Coherence spectroscopy investigations of the low-frequency vibrations of heme: effects of protein-specific perturbations

Femtosecond coherence spectroscopy is used to probe the low-frequency (20-200 cm(-1)) vibrational modes of heme proteins in solution. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), myoglobin (Mb), and Campylobacter jejuni globin (Cgb) are compared and significant differences in the coherence spectra are revealed. It is concluded that hydrogen bonding and ligand charge do not strongly affect the low-frequency coherence spectra and that protein-specific deformations of the heme group lower its symmetry and control the relative spectral intensities. Such deformations potentially provide a means for proteins to tune heme reaction coordinates, so that they can perform a broad array of specific functions. Native HRP displays complex spectral behavior above approximately 50 cm(-1) and very weak activity below approximately 50 cm(-1). Binding of the substrate analog, benzhydroxamic acid, leads to distinct changes in the coherence and Raman spectra of HRP that are consistent with the stabilization of a heme water ligand. The CN derivatives of the three proteins are studied to make comparisons under conditions of uniform heme coordination and spin-state. MbCN is dominated by a doming mode near 40 cm(-1), while HRPCN displays a strong oscillation at higher frequency (96 cm(-1)) that can be correlated with the saddling distortion observed in the X-ray structure. In contrast, CgbCN displays low-frequency coherence spectra that contain strong modes near 30 and 80 cm(-1), probably associated with a combination of heme doming and ruffling. HRPNO displays a strong doming mode near 40 cm(-1) that is activated by photolysis. The damping of the coherent motions is significantly reduced when the heme is shielded from solvent fluctuations by the protein material and reduced still further when T approximately < 50 K, as pure dephasing processes due to the protein-solvent phonon bath are frozen out.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of nitrophorin 1, a nitric oxide-binding heme protein from Rhodnius prolixus, and its nitrosyl and cyano adducts.

The resonance Raman (RR) spectra of nitrophorin 1 (NP1) from the saliva of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus, in the absence and presence of nitric oxide (NO) and in the presence of cyanide (CN(-)), have been studied. The NP1 displayed RR spectra characteristic of six-coordinate high-spin (6cHS) ferric heme at room temperature and six-coordinate low-spin heme (6cLS) at low temperature (77 K). NO and CN(-) each bind to Fe(III), both ligands forming 6cLS complexes with NP1. The Fe(III)-NO stretching and bending vibrational frequencies of nitrosyl NP1 were identified at 591 and 578 cm(-1), respectively, on the basis of 15NO isotope shifts. These frequencies are typical of Fe-NO ferric heme proteins, indicating that the NP1 nitrosyl adduct has typical bond strength. Thus, the small NO release rate displayed by NP1 must be due to other protein interactions. Room and cryogenic temperature (77 K) RR spectroscopy and 13C, 15N, and 13C15N isotope substitutions have been used to determine vibrational mode frequencies associated with the Fe(III)-CN(-) bond for the cyano adducts at 454, 443, 397, and 357 cm(-1). The results were analyzed by normal mode calculations to support the assignment of the modes and to assess the NO and CN(-) binding geometries. The observed isotope shifts for the cyano NP1 are smaller than expected and reveal vibrational coupling of Fe(III)-CN(-) modes with heme modes. We also find that the observed frequencies are consistent with the presence of a nearly linear Fe(III)CN(-) linkage (173 degrees ) coexisting with a population with a bent structure (155 degrees ).     

Vibrational coherence spectroscopy of the heme domain in the CO-sensing transcriptional activator CooA

