Synthesis, structure, and kinetics and stereochemistry of base-catalyzed hydrolysis of meso- and rac-[Co2(tmpdtne)Cl2]4+, bis(pentaamine) complexes devoid of deprotonatable NH centers

The bis(pentadentate) ligand tmpdtne binds two Co(II) centers, and the entity is readily oxidized to the dicobalt(III) derivative [Co(2)(tmpdtne)Cl(2)](4+) which has been separated into two isomeric forms. NMR studies establish these as meso and rac isomers arising from the different or same absolute configurations for the asym configuration about each Co(III) center. Each dinuclear ion base hydrolyses to the dihydroxo derivative [Co(2)(tmpdtne)(OH)(2)](4+) with retained asym configurations about each metal ion and also retained rac or meso configurations. The kinetics for the stepwise loss of the two Cl(-) ligands is uniphasic, and data are presented to show that the loss of the first chloride is rate determining and is followed by very rapid intramolecular and loss of the second Cl(-) via a hydroxo-bridged species to yield the observed dihydroxo derivative. Meso and rac forms of the latter have been crystallized. The X-ray crystal structure of the rac-dihydroxo complex is reported, and it establishes the configurations of all the complexes reported. The (1)H NMR spectra for the hydroxo ions show very high field Co-OH resonances (ca. delta-0.5 ppm) not observed previously for such ions, and this result is discussed in the context of published (1)H NMR data for bridged Co-OH-Co species. The base hydrolysis kinetics for the dichloro ions are first order in [OH(-)], and deprotonation at an alpha-CH(2) center (alpha to a pyridyl) is identified as the source of the catalysis, since there is no NH center available for deprotonation on the ligand. These data further support the new pseudoaminate base hydrolysis mechanism first reported in 2003. The values of k(OH) for the second-order base-catalyzed reaction are ca. 4.0 M(-1) s(-1) for both the rac and meso isomers, and these results are discussed in terms of the increased acidities of these 4+ cations compared to their 2+ ion counterparts.     

Self-Assembly and X-Ray Crystal Structures of Novel Sn(IV)Porphyrin Phenolates

A series of complexes of the type [Sn(TTP)L₂] have been prepared by the condensation of [Sn(TTP)OH₂] (TTP = meso-tetratolylporphyrin) with a range of substituted phenols. The resulting complexes were characterised using ¹H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In each case, the condensation of the phenols with the Sn(IV)porphyrin in CDCl₃ solution is slow (h) but essentially quantitative. The slow kinetics of the formation of the diaxial phenolate complexes allows for the identification, by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, of three independent complexes within this process, namely an outer-sphere (H-bonded) complex as well as two independent phenolate complexes. The rate of condensation is in the order phenol 4-methoxyphenol > 4-nitrophenol and suggests a steric rather than pKa dependency.     

PROBING PHOTODYNAMIC DAMAGE IN NUCLEIC ACIDS WITH A DAMAGE-SPECIFIC DNA BINDING PROTEIN: A COMPARISON OF THE B and Z DNA CONFORMATIONS

—We have employed a damage-specific DNA binding protein from human cells as a probe for base damage in polymers irradiated with white light in the presence of methylene blue. Protein-recognizable damage is introduced only into guanine-containing polymers and quenching of damage introduction by H₂O and sodium azide suggest the involvement of a singlet oxygen mechanism. Using poly d(G-m⁵C), we have demonstrated that the left-handed double helical Z conformation is much less susceptible to guanine photooxidation than is the usual B conformation. We speculate that this difference in reactivity may reflect steric hindrance at the purine C-4 position and could provide some insight into the initial steps of the reaction between singlet oxygen and guanine in nucleic acid polymers.     

Billion-fold acceleration of the methanolysis of paraoxon promoted by La(OTf)3 in methanol

The methanolysis of the insecticide paraoxon (2) was investigated in methanol solution containing varying [La(OTf)(3)] (OTf = (-)OS(O)(2)CF(3)) as a function of at 25 degrees C. Plots of the pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for methanolysis as a function of [La(OTf)(3)](total) were obtained under buffered conditions from 5.15 to 10.97, and the slopes of the linear parts of these were used to determine the second-order rate constants (k(2)(obs)) for the La(3+)-catalyzed methanolysis of 2. Detailed analysis of the potentiometric titration data of La(OTf)(3) in methanol through fits to a multicomponent equilibrium mixture of dimers of general stoichiometry La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)n, where n assumes values of 1-5, gives the equilibrium distribution of each as a function of. These data, when fit to a second expression describing k(2)(obs) in terms of a linear combination of individual rate constants k(2)(2:1), k(2)(2:2).k(2)(2:)n for the dimers, allow one to describe the overall catalytic profile in terms of the individual contributions. The most catalytically important species are the three dimers La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)1, La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)2, and La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)3. The catalysis of the methanolysis of 2 is spectacular: a 2 x 10(-3) M solution of [La(3+)](total), at neutral, affords a 10(9)-fold acceleration relative to the base reaction (t(1/2) approximately 20 s at 8.2) with excellent turnover. A mechanism of the catalyzed reaction involving the La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)2 species is proposed.     

