Mechanism of superoxide dismutase-like activity of Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes of tetrakis-N,N,N',N'(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine

The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of iron(II) tetrakis-N,N,N',N'(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine complex (Fe-TPEN) was reexamined using a pulse radiolysis method. In our previous study (J. Biol. Chem., 264, 9243-9249 (1989)), we reported that this complex has a potent SOD activity in a cyt. c (cytochrome c)-based system (IC50 = 0.8 microM) and protects E. coli cells against paraquat toxicity. The present pulse radiolysis experiment revealed that Fe(II)TPEN reacts stoichiometrically with superoxide to form Fe(III)TPEN with a second-order rate constant of 3.9 x 10(6) M-1 S-1 at pH 7.1, but superoxide did not reduce Fe(III)TPEN to Fe(II)TPEN. The reaction of Fe(III)TPEN and superoxide was biphasic. In the fast reaction, an adduct (Fe(III)TPEN-superoxide complex) was formed at the second-order rate constant of 8.5 x 10(5) M-1 S-1 at pH 7.4. In the slow one, the adduct reacted with another molecule of the adduct, regenerating Fe(III)TPEN. In the cyt. c method with catalase, this Fe(III)TPEN-superoxide complex showed cyt. c oxidation activity, which had led to overestimation of its SOD activity. Based on the titration data, the main species of complex in aqueous media at neutral pH was indicated to be Fe(III)TPEN(OH-). A spectral change after the reduction with hydrated electron indicates that the OH- ion coordinates directly to Fe(III) by displacing one of the pyridine rings. The X-ray analysis of [Fe(II)TPEN]SO4 supported this structure. From the above results we propose a novel reaction mechanism of FeTPEN and superoxide which resembles a proton catalyzed dismuting process, involving Fe(III)TPEN-superoxide complex.     

Rational De Novo Design of a Cu Metalloenzyme for Superoxide Dismutation

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are highly efficient enzymes for superoxide dismutation and the first line of defense against oxidative stress. These metalloproteins contain a redox-active metal ion in their active site (Mn, Cu, Fe, Ni) with a tightly controlled reduction potential found in a close range around the optimal value of 0.36 V versus the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). Rationally designed proteins with well-defined three-dimensional structures offer new opportunities for obtaining functional SOD mimics. Here, we explore four different copper-binding scaffolds: H₃ (His₃), H₄ (His₄), H₂DH (His₃Asp with two His and one Asp in the same plane) and H₃D (His₃Asp with three His in the same plane) by using the scaffold of the de novo protein GRα₃D. EPR and XAS analysis of the resulting copper complexes demonstrates that they are good Cu^II-bound structural mimics of Cu-only SODs. Furthermore, all the complexes exhibit SOD activity, though three orders of magnitude slower than the native enzyme, making them the first de novo copper SOD mimics.     

New example of a non-heme mononuclear iron(IV) oxo complex. Spectroscopic data and oxidation activity

The green complex S=1 [(TPEN)FeO]2+ [TPEN=N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine] has been obtained by treating the [(TPEN)Fe]2+ precursor with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA). This high-valent complex belongs to the emerging family of synthetic models of Fe(IV)=O intermediates invoked during the catalytic cycle of biological systems. This complex exhibits spectroscopic characteristics that are similar to those of other models reported recently with a similar amine/pyridine environment. Thanks to its relative stability, vibrational data in solution have been obtained by Fourier transform infrared. A comparison of the Fe=O and Fe=(18)O wavenumbers reveals that the Fe-oxo vibration is not a pure one. The ability of the green complex to oxidize small organic molecules has been studied. Mixtures of oxygenated products derived from two- or four-electron oxidations are obtained. The reactivity of this [FeO]2+ complex is then not straightforward, and different mechanisms may be involved.     

Tuning the redox properties of manganese(II) and its implications to the electrochemistry of manganese and iron superoxide dismutases

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) catalyze the disproportionation of superoxide to dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The active metal sites of iron and manganese superoxide dismutases are structurally indistinguishable from each other. Despite the structural homology, these enzymes exhibit a high degree of metal selective activity suggesting subtle redox tuning of the active site. The redox tuning model, however, up to now has been challenged by the existence of so-called cambialistic SODs that function with either metal ion. We have prepared and investigated two sets of manganese complexes in which groups of varying electron-withdrawing character, as measured by their Hammett constants sigma Para, have been introduced into the ligands. We observed that the Mn(III)/Mn(II) reduction potential for the series based on 4'-X-terpyridine ligands together with the corresponding values for the iron-substituted 4'-X-terpyridine complexes changed linearly with sigma Para. The redox potential of the iron and manganese complexes could be varied by as much as 600 mV by the 4'-substitution with the manganese complexes being slightly more sensitive to the substitution than iron. The difference was such that in the case where the 4'-substituent was a pyrrolidine group both the manganese and the iron complex were thermodynamically competent to catalytically disproportionate superoxide, making this particular ligand "cambialistic". Taking our data and those available from the literature together, it was found that in addition to the electron-withdrawing capacity of the 4'-substituents the overall charge of the Mn(II) complexes plays a major role in tuning the redox potential, about 600 mV per charge unit. The ion selectivity in Mn and FeSODs and the occurrence of cambialistic SODs are discussed in view of these results. We conclude that the more distant electrostatic contributions may be the source of metal specific enzymatic activity.     