Femtosecond vibrational coherence spectroscopy was used to investigate the low-frequency vibrational dynamics of the heme in the carbon monoxide oxidation activator protein (CooA) from the thermophilic anaerobic bacterium Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans (Ch-CooA). Low frequency vibrational modes are important because they are excited by the ambient thermal bath (k(B)T = 200 cm(-1)) and participate in thermally activated barrier crossing events. However, such modes are nearly impossible to detect in the aqueous phase using traditional spectroscopic methods. Here, we present the low frequency coherence spectra of the ferric, ferrous, and CO-bound forms of Ch-CooA in order to compare the protein-induced heme distortions in its active and inactive states. Distortions take place predominantly along the coordinates of low-frequency modes because of their weak force constants, and such distortions are reflected in the intensity of the vibrational coherence signals. A strong mode near ~90 cm(-1) in the ferrous form of Ch-CooA is suggested to contain a large component of heme ruffling, consistent with the imidazole-bound ferrous heme crystal structure, which shows a significant protein-induced heme distortion along this coordinate. A mode observed at ~228 cm(-1) in the six-coordinate ferrous state is proposed to be the ν(Fe-His) stretching vibration. The observation of the Fe-His mode indicates that photolysis of the N-terminal α-amino axial ligand takes place. This is followed by a rapid (~8.5 ps) transient absorption recovery, analogous to methionine rebinding in photolyzed ferrous cytochrome c. We have also studied CO photolysis in CooA, which revealed very strong photoproduct state coherent oscillations. The observation of heme-CO photoproduct oscillations is unusual because most other heme systems have CO rebinding kinetics that are too slow to make the measurement possible. The low frequency coherence spectrum of the CO-bound form of Ch-CooA shows a strong vibration at ~230 cm(-1) that is broadened and up-shifted compared to the ν(Fe-His) of Rr-CooA (216 cm(-1)). We propose that the stronger Fe-His bond is related to the enhanced thermal stability of Ch-CooA and that there is a smaller (time dependent) tilt of the histidine ring with respect to the heme plane in Ch-CooA. The appearance of strong modes at ~48 cm(-1) in both the ferrous and CO-bound forms of Ch-CooA is consistent with coupling of the heme doming distortion to the photolysis reaction in both samples. Upon CO binding and protein activation, a heme mode near 112 ± 5 cm(-1) disappears, probably indicating a decreased heme saddling distortion. This reflects changes in the heme environment and geometry that must be associated with the conformational transition activating the DNA-binding domain. Protein-specific DNA binding to the CO-bound form of Ch-CooA was also investigated, and although the CO rebinding kinetics are significantly perturbed, there are negligible changes in the low-frequency vibrational spectrum of the heme.     

Ring-opening reactions induced by gold(I) of five- and four-coordinate palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes containing tripodal or linear polyphosphines

The tripodal ligands NP(3)(tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]amine) and PP(3)(tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine), form five-coordinate [Pd(NP(3))X]X [X = Cl (1), Br (2)], [M(PP(3))X]X [M = Pd: X = Cl (4), Br (5), I (6); M = Pt, X = Cl (7), Br (8), I (9)] and four-coordinate[Pd(NP(3))I]I (3) complexes containing three fused rings around the metal. The interaction between Au(tdg)X (tdg = thiodiglycol; X = Cl, Br) or AuI and the respective ionic halo complexes 1-9 in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio occurs via a ring-opening reaction with formation of the heterobimetallic systems PdAu(NP(3))X(3)[X = Cl (11), Br (12), I (13)], [MAu(PP(3))X(2)]X [M = Pd: X = Cl (14), Br (15), I (16); M = Pt: X = Cl (17), Br (18), I (19)]. The cations of complexes 17 and 18 were shown, by X-ray diffraction, to contain a distorted square-planar Pt(II) arrangement (Pt(P(2)P)X) where PP(3) is acting as tridentate chelating ligand and an almost linear PAuX moiety bearing the dangling phosphorus formed in the ring-opening process. PPh(3) coordinates to Au(I) and not to M(II) when added in excess to 14 and 17. Complexes 14-17 and [Pt(P(4))](BPh(4))(2) (10) (P4=linear tetraphosphine) also react with A(I), via chelate ring-openings to give MAu(2)(PP(3))X(4) [M = Pd: X = Cl (20), Br (21), I (22); M = Pt: X = Cl (23)] and [Pt(2)Au(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(mu-P(4))(2)](BPh(4))(4) (24), respectively.     

Pippard relations applied to the lambda-phase transition in NH4Br

We establish here a linear variation of the specific heat C(P) with the frequency shifts (1/nu)( partial differentialnu/ partial differentialT)(P) close to the lambda-phase transition in NH(4)Br (T(lambda)=234K). This linear relationship is based on our spectroscopically modified Pippard relations. For this verification of our relations, we use our observed Raman frequencies of the lattice mode of nu(7) (56cm(-1)) and the internal mode of nu(2) (1684cm(-1)) in the NH(4)Br crystalline system. Our study given here indicates that the thermodynamic data can be obtained from the measured frequencies.     

