Olefin oxygenation by the hydroperoxide adduct of a nonheme manganese(IV) complex: epoxidations by a metallo-peracid produces gentle selective oxidations

The reactive intermediates and mechanisms of oxygenation of olefins by manganese complexes were investigated by treating olefins with newly synthesized [MnIV(Me2EBC)(OH)2](PF6)2 in the presence and absence of peroxide and by studying its catalytic epoxidation reaction in normal aqueous solution and, individually, with isotopically labeled H218O, 18O2, and H218O2. The manganese oxo species is not the reactive intermediate for the oxygen transfer process mediated by this manganese complex. A novel manganese(IV) peroxide intermediate, MnIV(Me2EBC)(O)(OOH)+, was captured by mass spectrometry and is proposed as the intermediate that oxygenates olefins in this catalytic system.     

Olefin epoxidation by alkyl hydroperoxide with a novel cross-bridged cyclam manganese complex: demonstration of oxygenation by two distinct reactive intermediates

Olefin epoxidation provides an operative protocol to investigate the oxygen transfer process in nature. A novel manganese complex with a cross-bridged cyclam ligand, MnIV(Me2EBC)(OH)2(2+) (Me2EBC = 4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane), was used to study the epoxidation mechanism with biologically important oxidants, alkyl hydroperoxides. Results from direct reaction of the freshly synthesized manganese(IV) complex, [Mn(Me2EBC)(OH)2](PF6)2, with various olefins in neutral or basic solution, and from catalytic epoxidation with oxygen-labeled solvent, H2 18O, eliminate the manganese oxo moiety, Mn(IV)=O, as the reactive intermediate and obviate an oxygen rebound mechanism. Epoxidations of norbornylene under different conditions indicate multiple mechanisms for epoxidation, and cis-stilbene epoxidation under atmospheric 18O2 reveals a product distribution indicating at least two distinctive intermediates serving as the reactive species for epoxidation. In addition to alkyl peroxide radicals as dominant intermediates, an alkyl hydroperoxide adduct of high oxidation state manganese(IV) is suggested as the third kind of active intermediate responsible for epoxidation. This third intermediate functions by the Lewis acid pathway, a process best known for hydrogen peroxide adducts. Furthermore, the tert-butyl peroxide adduct of this manganese(IV) complex was detected by mass spectroscopy under catalytic oxidation conditions.     

Synthesis, characterization, and solution properties of a novel cross-bridged cyclam manganese(IV) complex having two terminal hydroxo ligands

A novel monomeric tetravalent manganese complex with the cross-bridged cyclam ligand 4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane (Me2EBC), [Mn(IV)(Me2EBC)(OH)2](PF6)2, was synthesized by oxidation of Mn(II)(Me2EBC)Cl2 with H2O2 in the presence of NH4PF6)in aqueous solution. The X-ray crystal structure determination of this manganese(IV) compound revealed that it contains two rare terminal hydroxo ligands. EPR studies in dry acetonitrile at 77 K show two broad resonances at g = 1.96 and 3.41, indicating that the manganese(IV) exists as a high-spin d3 species. Resonance Raman (rR) spectra of this manganese(IV) species reveal that the dihydroxy moiety, Mn(IV)(OH)2, is also the dominant species in aqueous solution (pH < 7). pH titration provides two pK(a) values, 6.86(4) and 10.0(1), associated with stepwise removal of the last two oxygen-bound protons from [Mn(IV)(Me2EBC)(OH)2](2+). The cyclic voltammetry of this manganese(IV) complex in dry acetonitrile at 298 K demonstrates two reversible redox processes at +0.756 and -0.696 V (versus SHE) for the Mn4+/Mn3+ and Mn3+/Mn2+ couples, respectively. This manganese(IV) complex is relatively stable in weak acidic aqueous solution but easily degrades in basic solution to manganese(III) derivatives with an 88 +/- 1% yield.     

