Redox potentials of dopamine and its supramolecular complex with aspartic acid

Dopamine (DA) can be oxidized to dopamine quinone (DAquinone) through a one-step, two-electron redox reaction. The electron transfer property of DA and its supramolecular complex with aspartic acid (Asp) has been investigated by the theoretical calculations. We calculated the standard redox potentials (E ^o) of DA/DAquinone at the MP2/6-31G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), MP2/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), MP2/6-31G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p), and MP2/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels. Comparing the experimental value, the redox potentials of DA/DAquinone obtained at MP2//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and MP2//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels can be considered as the upper and lower estimates. DA can form supramolecular complex (DA-Asp) with Asp through hydrogen bond (H-bond). Therefore, the values of 0.631 and 0.628 V obtained at MP2//B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and MP2//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels for DA-Asp/DAquinone-Asp can be proposed as the upper and lower estimates of a probable (about 0.630 V) value of the corresponding redox potential. The calculated E ^o values of DA-Asp/DAquinone-Asp at the four theoretical levels are upper than those of DA/DAquinone, which indicates that the formation of H-bonds weaken the electron-donating ability of DA.