Synthesis and oxidation of d(6) tungsten pincer complexes: a complete series of tungsten(ii) hydridocarbonyl and halocarbonyl pincer complexes

Reaction of the neutral P(H)NP ligand [HN(SiMe(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(2)] with tungsten hexacarbonyl resulted in coordination of P(H)NP through both phosphorus donor atoms to form the tungsten complex [W(P(HN)P)(CO)(4)] (1). Reaction of P(H)NP with tris(acetonitrile)tricarbonyl tungsten gave both facial and meridional tridentate isomers [W(P(H)NP)(CO)(3)] (2-fac and 3-mer). These three d(6) tungsten complexes could be interconverted under appropriate conditions. The thermodynamically favored isomer 3 was protonated to form seven-coordinate [W(P(H)NP)(CO)(3)H][BF(4)] (4). A related series of cationic tungsten(ii) halide complexes was synthesized, [W(P(H)NP)(CO)(3)X](+) (6, X = I; 7, X = Br; 8, X = Cl; 9, X = F), by various routes. All of the tungsten(ii) complexes underwent deprotonation at the amine site of the P(H)NP ligand when triethylamine was added, resulting in neutral seven-coordinate complexes. Variable temperature (1)H, (31)P{(1)H}, and (13)C{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy showed fluxional behavior for all the seven-coordinate complexes reported here. Analysis of IR and NMR spectroscopic data showed trends through the series of coordinated halides. Crystal structures of tetracarbonyl 1, meridional tricarbonyl 3, and cationic hydride 4 were determined to confirm the coordination mode of the P(H)NP ligand.     

Raman spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of myoglobin thin film: implication of the role of histidine 64 for fast heterogeneous electron transfer.

Myoglobin (Mb) thin films formed on various substrates have been characterized by using Raman spectroscopy, reflectance absorbance FT-IR, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. Raman spectra were obtained upon excitation within the Soret band as well as alpha-beta bands. The spin state marker bands observed from the Mb film in the 1550-1630 cm(-)(1) region (excitation at 514.5 nm) are approximately 20 cm(-)(1) higher than those of aqueous metMb having the high spin state. The 1210 cm(-)(1) band (methine bridge C-H vibration) also shifts to 1240 cm(-)(1) upon the formation of the film. These results indicate that the heme iron of myoglobin in the film is the ferric low-spin state, and the iron atom is pulled to the heme plane. A comparison of the Raman spectra of the Mb film with that of an Mb-imidazole derivative leads to the conclusion that the distal histidine is responsible for the change in the spectral characteristics. The escape of water from the sixth position upon the formation of the Mb film may result in a conformational change at the heme distal pocket: the histidine residue at the E7 helical position (H64) moves toward the central iron and is coordinated with it through the N on the imidazole ring. These structural features facilitate the fast electron transfer between the thin protein film and the electrode. Distal histidine may serve as an electron-transfer pathway as it does in cytochrome c.     

Roles of the proximal hydrogen bonding network in cytochrome P450cam-catalyzed oxygenation

Structural and functional roles of the hydrogen bonding network that surrounds the heme-thiolate coordination of P450(cam) from Pseudomonas putida were investigated. A hydrogen bond between the side chain amide of Gln360 and the carbonyl oxygen of the axial Cys357 was removed in Q360L. The side chain hydrogen bond and the electrostatic interaction between the polypeptide amide proton of Gln360 and the sulfur atom of Cys357 were simultaneously removed in Q360P. The increased electron donation of the axial thiolate in Q360L and Q360P was evidenced by negative shifts of their reduction potentials by 45 and 70 mV, respectively. Together with the results on L358P in which the amide proton at position 358 was removed (Yoshioka, S., Takahashi, S., Ishimori, K., Morishima, I. J. Inorg. Biochem. 2000, 81, 141-151), we propose that the side chain hydrogen bond and the electrostatic interaction of the amide proton with the thiolate ligand cause approximately 45 and approximately 35 mV of positive shifts, respectively, of the redox potential of the heme in P450(cam). The resonance Raman spectra of the ferrous-CO form of the Q360 mutants showed a downshifted Fe-CO stretching mode at 482 approximately 483 cm(-)(1) compared with that of wild-type P450(cam) at 484 cm(-)(1). The Q360 mutants also showed the upshift by 4 approximately 5 cm(-)(1) of the Fe-NO stretching mode in the ferrous-NO form. These Raman results indicate the increase in the sigma-electron donation of the thiolate ligand in the reduced state of the Q360 mutants and were in contrast to the increased pi-back-donation of the thiolate in L358P having an upshifted Fe-CO stretching mode at 489 cm(-)(1). The catalytic activities of the Q360 mutants for the unnatural substrates were similar to those of the wild-type enzyme, indicating that the increased sigma-electron donation does not promote the O-O bond heterolysis in the Q360 mutants, although the increased pi-electron donation in L358P promoted the heterolysis of the O-O bond. We conclude that the functions of the proximal hydrogen bonding network in P450(cam) are to stabilize the heme-thiolate coordination, and to regulate the redox potential of the heme iron. Furthermore, we propose that the pi-electron donation, not the sigma-electron donation, of the thiolate ligand promotes the heterolysis of the O-O bond of dioxygen.     

