced about 25 μM MbCO. The plateau of the CO release process is attained within 25 min. With the aid of time‐dependent density functional theory calculations, the observed lowest energy absorption transition at ~ 400 nm has a ground‐state composed of d (Mn)/π (pyridyl) and excited‐state of ligand π*‐orbitals forming MLCT/π‐π^*. Natural population analyses of fac‐[MnBr (CO)₃L] were carried out to get information about the strength of Mn–CO bonds, electronic arrangment and natural charge of manganese ion.     

Control of the Transition between Ni‐C and Ni‐SIa States by the Redox State of the Proximal FeS Cluster in the Catalytic Cycle of [NiFe] Hydrogenase

[NiFe] hydrogenase catalyzes the reversible cleavage of H₂. The electrons produced by the H₂ cleavage pass through three Fe–S clusters in [NiFe] hydrogenase to its redox partner. It has been reported that the Ni‐SI_a, Ni‐C, and Ni‐R states of [NiFe] hydrogenase are involved in the catalytic cycle, although the mechanism and regulation of the transition between the Ni‐C and Ni‐SI_a states remain unrevealed. In this study, the FT‐IR spectra under light irradiation at 138–198 K show that the Ni‐L state of [NiFe] hydrogenase is an intermediate between the transition of the Ni‐C and Ni‐SI_a states. The transition of the Ni‐C state to the Ni‐SI_a state occurred when the proximal [Fe₄S₄]_p^2+/+ cluster was oxidized, but not when it was reduced. These results show that the catalytic cycle of [NiFe] hydrogenase is controlled by the redox state of its [Fe₄S₄]_p^2+/+ cluster, which may function as a gate for the electron flow from the NiFe active site to the redox partner.     

Binuclear Iron(I) Complex Containing Bridging Phenanthrene‐4,5‐dithiolate Ligand: Preparation,Spectroscopy, Crystal Structure,and Electrochemistry

A diiron hexacarbonyl complex containing bridging phenanthrene‐4,5‐dithiolate ligand is prepared by oxidative addition of Phenanthro[4,5‐cde][1,2]dithiin to Fe₂(CO)₉. The complex is investigated as a model for the active site of the [Fe–Fe] hydrogenase enzyme. The compound, [(μ‐PNT)Fe₂(CO)₆]; (PNT = phenanthrene‐4,5‐dithiolate), was characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, UV/Vis and NMR) and X‐ray crystallography. The IR and proton NMR spectra of [(μ‐PNT)Fe₂(CO)₆] ( 4 ) are in agreement with a PNT ligand attached to a Fe₂(CO)₆ core. The infrared spectrum of 4 recorded in dichloromethane contains three peaks at 2001, 2040, and 2075 cm^–1 corresponding to the stretching frequency of terminal metal carbonyls. X‐ray crystallographic study unequivocally confirms the structure of the complex having a butterfly shape with an Fe–Fe bond length of 2.5365 Å close to that of the enzyme (2.6 Å). Electrochemical properties of [(μ‐PNT)Fe₂(CO)₆] have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammogram of [(μ‐PNT)Fe₂(CO)₆] recorded in acetonitrile contains one quasi‐irreversible reduction (E_1/2 = –0.84 V vs. Ag/AgCl, I_pc/I_pa = 0.6, ΔE_p = 131 V at 0.1 V · s^–1) and one irreversible oxidation (E_pa = 0.86 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The redox of [(μ‐PNT)Fe₂(CO)₆] at E_1/2 = –0.84 V can be assigned to the one‐electron transfer processes; [Fe^I–Fe^I] → [Fe^I–Fe⁰] and [Fe^I–Fe⁰] → [Fe^I–Fe^I].     