Oxidative reactivity difference among the metal oxo and metal hydroxo moieties: pH dependent hydrogen abstraction by a manganese(IV) complex having two hydroxide ligands

Clarifying the difference in redox reactivity between the metal oxo and metal hydroxo moieties for the same redox active metal ion in identical structures and oxidation states, that is, M(n+)O and M(n+)-OH, contributes to the understanding of nature's choice between them (M(n+)O or M(n+)-OH) as key active intermediates in redox enzymes and electron transfer enzymes, and provides a basis for the design of synthetic oxidation catalysts. The newly synthesized manganese(IV) complex having two hydroxide ligands, [Mn(Me(2)EBC)(2)(OH)(2)](PF(6))(2), serves as the prototypic example to address this issue, by investigating the difference in the hydrogen abstracting abilities of the Mn(IV)O and Mn(IV)-OH functional groups. Independent thermodynamic evaluations of the O-H bond dissociation energies (BDE(OH)) for the corresponding reduction products, Mn(III)-OH and Mn(III)-OH(2), reveal very similar oxidizing power for Mn(IV)O and Mn(IV)-OH (83 vs 84.3 kcal/mol). Experimental tests showed that hydrogen abstraction proceeds at reasonable rates for substrates having BDE(CH) values less than 82 kcal/mol. That is, no detectable reaction occurred with diphenyl methane (BDE(CH) = 82 kcal/mol) for both manganese(IV) species. However, kinetic measurements for hydrogen abstraction showed that at pH 13.4, the dominant species Mn(Me(2)EBC)(2)(O)(2), having only Mn(IV)O groups, reacts more than 40 times faster than the Mn(IV)-OH unit in Mn(Me(2)EBC)(2)(OH)(2)(2+), the dominant reactant at pH 4.0. The activation parameters for hydrogen abstraction from 9,10-dihydroanthracene were determined for both manganese(IV) moieties: over the temperature range 288-318 K for Mn(IV)(OH)(2)(2+), DeltaH(double dagger) = 13.1 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol, and DeltaS(double dagger) = -35.0 +/- 2.2 cal K(-1) mol(-1); and the temperature range 288-308 K for for Mn(IV)(O)(2), DeltaH(double dagger) = 12.1 +/- 1.8 kcal/mol, and DeltaS(double dagger) = -30.3 +/- 5.9 cal K(-1) mol(-1).     

The oxidative properties of a manganese(IV) hydroperoxide moiety and its relationships with the corresponding manganese(IV) oxo and hydroxo moieties

Clear elucidation of the oxidative relationships of the active metal hydroperoxide moiety with its corresponding metal oxo and hydroxo intermediates would help the understanding of the different roles they may play in redox metalloenzymes and oxidation chemistry. Using an Mn(Me(2)EBC)Cl(2) complex, it was found that, in t-butanol-water (4 : 1) with excess H(2)O(2) at pH 1.5, the Mn(IV)-OOH moiety may exist in the catalytic solution with a mass signal of m/z = 358.1, which provides a particular chance to investigate its oxidative properties. In catalytic oxidations, the Mn(IV)-OOH moiety demonstrates a relatively poor activity in hydrogen abstraction from diphenyl methane and ethylbenzene with TOF of only 1.2 h(-1) and 1.1 h(-1) at 50 °C, whereas it can efficiently oxygenate diphenyl sulfide, methyl phenyl sulfide and benzyl phenyl sulfide with TOF of 13.8 h(-1), 15.4 h(-1) and 17.8 h(-1), respectively. In mechanistic studies using H(2)(18)O and H(2)(18)O(2), it was found that, in the Mn(IV)-OOH moiety mediated hydrogen abstraction and sulfide oxygenations, the reaction proceeds by two parallel pathways: one by direct oxygen insertion/transfer, and the other by plausible electron transfer. Together with a good understanding of the corresponding manganese(IV) oxo and hydroxo intermediates, this work provides the first chance to compare the reactivity differences and similarities of the active metal oxo, hydroxo and hydroperoxide intermediates. The available evidence reveals that the Mn(IV)-OOH moiety has a much more powerful oxidizing capability than the corresponding Mn(IV)=O and Mn(IV)-OH functional groups in both hydrogen abstraction and oxygenation.     