Resonance Raman Spectra of [M(6)X(8)Y(6)](2)(-) Cluster Complexes (M = Mo, W; X, Y = Cl, Br, I)

Resonance Raman spectra of the cubic metal-halide complexes having the general formula [M(6)X(8)Y(6)](2)(-) (M = Mo or W; X, Y = Cl, Br, or I) are reported. The three totally symmetric fundamental vibrations of these complexes are identified. The extensive mixing of the symmetry coordinates that compose the symmetric normal modes expected in these systems is not observed. Instead the "group-frequency" approximation is valid. Furthermore, the force constants of both the apical and face-bridging metal-halide bonds are insensitive to the identity of either the metal or the halide. Raman spectra of related complexes with methoxy and benzenethiol groups as ligands are reported along with the structural data for [Mo(6)Cl(8)(SPh)(6)][NBu(4)](2). Crystal data for [Mo(6)Cl(8)(SPh)(6)][NBu(4)](2) at -156 degrees C: monoclinic space group P2(1)/c; a = 12.588(3), b = 17.471(5), c = 20.646(2) ?; beta = 118.53(1) degrees, V = 3223.4 ?(3); d(calcd) = 1.664 g cm(-)(3); Z = 2.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the tellurite minerals: rajite and denningite

Tellurites may be subdivided according to formula and structure. There are five groups based upon the formulae (a) A(XO3), (b) A(XO3).xH2O, (c) A2(XO3)3.xH2O, (d) A2(X2O5) and (e) A(X3O8). Raman spectroscopy has been used to study rajite and denningite, examples of group (d). Minerals of the tellurite group are porous zeolite-like materials. Raman bands for rajite observed at 740, and 676 and 667 cm(-1) are attributed to the nu1 (Te2O5)(2-) symmetric stretching mode and the nu3 (TeO3)(2-) antisymmetric stretching modes, respectively. A second rajite mineral sample provided a more complex Raman spectrum with Raman bands at 754 and 731 cm(-1) assigned to the nu1 (Te2O5)(2-) symmetric stretching modes and two bands at 652 and 603 cm(-1) are accounted for by the nu3 (Te2O5)(2-) antisymmetric stretching mode. The Raman spectrum of dennigite displays an intense band at 734 cm(-1) attributed to the nu1 (Te2O5)(2-) symmetric stretching mode with a second Raman band at 674 cm(-1) assigned to the nu3 (Te2O5)(2-) antisymmetric stretching mode. Raman bands for rajite, observed at (346, 370) and 438 cm(-1) are assigned to the (Te2O5)(2-)nu2 (A1) bending mode and nu4 (E) bending modes.     