Phosphido‐diphosphine pincer aluminum complexes as catalysts for ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

New aluminum alkyl complexes, supported by o‐phenylene‐derived phosphido diphosphine pro‐ligands [Ph‐PPP]‐H and [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H ([Ph‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine; [ⁱPr‐PPP]‐H = bis(2‐diisopropylphosphinophenyl)phosphine) are reported. Compounds [Ph‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 1 ), [ⁱPr‐PPP]AlMe₂ ( 2 ), and [Ph‐PPP]AlⁱBu₂ ( 3 ) have been synthesized by reaction of the pro‐ligand with the appropriate trialkyl aluminum precursor and have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The solution NMR data and theoretical calculations suggest for all complexes trigonal bipyramidal structures with C_2v symmetry in which the phosphido diphosphine ligand acts as a κ³ coordinated ligand. All complexes promote the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, L‐ and rac‐lactide. Polyesters with controlled molecular parameters (M_n, end groups) and low polydispersities are obtained. Upon addition of isopropanol, efficient binary catalytic systems for the immortal ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic esters are produced. Preliminary investigations show the ability of these complexes to promote copolymerization of l ‐lactide and ?‐caprolactone to achieve copolymers whose microstructures are depending on the structure of the catalyst. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 49–60     

A New Class of Remote N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes with Exceptionally Strong σ‐Donor Properties: Introducing Benzo[c]quinolin‐6‐ylidene

We make the case for benzo[c]quinolin‐6‐ylidene ( 1 ) as a strongly electron‐donating carbene ligand. The facile synthesis of 6‐trifluoromethanesulfonylbenzo[c]quinolizinium trifluoromethanesulfonate ( 2 ) gives straightforward access to a useful precursor for oxidative addition to low‐valent metals, to yield the desired carbene complexes. This concept has been achieved in the case of [Mn(benzo[c]quinolin‐6‐ylidene)(CO)₅]⁺ ( 15 ) and [Pd(benzo[c]quinolin‐6‐ylidene)(PPh₃)₂(L)]²⁺ L=THF ( 21 ), OTf ( 22 ) or pyridine ( 23 ). Attempts to coordinate to nickel result in coupling products from two carbene precursor fragments. The CO IR‐stretching‐frequency data for the manganese compound suggests benzo[c]quinolin‐6‐ylidene is at least as strong a donor as any heteroatom‐stabilised carbene ligand reported.     

Chelating and Tellurolate Ligand‐Transfer Studies of the Complex fac‐[Fe(CO)3(TePh)3]−: Crystal Structures of Heterodinuclear (CO)3Mn(μ‐TePh)3Fe(CO)3 and CpNi(TePh)(PPh3)

Complex fac‐[Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₃]^? was employed as a “metallo chelating” ligand to synthesize the neutral (CO)₃Mn(μ‐TePh)₃Fe(CO)₃ obtained in a one‐step synthesis by treating fac‐[Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₃]^? with fac‐[Mn‐(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₃]⁺. It seems reasonable to conclude that the d⁶ Fe(II) [(CO)₃Fe(TePh)₃]^? fragment is isolobal with the d⁶ Mn(I) [(CO)₃Mn(TePh)₃]^2? fragment in complex (CO)₃Mn(μ‐TePh)₃Fe(CO)₃. Addition of fac‐[Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₃]^? to the CpNi(I)(PPh₃) in THF resulted in formation of the neutral CpNi(TePh)(PPh₃) also obtained from reaction of CpNi(I)(PPh₃) and [Na][TePh] in MeOH. This investigation shows that fac‐[Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₃]^? serves as a tridentate metallo ligand and tellurolate ligand‐transfer reagent. The study also indicated that the fac‐[Fe(CO)₃(SePh)₃]^? may serve as a better tridentate metallo ligand and chalcogenolate ligand‐transfer reagent than fac‐[Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₃]^? in the syntheses of heterometallic chalcogenolate complexes.     

Caught in the Hinact: Crystal Structure and Spectroscopy Reveal a Sulfur Bound to the Active Site of an O2‐stable State of [FeFe] Hydrogenase

[FeFe] hydrogenases are the most active H₂ converting catalysts in nature, but their extreme oxygen sensitivity limits their use in technological applications. The [FeFe] hydrogenases from sulfate reducing bacteria can be purified in an O₂‐stable state called H_inact. To date, the structure and mechanism of formation of H_inact remain unknown. Our 1.65 Å crystal structure of this state reveals a sulfur ligand bound to the open coordination site. Furthermore, in‐depth spectroscopic characterization by X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS), resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, together with hybrid quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations, provide detailed chemical insight into the H_inact state and its mechanism of formation. This may facilitate the design of O₂‐stable hydrogenases and molecular catalysts.     