Electrochemical catalysis of styrene epoxidation with films of MnO(2) nanoparticles and H(2)O(2)

Films of polyions and octahedral layered manganese oxide (OL-1) nanoparticles on carbon electrodes made by layer-by-layer alternate electrostatic adsorption were active for electrochemical catalysis of styrene epoxidation in solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. The highest catalytic turnover was obtained by using applied voltage -0.6 V vs SCE, O(2), and 100 mM H(2)O(2). (18)O isotope labeling experiments suggested oxygen incorporation from three different sources: molecular oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and/or lattice oxygen from OL-1 depending on the potential applied and the oxygen and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Oxygen and hydrogen peroxide activate the OL-1 catalyst for the epoxidation. The pathway for styrene epoxidation in the highest yields required oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and a reducing voltage and may involve an activated oxygen species in the OL-1 matrix.     

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivities of manganese(V)-oxo porphyrin complexes

The reactions of manganese(III) porphyrin complexes with terminal oxidants, such as m-chloroperbenzoic acid, iodosylarenes, and H(2)O(2), produced high-valent manganese(V)-oxo porphyrins in the presence of base in organic solvents at room temperature. The manganese(V)-oxo porphyrins have been characterized with various spectroscopic techniques, including UV-vis, EPR, 1H and 19F NMR, resonance Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The combined spectroscopic results indicate that the manganese(V)-oxo porphyrins are diamagnetic low-spin (S = 0) species with a longer, weaker Mn-O bond than in previously reported Mn(V)-oxo complexes of non-porphyrin ligands. This is indicative of double-bond character between the manganese(V) ion and the oxygen atom and may be attributed to the presence of a trans axial ligand. The [(Porp)Mn(V)=O](+) species are stable in the presence of base at room temperature. The stability of the intermediates is dependent on base concentration. In the absence of base, (Porp)Mn(IV)=O is generated instead of the [(Porp)Mn(V)=O](+) species. The stability of the [(Porp)Mn(V)=O](+) species also depends on the electronic nature of the porphyrin ligands: [(Porp)Mn(V)=O](+) complexes bearing electron-deficient porphyrin ligands are more stable than those bearing electron-rich porphyrins. Reactivity studies of manganese(V)-oxo porphyrins revealed that the intermediates are capable of oxygenating PPh(3) and thioanisoles, but not olefins and alkanes at room temperature. These results indicate that the oxidizing power of [(Porp)Mn(V)=O](+) is low in the presence of base. However, when the [(Porp)Mn(V)=O](+) complexes were associated with iodosylbenzene in the presence of olefins and alkanes, high yields of oxygenated products were obtained in the catalytic olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation reactions. Mechanistic aspects, such as oxygen exchange between [(Porp)Mn(V)=16O](+) and H(2)(18)O, are also discussed.     

Influence of solvent composition on the kinetics of cyclooctene epoxidation by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)] porphyrin chloride [(F20TPP)FeCl

The epoxidation of cyclooctene catalyzed by iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)] porphyrin chloride [(F20TPP)FeCl] was investigated in alcohol/acetonitrile solutions in order to determine the effects of the alcohol composition on the reaction kinetics. It was observed that alcohol composition affects both the observed rate of hydrogen peroxide consumption (the limiting reagent) and the selectivity of hydrogen peroxide utilization to form cyclooctene epoxide. The catalytically active species are formed only in alcohol-containing solvents as a consequence of (F(20)TPP)FeCl dissociation into [(F20TPP)Fe(ROH)]+ cations and Cl- anions. The observed reaction kinetics are analyzed in terms of a proposed mechanism for the epoxidation of the olefin and the decomposition of H2O2. The first step in this scheme is the reversible coordination of H2O2 to [(F20TPP)Fe(ROH)]+. The O-O bond of the coordinated H2O2 then undergoes either homolytic or heterolytic cleavage. The rate of homolytic cleavage is found to be independent of alcohol composition, whereas the rate of heterolytic cleavage increases with alcohol acidity. Heterolytic cleavage is envisioned to form iron(IV) pi-radical cations, whereas homolytic cleavage forms iron(IV) hydroxo cations. The iron(IV) radical cations are active for olefin epoxidation, whereas the iron(IV) cations catalyze the decomposition of H2O2. Reaction of iron(IV) pi-radical cations with H2O2 to form iron(IV) hydroxo cations is also included in the mechanism, a process that is favored by alcohols with a high charge density on the O atoms. The proposed mechanism describes successfully the effects of H2O2, cyclooctene, and porphyrin concentrations, as well as the effects of alcohol concentration.     