Electronic structure and spectro-structural correlations of Fe(III)Zn(II) biomimetics for purple acid phosphatases: relevance to DNA cleavage and cytotoxic activity

Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) are a group of metallohydrolases that contain a dinuclear Fe(III)M(II) center (M(II) = Fe, Mn, Zn) in the active site and are able to catalyze the hydrolysis of a variety of phosphoric acid esters. The dinuclear complex [(H(2)O)Fe(III)(μ-OH)Zn(II)(L-H)](ClO(4))(2) (2) with the ligand 2-[N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methyl-6-[N'-(2-pyridylmethyl)(2-hydroxybenzyl) aminomethyl]phenol (H(2)L-H) has recently been prepared and is found to closely mimic the coordination environment of the Fe(III)Zn(II) active site found in red kidney bean PAP (Neves et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7486). The biomimetic shows significant catalytic activity in hydrolytic reactions. By using a variety of structural, spectroscopic, and computational techniques the electronic structure of the Fe(III) center of this biomimetic complex was determined. In the solid state the electronic ground state reflects the rhombically distorted Fe(III)N(2)O(4) octahedron with a dominant tetragonal compression aligned along the μ-OH-Fe-O(phenolate) direction. To probe the role of the Fe-O(phenolate) bond, the phenolate moiety was modified to contain electron-donating or -withdrawing groups (-CH(3), -H, -Br, -NO(2)) in the 5-position. The effects of the substituents on the electronic properties of the biomimetic complexes were studied with a range of experimental and computational techniques. This study establishes benchmarks against accurate crystallographic structural information using spectroscopic techniques that are not restricted to single crystals. Kinetic studies on the hydrolysis reaction revealed that the phosphodiesterase activity increases in the order -NO(2) ←Br ←H ←CH(3) when 2,4-bis(dinitrophenyl)phosphate (2,4-bdnpp) was used as substrate, and a linear free energy relationship is found when log(k(cat)/k(0)) is plotted against the Hammett parameter σ. However, nuclease activity measurements in the cleavage of double stranded DNA showed that the complexes containing the electron-withdrawing -NO(2) and electron-donating -CH(3) groups are the most active while the cytotoxic activity of the biomimetics on leukemia and lung tumoral cells is highest for complexes with electron-donating groups.     

Trigonal bipyramidal geometry and tridentate coordination mode of the tripod in FeCl(2) complexes with tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine derivatives bis-alpha-substituted with bulky groups. structures and spectroscopic comparative studies

A series of dichloroferrous complexes with ligands derived from the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine tripod has been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes [bis(2-bromo-6-pyridylmethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2) ((Br(2)TPA)Fe(II)Cl(2)) and [bis(2-phenyl-6-pyridylmethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2), ((Ph(2)TPA)Fe(II)Cl(2)) are reported. In these complexes, the tripod coordinates in the tridentate mode, with a substituted pyridyl arm dangling away from the metal. Both complexes have a trigonal bipyramidal iron center with two equatorial chloride ions. Their crystal structures are compared with those of the [tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2) and [(2-bromo-6-pyridylmethyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2) complexes ((TPA)Fe(II)Cl(2) and (BrTPA)Fe(II)Cl(2), respectively) in which the ligand coordinates in the tetradentate mode. For all complexes, the metal to ligand distances are systematically above the value of 2.0 A, and (1)H NMR displays paramagnetically shifted resonances with short relaxation times. This indicates that the iron is in a high-spin state. Electric conductivity measurements show that, for all complexes, the measured values lie within the same range, significantly below those expected for ionic complexes. Together with the analysis of the UV-visible and NMR data, this strongly suggests that the coordination mode of the tripod is retained in solution.     

Electrochemical behaviour of mononuclear Fe(III) complexes as models for oxygenases: reactivity of Fe(II) species electrochemically formed in situ toward dioxygen

In this paper, we report the electrochemical study of a family of mononuclear Fe(III) complexes [Fe(BMPA)Cl(3)] 1, [Fe(MPBMPA)Cl(3)] 2, [Fe(PBMPA)Cl(2)]3 and [Fe(PABMPA)Cl(2)](ClO(4)) 4, where the ligand BMPA is bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and MPBMPA, PBMPA and PABMPA are the N-methylpropanoate, N-propanoate and N-propanamide BMPA-derivatives, respectively. It was possible to verify the influence of the different ligands on the redox properties of the complexes and from this to classify the complexes according to their Lewis acidity through the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox process, resulting in the following decreasing order in CH(3)CN solution: 4> 2> 1> 3. The effect of the solvents CH(3)CN and DMSO on their electrochemical properties was also determined. Furthermore, we investigated the reactivity of the electrochemically-generated Fe(II) complexes toward dioxygen and of the Fe(III) complexes toward superoxide through cyclic voltammetry. All the complexes reacted with dioxygen and superoxide in DMSO solution. Redox processes attributed to oxygenated species were observed in a more cathodic potential than those of the original compounds. According to the data, the new species Fe(II)-O(2) converts itself to Fe(III)-O(2)(-), which presents a new redox wave attributed to the process Fe(III)-O(2)(-) + e(-) --> Fe(II)-O(2)(-). The same species Fe(III)-O(2)(-) is formed from the reaction of the Fe(III) form of the complexes and KO(2).     