Synthesis, characterization, and study of octanuclear iron-oxo clusters containing a redox-active Fe4O4-cubane core

A one-pot synthetic procedure yields the octanuclear Fe(III) complexes Fe(8)(micro(4-)O)(4)(micro-pz(*))(12)X(40, where X = Cl and pz(*) = pyrazolate anion (pz = C(3)H(3)N(2)-) (1), 4-Cl-pz (2), and 4-Me-pz (3) or X = Br and pz(*) = pz (4). The crystal structures of complexes 1-4, determined by X-ray diffraction, show an Fe(4)O(4)-cubane core encapsulated in a shell composed of four interwoven Fe(micro-pz(*))(3)X units. Complexes 1-4 have been characterized by 1H NMR, infrared, and Raman spectroscopies. M?ssbauer spectroscopic analysis distinguishes the cubane and outer Fe(III) centers by their different isomer shift and quadrupole splitting values. Electrochemical analyses by cyclic voltammetry show four consecutive, closely spaced, reversible reduction processes for each of the four complexes. Magnetic susceptibility studies, corroborated by density functional theory calculations, reveal weak antiferromagnetic coupling among the four cubane Fe centers and strong antiferromagnetic coupling between cubane and outer Fe atoms of 1. The structural similarity between the antiferromagnetic Fe(8)(micro(4-)O)(4) core of 1-4 and the antiferromagnetic units contained in the minerals ferrihydrite and maghemite is demonstrated by X-ray and M?ssbauer data.     

Triangular,ferromagnetically-coupled CuII 3-pyrazolato complexes as possible models of particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO)

Magnetic susceptibility and EPR studies show that trinuclear Cu(II)-pyrazolato complexes with a Cu(3)(mu3-X)2 core (X = Cl, Br) are ferromagnetically coupled: J(Cu-Cu) = +28.6 cm(-1) (X = Cl), +3.1 cm(-1) (X = Br). The orderly transition from an antiferromagnetic to a ferromagnetic exchange among the Cu centers of Cu(3)(mu3-X) complexes, X = O, OH, Cl, Br, follows the change of the Cu-X-Cu angle from 120 degrees to approximately 80 degrees. The crystal structures of [Bu4N]2"[Cu3(mu3-Br)2(mu-pz*)3Br3] (pz* = pz (1a) or 4-O2N-pz (1b), pz = pyrazolato anion, C(3)H(3)N(2)(1-)) are presented.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of micro-oxo (O(2)(-))-bridged heme/non-heme diiron complexes: models for the active site of nitric oxide reductase

In this paper, we describe the synthesis and study of a series of heme/non-heme Fe-O-Fe' complexes supported by a porphyrin and the tripodal nitrogen ligand TMPA [TMPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]. The complete synthesis of [((6)L)Fe-O-Fe(X)](+) (1) (X = OMe(-) or Cl(-), 69:31 ratio), where (6)L is the dianion of 5-(o-O-[(N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-(6-methoxyl)pyridinemethanamine)phenyl]-10,15,20-tris(2,6-difluorophenyl)porphine, is reported. The crystal structure for 1.PF(6) reveals an intramolecular heme/non-heme diferric complex bridged by an Fe-O-Fe' moiety; 90 degree angle (Fe-O-Fe') = 166.7(3) degrees, and d(Fe.Fe') = 3.556 A. Crystal data for C(70)H(57)ClF(12)Fe(2)N(8)O(3)P (1.PF(6)): triclinic, Ponemacr;, a = 13.185(3) A, b = 14.590 (3) A, c = 16.885(4) A, alpha = 104.219(4) degrees, beta = 91.572(4) degrees, gamma = 107.907(4) degrees, V = 2977.3(11) A(3), Z = 2, T = 150(2) K. Complex 1 (where X = Cl(-)) is further characterized by UV-vis (lambda(max) = 328, 416 (Soret), 569 nm), (1)H NMR (delta 27-24 [TMPA -CH(2)-], 16.1 [pyrrole-H], 15.2-10.5 [PY-3H, PY-5H], 7.9-7.2 [m- and p-phenyl-H], 6.9-5.8 [PY-4H] ppm), resonance Raman (nu(as)(Fe-O-Fe') 844 cm(-)(1)), and M?ssbauer (delta(Fe) = 0.47, 0.41 mm/s; deltaE(A) = 1.59, 0.55 mm/s; 80 K) spectroscopies, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (m/z 1202), and SQUID susceptometry (J = - 114.82 cm(-)(1), S = 0). We have also synthesized a series of 3-, 4-, and 5-methyl-substituted as well as selectively deuterated TMPA(Fe') complexes and condensed these with the hydroxo complex (F(8))FeOH or (F(8)-d(8))FeOH to yield "untethered" Fe-O-Fe' analogues. Along with selective deuteration of the methylene hydrogens in TMPA, complete (1)H NMR spectroscopic assignments for 1 have been accomplished. The magnetic properties of several of the untethered complexes and a comparison to those of 1 are also presented. Complex 1 and related species represent good structural and spectroscopic models for the heme/non-heme diiron active site in the enzyme nitric oxide reductase.     