Olefin epoxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by MoO2X2L complexes: a DFT mechanistic study

DFT calculations suggest that the catalytic epoxidation of olefins by Mo(vi) complexes, modeled by MoO2Br2(MeN=C(H)-C(H)=NMe), in the presence of MeOOH, the model for tert-butyl hydroperoxide, starts with a hydrogen transfer from the peroxide to one of the terminal Mo=O oxygen atoms and the remaining MeOO anion binds as a seventh ligand, forming a five-membered Mo-O(alpha)-O(beta)(Me)...H-O-Mo ring held together by a hydrogen bond. In the second step, a concerted approach of ethylene to the Mo-O(alpha) bond gives rise to an intermediate containing a seven-membered Mo-C-C-O(alpha)-O(beta)(Me)...H-O-Mo ring. In the final step, decomposition of the intermediate leads to the starting complex, alcohol and the epoxide. The activation energy for the addition of the olefin (second step) is the highest one, in agreement with available kinetic studies showing that the catalyst formation is not always a rate-limiting step. DFT calculations also show that the alcohol by-product (MeOH) can react with the starting complex, competing with ROOH and hence leading to the progressive catalyst poisoning, which has been observed experimentally.     

Calcium manganese oxides as oxygen evolution catalysts: O2 formation pathways indicated by 18O-labelling studies

Oxygen evolution catalysed by calcium manganese and manganese-only oxides was studied in (18)O-enriched water. Using membrane-inlet mass spectrometry, we monitored the formation of the different O(2) isotopologues (16)O(2), (16)O(18)O and (18)O(2) in such reactions simultaneously with good time resolution. From the analysis of the data, we conclude that entirely different pathways of dioxygen formation catalysis exist for reactions involving hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydrogen persulfate (HSO(5)(-)) or single-electron oxidants such as Ce(IV) and [Ru(III) (bipy)(3)](3+) . Like the studied oxide catalysts, the active sites of manganese catalase and the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) consist of μ-oxido manganese or μ-oxido calcium manganese sites. The studied processes show very similar (18)O-labelling behaviour to the natural enzymes and are therefore interesting model systems for in vivo oxygen formation by manganese metalloenzymes such as PSII.     

New insights into the mechanism of oxodiperoxomolybdenum catalysed olefin epoxidation and the crystal structures of several oxo-peroxo molybdenum complexes

[Mo(O)(O(2))(2)(L)(2)] compounds (L = pz, pyrazole; dmpz, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole) were reacted stoichiometrically, in the absence of an oxidant, with cis-cyclooctene in an ionic liquid medium where selective formation of the corresponding epoxide was observed. However, this oxo-transfer reaction was not observed for some other olefins, suggesting that alternative reaction pathways exist for these epoxidation processes. Subsequently, DFT studies investigating the oxodiperoxomolybdenum catalysed epoxidation model reaction for ethylene with hydrogen peroxide oxidant were performed. The well known Sharpless mechanism was first analysed for the [Mo(O)(O(2))(2)(dmpz)(2)] model catalyst and a low energy reaction pathway was found, which fits well with the observed experimental results for cis-cyclooctene. The structural parameters of the computed dioxoperoxo intermediate [Mo(O)(2)(O(2))(dmpz)(2)] in the Sharpless mechanism compare well with those found for the same moiety within the [Mo(4)O(16)(dmpz)(6)] complex, for which the full X-ray report is presented here. A second mechanism for the model epoxidation reaction was theoretically investigated in order to clarify why some olefins, which do not react stoichiometrically in the absence of an oxidant, showed low level conversions in catalytic conditions. A Thiel-type mechanism, in which the oxidant activation occurs prior to the oxo-transfer step, was considered. The olefin attack of the hydroperoxide ligand formed upon activation of hydrogen peroxide with the [Mo(O)(O(2))(2)(dmpz)(2)] model catalyst was not possible to model. The presence of two dmpz ligands coordinated to the molybdenum centre prevented the olefin attack for steric reasons. However, a low energy reaction pathway was identified for the [Mo(O)(O(2))(2)(dmpz)] catalyst, which can be formed from [Mo(O)(2)(O(2))(dmpz)(2)] by ligand dissociation. Both mechanisms, Sharpless- and Thiel-type, were found to display comparable energy barriers and both are accessible alternative pathways in the oxodiperoxomolybdenum catalysed olefin epoxidation. Additionally, the molecular structures of [Mo(O)(O(2))(2)(H(2)O)(pz)] and [Hdmpz](4)[Mo(8)O(22)(O(2))(4)(dmpz)(2)]·2H(2)O and the full X-ray report of [Mo(O)(O(2))(2)(pz)(2)] are also presented.     

