Structural and electronic properties of the [FeFe] hydrogenase H-cluster in different redox and protonation states. A DFT investigation

The molecular and electronic structure of the Fe 6S 6 H-cluster of [FeFe] hydrogenase in relevant redox and protonation states have been investigated by DFT. The calculations have been carried out according to the broken symmetry approach and considering different environmental conditions. The large negative charge of the H-cluster leads, in a vacuum, to structures different from those observed experimentally in the protein. A better agreement with experimental data is observed for solvated complexes, suggesting that the protein environment could buffer the large negative charge of the H-cluster. The comparison of Fe 6S 6 and Fe 2S 2 DFT models shows that the presence of the Fe 4S 4 moiety does not affect appreciably the geometry of the [2Fe] H cluster. In particular, the Fe 4S 4 cluster alone cannot be invoked to explain the stabilization of the mu-CO forms observed in the enzyme (relative to all-terminal CO species). As for protonation of the hydrogen cluster, it turned out that mu-H species are always more stable than terminal hydride isomers, leading to the conclusion that specific interactions of the H-cluster with the environment, not considered in our calculations, would be necessary to reverse the stability order of mu-H and terminal hydrides. Otherwise, protonation of the metal center and H 2 evolution in the enzyme are predicted to be kinetically controlled processes. Finally, subtle modifications in the H-cluster environment can change the relative stability of key frontier orbitals, triggering electron transfer between the Fe 4S 4 and the Fe 2S 2 moieties forming the H-cluster.     

Electrochemical insights into the mechanisms of proton reduction by [Fe2(CO)6{micro-SCH2N(R)CH2S}] complexes related to the [2Fe](H) subsite of [FeFe]hydrogenase

Electrochemical investigations on a structural analogue of the [2Fe](H) subsite of [FeFe]H(2)ases, namely, [Fe(2)(CO)(6){micro-SCH(2)N(CH(2)CH(2)- OCH(3))CH(2)S}] (1), were conducted in MeCN/NBu(4)PF(6) in the presence of HBF(4)/Et(2)O or HOTs. Two different catalytic proton reduction processes operate, depending on the strength and the concentration of the acid used. The first process, which takes place around -1.2 V for both HBF(4)/Et(2)O and HOTs, is limited by the slow release of H(2) from the product of the {2 H(+)/2 e} pathway, 1-2H. The second catalytic process, which occurs at higher acid concentrations, takes place at different potentials depending on the acid present. We propose that this second mechanism is initiated by protonation of 1-2H when HBF(4)/Et(2)O is used, whereas the reduction of 1-2H is the initial step in the presence of the weaker acid HOTs. The potential of the second process, which occurs around -1.4 V (reduction potential of 1-3H(+)) or around -1.6 V (the reduction potential of 1-2H) is thus dependent on the strength of the available proton source.     

Regioselective (12)CO/(13)CO exchange activity of a mixed-valent Fe(ii)Fe(i) model of the H(ox) state of [FeFe]-hydrogenase

A mixed-valent Fe(ii)Fe(i) model of the H(ox) state of [FeFe]-hydrogenase is shown, under certain conditions, to exhibit regioselective (12)CO/(13)CO exchange activity similar to that observed for H(ox).     

Density functional theory investigation of the active site of [Fe]-hydrogenases: effects of redox state and ligand characteristics on structural,electronic, and reactivity properties of complexes related to the [2Fe]H subcluster

The effects of redox state and ligand characteristics on structural, electronic, and reactivity properties of complexes related to the [2Fe](H) subcluster of [Fe]-hydrogenases have been investigated by DFT calculations and compared with experimental and theoretical data obtained investigating both the enzyme and synthetic model complexes. Our results show that Fe(II)Fe(II) species characterized by OH or H(2)O groups terminally coordinated to the iron atom distal to the terminal sulfur ligand (Fe(d)) are less stable than corresponding mu-OH or mu-H(2)O species, suggesting that the latter are destabilized or kinetically inaccessible in the enzyme. In addition, results obtained investigating Fe(I)Fe(I) and Fe(II)Fe(I) complexes show that structure and relative stability of species characterized by a mu-CO group are significantly affected by the electronic properties of the ligands coordinated to the iron atoms. The investigation of reaction pathways for H(2) activation confirms and extends a previous hypothesis indicating that H(2) can be cleaved on Fe(II)Fe(II) species. In particular, even though [Fe]-hydrogenases are proposed to bind and activate H(2) at a single iron center, the comparison of our data with experimental results obtained studying synthetic complexes (Zhao, X.; Georgakaki, I. P.; Miller, M. L.; Mejia-Rodriguez, R.; Chiang, C.-Y.; Darensbourg, M. Y. Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 3917) suggests that activation paths involving both metal ions are also possible. Moreover, mu-H Fe(II)Fe(I) complexes are predicted to correspond to stable species and might be formed in the enzyme catalytic cycle.     