Infrared and Raman study of some isonicotinic acid metal(II) halide and tetracyanonickelate complexes

In this study the M(IN)(2)Ni(CN)(4) [where M: Co, Ni, and Cd, and IN: isonicotinic acid, abbreviated to M-Ni-IN] tetracyanonickelate and some metal halide complexes with the following stoichiometries: M(IN)(6)X(2) (M: Co; X: Cl and Br, and M: Ni; X: Cl, Br and I) and Hg(IN)X(2) (X: Cl, Br, and I) were synthesized for the first time. Certain chemical formulas were determined using elemental analysis results. The FT-IR and Raman spectra of the metal halide complexes were reported in the 4000-0 cm(-1) region. The FT-IR spectra of tetracyanonickelate complexes were also reported in the 4000-400 cm(-1) region. Vibrational assignments were given for all the observed bands. For a given series of isomorphous complexes, the sum of the difference between the values of the vibrational modes of the free isonicotinic acid and coordinated ligand was found to increase in the order of the second ionization potentials of metals. The frequency shifts were also found to be depending on the halogen. The proposed structure of tetracyanonickelate complexes consists of polymeric layers of /M-Ni(CN)(4)/(infinity) with the isonicotinic acid molecules bound directly to the metal atom.     

PX4+, P2X5+, and P5X2+ (X=Br,I) salts of the superweak Al(OR)4- anion [R=C(CF3)3

PX(4) (+)[Al(OR)(4)](-) (X=I: 1 a, X=Br: 1 b) was prepared from X(2), PX(3), and Ag[Al(OR)(4)] [R=C(CF(3))(3)] in CH(2)Cl(2) at -30 degrees C in 69-86 % yield. P(2)X(5) (+) salts were prepared from 2 PX(3) and Ag[Al(OR)(4)] in CH(2)Cl(2) at -30 degrees C yielding almost quantitatively P(2)X(5) (+)[Al(OR)(4)](-) (X=I: 3 a, X=Br: 3 b). The phosphorus-rich P(5)X(2) (+) salts arose from the reaction of cold (-78 degrees C) mixtures of PX(3), P(4), and Ag[Al(OR)(4)] giving P(5)X(2) (+)[Al(OR)(4)](-) (X=I: 4 a, X=Br: 4 b) with a C(2v)-symmetric P(5) cage. Silver salt metathesis presumably generated unstable PX(2) (+) cations from PX(3) and Ag[Al(OR)(4)] (X=Br, I) that acted as electrophilic carbene analogues and inserted into the Xbond;X (Pbond;X/Pbond;P) bond of X(2) (PX(3)/P(4)) leading to the highly electrophilic and CH(2)Cl(2)-soluble PX(4) (+) (P(2)X(5) (+)/P(5)X(2) (+)) salts. Reactions that aimed to synthesize P(2)I(3) (+) from P(2)I(4) and Ag[Al(OR)(4)] instead led to anion decomposition and the formation of P(2)I(5)(CS(2))(+)[(RO)(3)Al-F-Al(OR)(3)](-) (5). All salts were characterized by variable-temperature solution NMR studies (3 b also by (31)P MAS NMR), Raman and/or IR spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography (with the exception of 4 a). The thermochemical volumes of the Pbond;X cations are 121 (PBr(4) (+)), 161 (PI(4) (+)), 194 (P(2)Br(5) (+)), 271 (P(2)I(5) (+)), and 180 A(3) (P(5)Br(2) (+)). The observed reactions were fully accounted for by thermochemical calculations based on (RI-)MP2/TZVPP ab initio results and COSMO solvation enthalpy calculations (CH(2)Cl(2) solution). The enthalpies of formation of the gaseous Pbond;X cations were derived as +764 (PI(4) (+)), +617 (PBr(4) (+)), +749 (P(2)I(5) (+)), +579 (P(2)Br(5) (+)), +762 (P(5)I(2) (+)), and +705 kJ mol(-1) (P(5)Br(2) (+)). The insertion of the intermediately prepared carbene analogue PX(2) (+) cations into the respective bonds were calculated, at the (RI-)MP2/TZVPP level, to be exergonic at 298 K in CH(2)Cl(2) by Delta(r)G(CH(2)Cl(2))=-133.5 (PI(4) (+)), -183.9 (PBr(4) (+)), -106.5 (P(2)I(5) (+)), -81.5 (P(2)Br(5) (+)), -113.2 (P(5)I(2) (+)), and -114.5 kJ mol(-1) (P(5)Br(2) (+)).     