Remarkably high catalytic activity of the Ru(III)(edta)/H2O2 system towards degradation of the azo-dye Orange II

The Ru(III)(edta)/H(2)O(2) system (edta(4-) = ethylenediaminetretaacetate) was found to degrade the azo-dye Orange II at remarkably high efficiency under ambient conditions. Catalytic degradation of the dye was studied by using rapid-scan spectrophotometry as a function of [H(2)O(2)], [Orange II] and pH. Spectral analyses and kinetic data point towards a catalytic pathway involving the rapid formation of [Ru(III)(edta)(OOH)](2-) followed by the immediate subsequent degradation of Orange II prior to the conversion of [Ru(III)(edta)(OOH)](2-) to [Ru(IV)(edta)(OH)](-) and [Ru(V)(edta)(O)](-)via homolysis and heterolysis of the O-O bond, respectively. The higher oxidation state Ru(IV) and Ru(V) complexes react three orders of magnitude slower with Orange II than the Ru(III)-hydroperoxo complex. In comparison to biological oxygen transfer reactions, the Ru(edta) complexes show the reactivity order Compound 0 ? Compounds I and II.     

Mechanism of Al(3+)-catalyzed oxidations of hydrocarbons: dramatic activation of H2O2 toward O-O homolysis in complex [Al(H2O)4(OOH)(H2O2)](2+) explains the formation of HO• radicals

A radical mechanism of hydrocarbon oxidations with the environmentally friendly and cheap homogeneous nontransition metal system [Al(H(2)O)(6)](3+)/H(2)O(2)/MeCN-H(2)O was proposed for the first time on the basis of DFT calculations. A dramatic activation of H(2)O(2) toward homolysis in the key intermediate [Al(H(2)O)(4)(OOH)(H(2)O(2))](2+) due to the presence of the easily oxidizable OOH coligand provides, without a change of metal oxidation state, the generation of HO(?) radicals, which then oxidize hydrocarbons. Nonradical mechanisms of the olefin epoxidation with the same catalytic system were also investigated.     

Olefin cis-dihydroxylation versus epoxidation by non-heme iron catalysts: two faces of an Fe(III)-OOH coin