Some binuclear complexes of iron and cobalt with isocyanide ligands

Whereas Co₂(CO)₈ and RNC (R= Me, Et, and Cy) react to give mixtures of [(RNC)₅Co] [Co(CO)₄] and the covalent, carbonyl-bridged [(RNC)_mCo₂(CO)_8?m] derivatives (m = 1–3), [(π-dienyl)Fe(CO)₂]₂ give only [(π-dienyl)₂Fe₂(CO)_4?n(CNR)_n] complexes (dienyl = C₅H₅, MeC₅H₄ and C₉H₇; n = 1–2) that exist in solution as mixtures of cis- and trans-CO- and RNC-bridged tautomers with the μ-RNC species decreasing in importance as the bulk of R increases.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COVALENTLY-LINKED PORPHYRIN-QUINONE COMPLEXES*

Abstract— The fluorescence properties of a covalently-linked porphyrin-quinone complex and its zinc derivative were studied in a variety of organic solvents. The kinetics of fluorescence decay for both the quinone and hydroquinone oxidation states were measured in acetonitrile, dichloromethane, dimethyl-formamide, and pentane. The fluorescence yield and kinetics of decay at room temperature were little affected in the porphyrin or zinc porphyrin complexes when the attached quinone was reduced. However, for these complexes the fluorescence yield and lifetimes were both substantially decreased in acetonitrile and dichloromethane when the quinone was in its oxidized state. These latter decay kinetics were not explainable by a process having a single exponential decay. On the other hand, little fluorescence quenching or lifetime shortening was observed in dimethylformamide or pentane, indicating unique solvent dependencies for the quenching process. Evidence was obtained for photoproduced charge separation from EPR measurements on the covalently-linked zinc porphyrin-quinone complex. The EPR data showed equivalent concentrations of a Zn porphyrin cation radical and a benzoquinone anion radical in acetonitrile or dichloromethane at both room temperature and 77 K. The charge separated state rapidly decayed at room temperature (in sub-millisecond times) but was quite stable at 77 K. It is concluded that light-induced charge separation in acetonitrile and dichloromethane at room temperature may occur from the excited singlet state with a high quantum efficiency. A photoproduced charge separated state also occurred when the covalently-linked complexes were incorporated into egg yolk phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The quantum yield for radical formation in this latter system was 0.1 and the lifetimes of the radical species formed were many minutes.     

A unique mechanism for base catalyzed hydrolysis of pentaaminecobalt(III) complexes containing picolyl residues

A novel [Co(pentaamine)Cl](2+) complex having all tertiary amine or pyridine donors has been synthesized (pentaamine = 1,4-bis(2'-pyridyl)-7-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane). This asym-[Co(dmpmetacn)Cl](2+) species has been completely characterized through 1D and 2D NMR studies, and through the X-ray structure for the ZnCl(4)(2)(-) salt. Despite the lack of an activating NH center, remarkably its hydrolysis to [Co(pentaamine)OH](2+) is base catalyzed (k(OH) 0.70 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), 25 degrees C, I = 1.0 M, NaCl). Detailed NMR studies reveal that the base catalyzed substitution leads to the exchange of just one deuterium in one of the two -CH(2)- pyridyl arms, that is approximately trans to the leaving group, and this occurs during and not after base hydrolysis. Quenching experiments for the reaction of asym-[Co(dmpmetacn)Cl](2+) and control experiments on H/D exchange for the product asym-[Co(dmpmetacn)OD](2+) in OD(-) show that each act of deprotonation at the acidic methylene leads to loss of Cl(-). This is the first established case of base catalyzed substitution for a complex where the effective site of deprotonation is at a pyridyl group. A pronounced kinetic isotope effect is observed for the species perdeuterated at the pyridyl methylenes (k(H)/k(D) = 5.0), consistent with rate limiting deprotonation which is a rare event in Co(III) substitution chemistry. The activation afforded by the carbanion is discussed in terms of a new process coined the pseudo-aminate mechanism.