Stoichiometric and catalytic secondary O-atom transfer by Fe(III)-NO2 complexes derived from a planar tetradentate non-heme ligand: reminiscence of heme chemistry

An Fe(III) nitro complex [(bpb)Fe(NO2)(py)] (2) of the tetradentate ligand 1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)benzene (H2bpb, H is the dissociable amide proton) has been synthesized via addition of NaNO2 to [(bpb)Fe(py)2](ClO4) (1) in MeCN or DMF. This structurally characterized Fe(III) nitro complex exhibits its nuNO2 at 1384 cm(-1). The reaction of 1 with 2 equiv of Et4NX (X = Cl-, Br-) affords the high-spin complexes (Et4N)[(bpb)Fe(Cl2)] (3) and (Et4N)[(bpb)Fe(Br)2] (4), respectively. The structure of 4 has been determined. The addition of an equimolar amount of Et4NCl, Et4NBr, or Et4NCN to a solution of 2 affords the mixed-ligand complexes (Et4N)[(bpb)Fe(NO2)(Cl)] (5), (Et4N)[(bpb)Fe(NO2)(Br)] (6), and (Et4N)[(bpb)Fe(NO2)(CN)] (7), respectively. These complexes are all low spin with isotropic g values of 2.15. Under anaerobic conditions, the reactions of 5-7 with Ph3P in MeCN afford the five-coordinate {Fe-NO}7 nitrosyl [(bpb)Fe(NO)] (and Ph3PO) via secondary oxygen-atom (O-atom) transfer. The O-atom transfer to Ph3P by 5-7 becomes catalytic in the presence of dioxygen with transfer rates in the range of 1.70-13.59 x 10-3 min(-1). The O-atom transfer rates and turnover numbers (5 > 6 > 7) are reflective of the strength of the axial donors (Cl- > Br- > CN-). The catalytic efficiencies of complexes 5-7 are limited due to formation of the thermodynamic end products [(bpb)Fe(X)2]- (where X = Cl- for 5, Br- for 6, and CN- for 7).     

Nuclear inelastic scattering and Mössbauer spectroscopy as local probes for ligand binding modes and electronic properties in proteins: vibrational behavior of a ferriheme center inside a β-barrel protein

In this work, we present a study of the influence of the protein matrix on its ability to tune the binding of small ligands such as NO, cyanide (CN(-)), and histamine to the ferric heme iron center in the NO-storage and -transport protein Nitrophorin 2 (NP2) from the salivary glands of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. Conventional M?ssbauer spectroscopy shows a diamagnetic ground state of the NP2-NO complex and Type I and II electronic ground states of the NP2-CN(-) and NP2-histamine complex, respectively. The change in the vibrational signature of the protein upon ligand binding has been monitored by Nuclear Inelastic Scattering (NIS), also called Nuclear Resonant Vibrational Spectroscopy (NRVS). The NIS data thus obtained have also been calculated by quantum mechanical (QM) density functional theory (DFT) coupled with molecular mechanics (MM) methods. The calculations presented here show that the heme ruffling in NP2 is a consequence of the interaction with the protein matrix. Structure optimizations of the heme and its ligands with DFT retain the characteristic saddling and ruffling only if the protein matrix is taken into account. Furthermore, simulations of the NIS data by QM/MM calculations suggest that the pH dependence of the binding of NO, but not of CN(-) and histamine, might be a consequence of the protonation state of the heme carboxyls.     