The oxygenation of carbon-carbon double bonds by iron enzymes generally results in the formation of epoxides, except in the case of the Rieske dioxygenases, where cis-diols are produced. Herein we report a systematic study of olefin oxidations with H(2)O(2) catalyzed by a group of non-heme iron complexes, i.e., [Fe(II)(BPMEN)(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+) (1, BPMEN = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane) and [Fe(II)(TPA)(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+) (4, TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) and their 6- and 5-methyl-substituted derivatives. We demonstrate that olefin epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation are different facets of the reactivity of a common Fe(III)-OOH intermediate, whose spin state can be modulated by the electronic and steric properties of the ligand environment. Highly stereoselective epoxidation is favored by catalysts with no more than one 6-methyl substituent, which give rise to low-spin Fe(III)-OOH species (category A). On the other hand, cis-dihydroxylation is favored by catalysts with more than one 6-methyl substituent, which afford high-spin Fe(III)-OOH species (category B). For catalysts in category A, both the epoxide and the cis-diol product incorporate (18)O from H(2)(18)O, results that implicate a cis-H(18)O-Fe(V)=O species derived from O-O bond heterolysis of a cis-H(2)(18)O-Fe(III)-OOH intermediate. In contrast, catalysts in category B incorporate both oxygen atoms from H(2)(18)O(2) into the dominant cis-diol product, via a putative Fe(III)-eta(2)-OOH species. Thus, a key feature of the catalysts in this family is the availability of two cis labile sites, required for peroxide activation. The olefin epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation studies described here not only corroborate the mechanistic scheme derived from our earlier studies on alkane hydroxylation by this same family of catalysts (Chen, K.; Que, L, Jr. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 6327) but also further enhance its credibility. Taken together, these reactions demonstrate the catalytic versatility of these complexes and provide a rationale for Nature's choice of ligand environments in biocatalysts that carry out olefin oxidations.     

Iron-catalyzed olefin epoxidation in the presence of acetic acid: insights into the nature of the metal-based oxidant

The iron complexes [(BPMEN)Fe(OTf)2] (1) and [(TPA)Fe(OTf)2] (2) [BPMEN = N,N'-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N'-dimethyl-1,2-ethylenediamine; TPA = tris-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] catalyze the oxidation of olefins by H2O2 to yield epoxides and cis-diols. The addition of acetic acid inhibits olefin cis-dihydroxylation and enhances epoxidation for both 1 and 2. Reactions carried out at 0 degrees C with 0.5 mol % catalyst and a 1:1.5 olefin/H2O2 ratio in a 1:2 CH3CN/CH3COOH solvent mixture result in nearly quantitative conversions of cyclooctene to epoxide within 1 min. The nature of the active species formed in the presence of acetic acid has been probed at low temperature. For 2, in the absence of substrate, [(TPA)FeIII(OOH)(CH3COOH)]2+ and [(TPA)FeIVO(NCCH3)]2+ intermediates can be observed. However, neither is the active epoxidizing species. In fact, [(TPA)FeIVO(NCCH3)]2+ is shown to form in competition with substrate oxidation. Consequently, it is proposed that epoxidation is mediated by [(TPA)FeV(O)(OOCCH3)]2+, generated from O-O bond heterolysis of the [(TPA)FeIII(OOH)(CH3COOH)]2+ intermediate, which is promoted by the protonation of the terminal oxygen atom of the hydroperoxide by the coordinated carboxylic acid.     

Anti-markovnikov N-H and O-H additions to electron-deficient olefins catalyzed by well-defined Cu(I) anilido, ethoxide, and phenoxide systems

The monomeric Cu(I) complexes (IPr)Cu(Z) (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, Z = NHPh, OEt, or OPh) react with YH (Y = PhNH, PhCH2NH, EtO, or PhO) to catalytically add Y-H bonds across the C=C bond of electron-deficient olefins to yield anti-Markovnikov organic products. Catalytic activity has been observed for olefins CH2C(H)(X) with X = CN, C(O)Me, or CO2Me as well as crotononitrile. Preliminary studies implicate an intermediate in which the C-Y bond forms through a nucleophilic addition pathway.     

Oxidation of 2-propanol and cyclohexane by the reagent "hydrogen peroxide-vanadate anion-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid": kinetics and mechanism