Combined computational and crystallographic study of the oxidised states of [NiFe] hydrogenase

[NiFe] hydrogenases catalyse the reaction H₂↔2H⁺+2e⁻. Several states of the enzyme have been observed by spectroscopic methods. Among these, the two most oxidized states, called the unready Ni–A and Ni–SU states, have been especially intriguing, because they take a much longer time to activate than the corresponding ready Ni–B and Ni–SI states. It has recently been suggested that the unready states actually contain a (hydro)peroxide bridge between the Ni and Fe ions, in contrast to the hydroxide bridge in the ready states. In this paper, we use quantum refinement (crystallographic refinement, in which the molecular mechanics [MM] calculations, normally employed to supplement the crystallographic data, are replace by more accurate quantum mechanics [QM] calculations), combined QM/MM calculations, and accurate energy estimates to study the nature of a recent oxidised crystal structure of [NiFe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio fructosovorans. We show that the structure contains a mixture of several states in the active site. The experimental data is best explained by structures with a hydroxide bridge but with two of the cysteine ligands (one bridging and one terminal) partly oxidised. When the terminal Cys-543 ligand is oxidised, the sulphur occupies an alternative position, observed in several crystal structures. The Glu-25 residue, that forms a hydrogen bond to this sulphur, also changes position. A peroxide ligand may exist as a minor component in the crystal and the suggested structure is supported by the calculations. We suggest that oxidised states are slow-equilibrium mixtures of structures with a peroxide bound and structures with oxidised Cys residues, and that the former can be activated by replacement of the protonated peroxide with a H₂ or CO ligand, as has been observed in electrochemical experiments.     

Structural Identification of Spectroscopic Substates in Neuroglobin

The structural origins of infrared absorptions of photodissociated CO in murine neuroglobin (Ngb) are determined by combining Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Such an approach allows to identify and characterize both the different conformations of the Ngb active site and the transient ligand docking sites. To capture the influence of the protein environment on the spectroscopy and dynamics, experiments and simulations are carried out for the wild type protein and its F28L and F28W mutants. It is found that a voluminous side chain at position 28 divides site B into two subsites, B’ and B”. At low temperatures, CO in wt Ngb only migrates to site B’ from where it can rebind, and B” is not populated. The spectra of CO in site B’ for wt Ngb from simulations and experiments are very similar in spectral shift and shape. They both show doublets, red‐shifted with respect to gas‐phase CO and split by≈8 cm^?1. The FTIR spectra of the F28L mutant show additional bands which are also found in the simulations and can be attributed to CO located in substate B”. The different bands are mainly related to different orientations of the His64 side chain with respect to the CO ligand. Large red‐shifts arise from strong interactions between the Histidine? NH and the CO oxygen. After dissociation from the heme iron, the CO ligand visits multiple docking sites. The locations of the primary docking site B and a secondary site C, which corresponds to the Mb Xe4 cavity, could be identified unambiguously. Finally, by comparing experiment and simulations it is also possible to identify protonation of its ε position (His_ε64 NgbCO) as the preferred heme‐bound conformation in the wild type protein with a signal at 1935 cm^?1.     

Isoprenoid Biosynthesis in Pathogenic Bacteria: Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy Provides Insight into the Unusual [4Fe‐4S] Cluster of the E. coli LytB/IspH Protein

The LytB/IspH protein catalyzes the last step of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway which is used for the biosynthesis of essential terpenoids in most pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, the MEP pathway is a target for the development of new antimicrobial agents as it is essential for microorganisms, yet absent in humans. Substrate‐free LytB has a special [4Fe‐4S]²⁺ cluster with a yet unsolved structure. This motivated us to use synchrotron‐based nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) in combination with quantum chemical‐molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations to gain more insight into the structure of substrate‐free LytB. The apical iron atom of the [4Fe‐4S]²⁺ is clearly linked to three water molecules. We additionally present NRVS data of LytB bound to its natural substrate, (E)‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbut‐2‐en‐1‐yl diphosphate (HMBPP) and to the inhibitors (E)‐4‐amino‐3‐methylbut‐2‐en‐1‐yl diphosphate and (E)‐4‐mercapto‐3‐methylbut‐2‐en‐1‐yl diphosphate.