Arylgold(I) complexes from base-assisted transmetalation: structures, NMR properties, and density-functional theory calculations

The synthesis of gold(I) complexes of the type LAuR (L = PCy(3), IPr; R = aryl; IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) starting from LAuX (X = Br, OAc) and boronic acids in the presence of Cs(2)CO(3) has been investigated. The reactions proceed smoothly in good to excellent yields over the course of 24-48 h in isopropyl alcohol at 50-55 °C. The aryl groups include a variety of functionalities and steric bulk, and in two cases, are heterocyclic. All of the products have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis and most by X-ray crystallography. This work affirms that, almost without exception, base-assisted auration is a useful and reliable way to form gold-carbon bonds.     

Diiron dithiolato carbonyls related to the H(ox)CO state of [FeFe]-hydrogenase

Oxidation of the electron-rich (E(1/2) = -175 vs Ag/AgCl) ethanedithiolato complex Fe2(S2C2H4)(CO)2(dppv)2 (1) under a CO atmosphere yielded [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CO)2(dppv)2](+) ([1(CO)](+)), a model for the H(ox)(CO) state of the [FeFe]-hydrogenases. This complex exists as two isomers: a kinetically favored unsymmetrical derivative, unsym-[1(CO)](+), and a thermodynamically favored isomer, sym-[1(CO)](+), wherein both diphosphines span apical and basal sites. Crystallographic characterization of sym-[1(CO)](+) confirmed a C2-symmetric structure with a bridging CO ligand and an elongated Fe-Fe bond of 2.7012(14) A, as predicted previously. Oxidation of sym-[1(CO)](+) and unsym-[1(CO)](+) again by 1e(-) oxidation afforded the respective diamagnetic diferrous derivatives where the relative stabilities of the sym and unsym isomers are reversed. DFT calculations indicate that the stabilities of sym and unsym isomers are affected differently by the oxidation state of the diiron unit: the mutually trans CO ligands in the sym isomer are more destabilizing in the mixed-valence state than in the diferrous state. EPR analysis of mixed-valence complexes revealed that, for [1](+), the unpaired spin is localized on a single iron center, whereas for unsym/sym-[1(CO)](+), the unpaired spin was delocalized over both iron centers, as indicated by the magnitude of the hyperfine coupling to the phosphine ligands trans to the Fe-Fe vector. Oxidation of 1 by 2 equiv of acetylferrocenium afforded the dication [1](2+), which, on the basis of low-temperature IR spectrum, is structurally similar to [1](+). Treatment of [1](2+) with CO gives unsym-[1(CO)](2+).     

Cu(I) and Fe(II) complexes with N,N-dimethylthioformamide and Fe(II) complexes with N,N-dimethylformamide

The synthesis of the following Cu(I) and Fe(II) complexes with N,N-dimethylthioformamide (DMTF) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) are described: Cu(DMTF)₄ClO₄, Cu(DMTF)₂Cl, Cu(DMTF)₂Br, Cu(DMTF)₂I, Fe(DMTF)₆(ClO₄)₂, Fe(DMTF)₂Cl₂, Fe(DMTF)₂Br₂, Fe(DMTF)₂I₂, Fe(DMF)₆(ClO₄)₂, Fe(DMF)₂Cl₂, Fe(DMF)Br₂ and Fe(DMF)₃I₂. Electronic absorption spectra, IR spectra, magnetic susceptibilities of the solids and in solution as well as conductivities have been measured of these compounds in order to obtain information on the nature of the interaction between the cations and the ligands, the coordination in the crystalline state, in solution and the dissociation of these compounds in the respective solvents.     

Unusual redox and chemical properties of N4-substituted pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone copper(II) complexes: their preparation,properties and reactivities

Summary New copper(II) complexes with pyridoxal N⁴-methylthiosemicarbazone (H₂Methsa), N⁴-ethylthiosemicarbazone (H₂Etthsa) and N⁴-phenylthiosemicarbazone (H₂Phthsa) have been prepared and characterized by analytical, magnetic, spectral, e.s.r. and electrochemical methods. All the compounds exhibit normal magnetic moments at room temperature. The variable temperature magnetic moments, however, show the presence of very weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction (–2J = ca. 30cm^-1) between the copper(II) centres in the complexes. The e.s.r. spectra at 77 K in DMSO indicate the presence of a mixture of monomers and dimers consistent with the dissociation of the complexes. Electrochemical studies in non-aqueous solvents show that the complexes undergo a quasi-reversible one electron facile reduction at markedly low negative potentials versus saturated calomel electrode (s.c.e.).     