Silylene-bridged dinuclear iron complexes [Cp(OC)2Fe]2SiX2 (X = H,F, Cl,Br, I). Synthesis,molecular structure,vibrational spectroscopy,and theoretical studies

The mu2-silylene-bridged iron complexes [Cp(OC)(2)Fe](2)SiX(2) (X = F (2), Br (4), I (5)) have been prepared from the mu2-SiH(2) functional precursor [Cp(OC)(2)Fe](2)SiH(2) (1) by hydrogen/halogen exchange, using HBF(4), CBr(4), and CH(2)I(2), respectively. The fluoro- and bromo-substituted derivatives 2 and 4 are converted upon UV irradiation to the carbonyl- and dihalosilylene-bridged dinuclear complexes [Cp(OC)Fe](2) (mu2-CO)(mu2-SiX(2)) (X = F (6), Br (7)) via CO elimination. All new compounds have been characterized spectroscopically, and, in addition, the molecular structure of 2, 4, and the previously reported chloro derivative [Cp(OC)(2)Fe](2)SiCl(2) (3) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. For 1-5, the Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra have been recorded and discussed, together with density functional theory calculations, which support the experimental results of the structural and vibrational analysis. The computed geometries, harmonic vibrational wavenumbers, and their corresponding Raman scattering activities are in good agreement with the experimental data. A significant dependence of the CO and Fe-Si stretching modes on the X substituents of the mu2-silylene bridge has been observed and discussed.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of the multi-anion mineral zykaite Fe4(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)·15H2O-implications for arsenate removal

Some minerals are colloidal and are poorly diffracting. Vibrational spectroscopy offers one of the few methods for the assessment of the structure of these types of minerals. Among this group of minerals is zykaite with formula Fe(4)(AsO(4))(SO(4))(OH)·15H(2)O. The objective of this research is to determine the molecular structure of the mineral zykaite using vibrational spectroscopy. Raman and infrared bands are attributed to the AsO(4)(3-), SO(4)(2-) and water stretching vibrations. The sharp band at 3515 cm(-1) is assigned to the stretching vibration of the OH units. This mineral offers a mechanism for the formation of more crystalline minerals such as scorodite and bukovskyite. Arsenate ions can be removed from aqueous systems through the addition of ferric compounds such as ferric chloride. This results in the formation of minerals such as zykaite and pitticite (Fe(3+), AsO(4), SO(4), H(2)O).     

Electronic structure of six-coordinate iron(III)-porphyrin NO adducts: the elusive iron(III)-NO(radical) state and its influence on the properties of these complexes

This paper investigates the interaction between five-coordinate ferric hemes with bound axial imidazole ligands and nitric oxide (NO). The corresponding model complex, [Fe(TPP)(MI)(NO)](BF4) (MI = 1-methylimidazole), is studied using vibrational spectroscopy coupled to normal coordinate analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In particular, nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy is used to identify the Fe-N(O) stretching vibration. The results reveal the usual Fe(II)-NO(+) ground state for this complex, which is characterized by strong Fe-NO and N-O bonds, with Fe-NO and N-O force constants of 3.92 and 15.18 mdyn/A, respectively. This is related to two strong pi back-bonds between Fe(II) and NO(+). The alternative ground state, low-spin Fe(III)-NO(radical) (S = 0), is then investigated. DFT calculations show that this state exists as a stable minimum at a surprisingly low energy of only approximately 1-3 kcal/mol above the Fe(II)-NO(+) ground state. In addition, the Fe(II)-NO(+) potential energy surface (PES) crosses the low-spin Fe(III)-NO(radical) energy surface at a very small elongation (only 0.05-0.1 A) of the Fe-NO bond from the equilibrium distance. This implies that ferric heme nitrosyls with the latter ground state might exist, particularly with axial thiolate (cysteinate) coordination as observed in P450-type enzymes. Importantly, the low-spin Fe(III)-NO(radical) state has very different properties than the Fe(II)-NO(+) state. Specifically, the Fe-NO and N-O bonds are distinctively weaker, showing Fe-NO and N-O force constants of only 2.26 and 13.72 mdyn/A, respectively. The PES calculations further reveal that the thermodynamic weakness of the Fe-NO bond in ferric heme nitrosyls is an intrinsic feature that relates to the properties of the high-spin Fe(III)-NO(radical) (S = 2) state that appears at low energy and is dissociative with respect to the Fe-NO bond. Altogether, release of NO from a six-coordinate ferric heme nitrosyl requires the system to pass through at least three different electronic states, a process that is remarkably complex and also unprecedented for transition-metal nitrosyls. These findings have implications not only for heme nitrosyls but also for group-8 transition-metal(III) nitrosyls in general.