The vanadate anion in the presence of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (PCA [identical with] pcaH) efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of 2-propanol by hydrogen peroxide to give acetone. UV-vis spectroscopic monitoring of the reaction as well as the kinetics lead to the conclusion that the crucial step of the process is the monomolecular decomposition of a diperoxovanadium(V) complex containing the pca ligand to afford the peroxyl radical, HOO(.-) and a V(IV) derivative. The rate-limiting step in the overall process may not be this (rapid) decomposition itself but (prior to this step) the slow hydrogen transfer from a coordinated H2O2 molecule to the oxygen atom of a pca ligand at the vanadium center: "(pca)(O=)V...O2H2" --> "(pca)(HO-)V-OOH". The V(IV) derivative reacts with a new hydrogen peroxide molecule to generate the hydroxyl radical ("V(IV)" + H2O2 --> "V(V)" + HO(-) + HO(.-)), active in the activation of isopropanol: HO(.-) + Me2CH(OH) --> H2O + Me2C(.-)(OH). The reaction with an alkane, RH, in acetonitrile proceeds analogously, and in this case the hydroxyl radical abstracts a hydrogen atom from the alkane: HO(.-) + RH --> H2O + R(.-). These conclusions are in a good agreement with the results obtained by Bell and co-workers (Khaliullin, R. Z.; Bell, A. T.; Head-Gordon, M. J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 17984-17992) who recently carried out a density functional theory study of the mechanism of radical generation in the reagent under discussion in acetonitrile.     

Hydrocarbon oxidation by Bis-mu-oxo manganese dimers: electron transfer,hydride transfer,and hydrogen atom transfer mechanisms

Described here are oxidations of alkylaromatic compounds by dimanganese mu-oxo and mu-hydroxo dimers [(phen)(2)Mn(IV)(mu-O)(2)Mn(IV)(phen)(2)](4+) ([Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+)), [(phen)(2)Mn(IV)(mu-O)(2)Mn(III)(phen)(2)](3+) ([Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+)), and [(phen)(2)Mn(III)(mu-O)(mu-OH)Mn(III)(phen)(2)](3+) ([Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+)). Dihydroanthracene, xanthene, and fluorene are oxidized by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+) to give anthracene, bixanthenyl, and bifluorenyl, respectively. The manganese product is the bis(hydroxide) dimer, [(phen)(2)Mn(III)(mu-OH)(2)Mn(II)(phen)(2)](3+) ([Mn(2)(OH)(2)](3+)). Global analysis of the UV/vis spectral kinetic data shows a consecutive reaction with buildup and decay of [Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+) as an intermediate. The kinetics and products indicate a mechanism of hydrogen atom transfers from the substrates to oxo groups of [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+) and [Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+). [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+) is a much stronger oxidant, converting toluene to tolyl-phenylmethanes and naphthalene to binaphthyl. Kinetic and mechanistic data indicate a mechanism of initial preequilibrium electron transfer for p-methoxytoluene and naphthalenes because, for instance, the reactions are inhibited by addition of [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+). The oxidation of toluene by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+), however, is not inhibited by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+). Oxidation of a mixture of C(6)H(5)CH(3) and C(6)H(5)CD(3) shows a kinetic isotope effect of 4.3 +/- 0.8, consistent with C-H bond cleavage in the rate-determining step. The data indicate a mechanism of initial hydride transfer from toluene to [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+). Thus, oxidations by manganese oxo dimers occur by three different mechanisms: hydrogen atom transfer, electron transfer, and hydride transfer. The thermodynamics of e(-), H(*), and H(-) transfers have been determined from redox potential and pK(a) measurements. For a particular oxidant and a particular substrate, the choice of mechanism is influenced both by the thermochemistry and by the intrinsic barriers. Rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+) and [Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+) are consistent with their 79 and 75 kcal mol(-)(1) affinities for H(*). In the oxidation of p-methoxytoluene by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+), hydride transfer is thermochemically 24 kcal mol(-)(1) more facile than electron transfer; yet the latter mechanism is preferred. Thus, electron transfer has a substantially smaller intrinsic barrier than does hydride transfer in this system.     

Binuclear manganese compounds of potential biological significance. Part 2. Mechanistic study of hydrogen peroxide disproportionation by dimanganese complexes: the two oxygen atoms of the peroxide end up in a dioxo intermediate