A DFT investigation on structural and redox properties of a synthetic Fe6S6 assembly closely related to the [FeFe]-hydrogenases active site

In the present contribution, a density functional theory (DFT) investigation is described regarding a recently synthesized Fe₆S₆ complex – see C. Tard, X. Liu, S.K. Ibrahim, M. Bruschi, L. De Gioia, S.C. Davies, X. Yang, L.-S. Wang, G. Sawers, C.J. Pickett, Nature 433 (2005) 610 – that is structurally and functionally related to the [FeFe]-hydrogenases active site (the so-called H-cluster, which includes a binuclear subsite directly involved in catalysis and an Fe₄S₄ cubane). The analysis of relative stabilities and atomic charges of different isomers evidenced that the structural and redox properties of the synthetic assembly are significantly different from those of the enzyme active site. A comparison between the hexanuclear cluster and simpler synthetic diiron models is also described; the results of such a comparison indicated that the cubane moiety can favour the stabilization of the cluster in a structure closely resembling the H-cluster geometry when the synthetic Fe₆S₆ complex is in its dianionic state. However, the opposite effect is observed when the synthetic cluster is in its monoanionic form.     

Precursors to [FeFe]-hydrogenase models: syntheses of Fe2(SR)2(CO)6 from CO-free iron sources

This report describes routes to iron dithiolato carbonyls that do not require preformed iron carbonyls. The reaction of FeCl 2, Zn, and Q 2S 2C n H 2 n (Q (+) = Na (+), Et 3NH (+)) under an atmosphere of CO affords Fe 2(S 2C n H 2 n )(CO) 6 ( n = 2, 3) in yields >70%. The method was employed to prepare Fe 2(S 2C 2H 4)( (13)CO) 6. Treatment of these carbonylated mixtures with tertiary phosphines, instead of Zn, gave the ferrous species Fe 3(S 2C 3H 6) 3(CO) 4(PR 3) 2, for R = Et, Bu, and Ph. Like the related complex Fe 3(SPh) 6(CO) 6, these compounds consist of a linear arrangement of three conjoined face-shared octahedral centers. Omitting the phosphine but with an excess of dithiolate, we obtained the related mixed-valence triiron species [Fe 3(S 2C n H 2 n ) 4(CO) 4] (-). The highly reducing all-ferrous species [Fe 3(S 2C n H 2 n ) 4(CO) 4] (2-) is implicated as an intermediate in this transformation. Reactive forms of iron, prepared by the method of Rieke, also combined with dithiols under a CO atmosphere to give Fe 2(S 2C n H 2 n )(CO) 6 in modest yields under mild conditions. Studies on the order of addition indicate that ferrous thiolates are formed prior to the onset of carbonylation. Crystallographic characterization demonstrated that the complexes Fe 3(S 2C 3H 6) 3(CO) 4(PEt 3) 2 and PBnPh 3[Fe 3(S 2C 3H 6) 4(CO) 4] feature high-spin ferrous and low-spin ferric as the central metal, respectively.     

Density functional theory investigation of the redox properties of tricyclopentadienyl- and phospholyluranium(IV) chloride complexes

The redox behavior of tricyclopentadienyl- and phospholyluranium(IV) chloride complexes L(3)UCl with L = C(5)H(5) (Cp), C(5)H(4)Me (MeCp), C(5)H(4)SiMe(3) (TMSCp), C(5)H(4)(t)Bu ((t)BuCp), C(5)Me(5) (Cp*), and C(4)Me(4)P (tmp), has been investigated using relativistic density functional theory calculations, with the solvent being taken into account using the conductor-like screening model. A very good linear correlation (r(2) = 0.99) has been obtained between the computed electron affinities of the L(3)UCl complexes and the experimental half-wave reduction potentials E(1/2) related to the U(IV)/U(III) redox systems. From a computational point of view, our study confirms the crucial importance of spin-orbit coupling and solvent corrections and the use of an extended basis set in order to achieve the best experiment-theory agreement. Considering oxidation of the uranium(IV) complexes, the instability of the uranium(V) derivatives [L(3)UCl](+) is revealed, in agreement with experimental electrochemical findings. The driving roles of both the electron-donating ability of the L ligand and the U 5f orbitals on the redox properties of the complexes are brought to light. Interestingly, we found and explained the excellent correlation between variations of the uranium Hirschfeld charges following U(IV)/U(III) electron capture and E(1/2). In addition, this work allowed one to estimate theoretically the half-wave reduction potential of [Cp*(3)UCl].     

New organometallic Ru(II) and Fe(II) complexes with tetrathia-[7]-helicene derivative ligands

A series of organometallic complexes possessing new tetrathia-[7]-helicene nitrile derivative ligands [TH-7] as chromophores, of general formula [MCp(P–P)(NC{TH-[7]-Y}Z)][PF₆] (M = Ru, Fe, P–P = DPPE, Y = H, NO₂, Z = H, C≡N; M = Ru, L–L = 2PPh₃, Y = H, Z = H) has been synthesized and fully characterized. ¹H NMR, FT-IR and UV–Vis. spectroscopic data were analyzed with in order to evaluate the existence of electronic delocalization from the metal centre to the coordinated ligand to have some insight on the potentialities of these new compounds as non-linear optical molecular materials. Slow crystallization of compound [RuCp(PPh₃)₂(NC{TH-[7]-H}H)][PF₆] 2Ru revealed an interesting isomerization of the helical ligand with formation of two carbon-carbon bonds between the two terminal thiophenes, leading to the total closure of the helix (2*Ru).     

Polynuclear Fe(n) complexes (n = 1, 2, 4, 5) of polytopic hydrazone ligands with Fe(II), Fe(III) and mixed oxidation state combinations

The iron coordination chemistry of some polytopic hydrazone based ligands is examined. The complexes derive from a general self-assembly strategy, where ligand design can be used to devise specific polymetallic [n × n] grid architectures. However, as part of any complex equilibrium process, oligomeric entities can also occur, particularly when ligand tautomeric flexibility is considered, and examples of mononuclear, dinuclear, tetranuclear, and pentanuclear complexes have been observed within a related class of ligands. In addition, ligand site donor composition can lead to coordination spheres that stabilize both high spin Fe(II) and Fe(III) sites, with evidence for Fe(II) spin crossover. Structural and magnetic properties are examined, which reveal the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange in the polynuclear systems.     

Electron transfer and hydrogen generation from a molecular dyad: platinum(II) alkynyl complex anchored to [FeFe] hydrogenase subsite mimic

A PS-Fe(2)S(2) molecular dyad 1a directly anchoring a platinum(II) alkynyl complex to a Fe(2)S(2) active site of a [FeFe] H(2)ase mimic, and an intermolecular system of its reference complexes 1b and 2, have been successfully constructed. Time-dependence of H(2) evolution shows that PS-Fe(2)S(2)1a as well as complex 2 with 1b can produce H(2) in the presence of a proton source and sacrificial donor under visible light irradiation. Spectroscopic and electrochemical studies on the electron transfer event reveal that the reduced Fe(I)Fe(0) species generated by the first electron transfer from the excited platinum(II) complex to the Fe(2)S(2) active site in PS-Fe(2)S(2)1a and complex 2 with 1b is essential for photochemical H(2) evolution, while the second electron transfer from the excited platinum(II) complex to the protonated Fe(I)Fe(0) species is thermodynamically unfeasible, which might be an obstacle for the relatively small amount of H(2) obtained by PS-Fe(2)S(2) molecular dyads reported so far.     

Models of the iron-only hydrogenase: structural studies of chelating diphosphine complexes [Fe2(CO)4(micro-pdt)(kappa2P,P'-diphosphine)

Six chelating diphosphine complexes, [Fe2(CO)4(micro-pdt)(kappa2P,P'-diphosphine)], have been crystallographically characterised allowing differences between basal-apical and dibasal conformations to be analysed.     

On the molecular structure of [Fe3(CO)12] in the solid state

The determination of precise, low-temperature crystal structures of [Fe₃(CO)₁₂] has shown that, on decreasing the temperature, the bridging ligands become progressively more symmetric, the bridged FeFe bond shortens and the atomic displacement parameters show a congruent behaviour with temperature.     

Synthesis and structures of new heteronuclear cluster complexes [PPh4][Fe4Rh3Se2(CO)16] and [PPh4]2[Fe3Rh4Te2(CO)15]

The reaction of the K₂[Fe₃Q(CO)₉] clusters (Q = Se or Te) with Rh₂(CO)₄Cl₂ under mild conditions is accompanied by complicated fragmentation of cores of the starting clusters to form large heteronuclear cluster anions. The [PPh₄][Fe₄Rh₃Se₂(CO)₁₆] and [PPh₄]₂[Fe₃Rh₄Te₂(CO)₁₅] compounds were isolated by treatment of the reaction products with tetraphenylphosphonium bromide. The structures of the products were established by X-ray diffraction. In both compounds, the core of the heteronuclear cluster consists of two octahedra fused via a common Rh₃ face. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 775–778, May, 2006.