The dimanganese(II,II) complexes 1a [Mn(2)(L)(OAc)(2)(CH(3)OH)](ClO(4)) and 1b [Mn(2)(L)(OBz)(2)(H(2)O)](ClO(4)), where HL is the unsymmetrical phenol ligand 2-(bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl)-6-((2-pyridylmethyl)(benzyl)aminomethyl)-4-methylphenol, react with hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile solution. The disproportionation reaction was monitored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and EPR and UV-visible spectroscopies. Extensive EPR studies have shown that a species (2) exhibiting a 16-line spectrum at g approximately 2 persists during catalysis. ESI-MS experiments conducted similarly during catalysis associate 2a with a peak at 729 (791 for 2b) corresponding to the formula [Mn(III)Mn(IV)(L)(O)(2)(OAc)](+) ([Mn(III)Mn(IV)(L)(O)(2)(OBz)](+) for 2b). At the end of the reaction, it is partly replaced by a species (3) possessing a broad unfeatured signal at g approximately 2. ESI-MS associates 3a with a peak at 713 (775 for 3b) corresponding to the formula [Mn(II)Mn(III)(L)(O)(OAc)](+) ([Mn(II)Mn(III)(L)(O)(OBz)](+) for 3b). In the presence of H(2)(18)O, these two peaks move to 733 and to 715 indicating the presence of two and one oxo ligands, respectively. When H(2)(18)O(2) is used, 2a and 3a are labeled showing that the oxo ligands come from H(2)O(2). Interestingly, when an equimolar mixture of H(2)O(2) and H(2)(18)O(2) is used, only unlabeled and doubly labeled 2a/b are formed, showing that its two oxo ligands come from the same H(2)O(2) molecule. All these experiments lead to attribute the formula [Mn(III)Mn(IV)(L)(O)(2)(OAc)](+) to 2a and to 3a the formula [Mn(II)Mn(III)(L)(O)(OAc)](+). Freeze-quench/EPR experiments revealed that 2a appears at 500 ms and that another species with a 6-line spectrum is formed transiently at ca. 100 ms. 2a was prepared by reaction of 1a with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as shown by EPR and UV-visible spectroscopies and ESI-MS experiments. Its structure was studied by X-ray absorption experiments which revealed the presence of two or three O atoms at 1.87 A and three or two N/O atoms at 2.14 A. In addition one N atom was found at a longer distance (2.3 A) and one Mn at 2.63 A. 2a can be one-electron oxidized at E(1/2) = 0.91 V(NHE) (DeltaE(1/2) = 0.08 V) leading to its Mn(IV)Mn(IV) analogue. The formation of 2a from 1a was monitored by UV-visible and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Both concur to show that an intermediate Mn(II)Mn(III) species, resembling 4a [Mn(2)(L)(OAc)(2)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2), the one-electron-oxidized form of 1a, is formed initially and transforms into 2a. The structures of the active intermediates 2 and 3 are discussed in light of their spectroscopic properties, and potential mechanisms are considered and discussed in the context of the biological reaction.     

Water oxidation catalyzed by the tetranuclear Mn complex [Mn(IV)4O5(terpy)4(H2O)2](ClO4)6

The tetranuclear manganese complex [Mn(IV)(4)O(5)(terpy)(4)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(6) (1; terpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine) gives catalytic water oxidation in aqueous solution, as determined by electrochemistry and GC-MS. Complex 1 also exhibits catalytic water oxidation when adsorbed on kaolin clay, with Ce(IV) as the primary oxidant. The redox intermediates of complex 1 adsorbed on kaolin clay upon addition of Ce(IV) have been characterized by using diffuse reflectance UV/visible and EPR spectroscopy. One of the products in the reaction on kaolin clay is Mn(III), as determined by parallel-mode EPR spectroscopic studies. When 1 is oxidized in aqueous solution with Ce(IV), the reaction intermediates are unstable and decompose to form Mn(II), detected by EPR spectroscopy, and MnO(2). DFT calculations show that the oxygen in the mono-μ-oxo bridge, rather than Mn(IV), is oxidized after an electron is removed from the Mn(IV,IV,IV,IV) tetramer. On the basis of the calculations, the formation of O(2) is proposed to occur by reaction of water with an electrophilic manganese-bound oxyl radical species, (?)O-Mn(2)(IV/IV), produced during the oxidation of the tetramer. This study demonstrates that [Mn(IV)(4)O(5)(terpy)(4)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(6) may be relevant for understanding the role of the Mn tetramer in photosystem II.