A kinetics and mechanistic study on the role of the structural rigidity of the linker on the substitution reactions of chelated dinuclear Pt(II) complexes

Substitution reactions of platinum complexes bearing cyclohexylamine/diamine moieties viz., [Pt(H(2)O)(N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)cyclohexylamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(2), bpcHna; [{Pt(H(2)O)}(2)(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-trans-1,4-cyclohexyldiamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), cHn and [{Pt(H(2)O)}(2)(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-4,4'-dicyclohexylmethanediamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), dcHnm and phenylamine/diamine moieties viz., ([Pt(H(2)O)N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)phenylamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(2), bpPha; [{Pt(H(2)O)}(2)(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-phenyldiamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), mPh; [{Pt(H(2)O)}(2)(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4-phenyldiamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), pPh and [{Pt(H(2)O)}(2)(N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-4,4'-diphenylmethanediamine)](CF(3)SO(3))(4)), dPhm with thiourea nucleophiles were studied in acidified 0.01 M LiCF(3)SO(3) aqueous medium under pseudo-first-order conditions using stopped-flow and UV-visible spectrophotometric techniques. The rate of substitution follows a similar trend in the two sets of complexes and decreases in the order: bpcHna > dcHnm > cHn and bpPha > dPhm ≈ pPh ≈ mPh), respectively. The result of this study has shown that the rigidity and/or the planarity of a diamine bridge linking the two (2-pyridylmethyl)amine-chelated Pt(II) centres, influences the reactivity of the metal centres by protracting similar symmetry elements within the complexes, which determines the amount of steric influences felt on the coordination square-plane. Hence, the order of reactivity is controlled by both the steric hindrance and the magnitude of the trans σ-inductive effect originating from the linker towards the metal centre. These two factors also impact on the acidity of the complexes. The high negative entropies and low positive enthalpies support an associative mode of activation.     

SOD模拟及其抗氧化和抗炎症功能的研究进展*

超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase, 简称SOD) 作为生物体内超氧离子自由基的清除剂, 具备有效抗氧化、抗炎症、抗衰老之功效, 并用于临床, 其化学模拟引起了人们的广泛研究兴趣。本文将简要介绍近年来SOD 人工模拟酶及其生物医学活性研究所取得的重要进展, 特别是Cu,Zn-SOD 模拟物结构与功能的相互关系、Mn-SOD 模拟物的生物活性及其医学应用。     

Isoquinoline-based TQEN family as TPEN-derived fluorescent zinc sensors

The hexadentate nitrogen ligands 1-isoTQEN ( N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(1-isoquinolylmethyl)ethylenediamine) and 3-isoTQEN ( N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(3-isoquinolylmethyl)ethylenediamine) have been prepared. The structures of these ligands are based on that of TPEN ( N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine). The introduction of a benzene ring into TPEN affords fluorescence ability upon zinc-ion binding. Compared to the quinoline isomer TQEN, isoquinoline derivatives 1-isoTQEN and 3-isoTQEN exhibit a lower-energy shift in the excitation and emission wavelengths and an enhanced fluorescence intensity, probably because of the energy-transfer mechanism between adjacent isoquinoline rings. Importantly, an increase in the Zn (2+)/Cd (2+) discriminating ability and a reduction in the background fluorescence induced by pH were also achieved for isoquinoline derivatives. The zinc-ion-induced fluorescence of these isoTQENs was not quenched by an addition of TPEN, which demonstrates the significantly high zinc-ion binding ability of these isoTQEN ligands.     

Reaction of metal-binding ligands with the zinc proteome: zinc sensors and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine

The commonly used Zn(2+) sensors 6-methoxy-8-p-toluenesulfonamidoquinoline (TSQ) and Zinquin have been shown to image zinc proteins as a result of the formation of sensor-zinc-protein ternary adducts not Zn(TSQ)(2) or Zn(Zinquin)(2) complexes. The powerful, cell-permeant chelating agent N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) is also used in conjunction with these and other Zn(2+) sensors to validate that the observed fluorescence enhancement seen with the sensors depends on intracellular interaction with Zn(2+). We demonstrated that the kinetics of the reaction of TPEN with cells pretreated with TSQ or Zinquin was not consistent with its reaction with Zn(TSQ)(2) or Zn(Zinquin)(2). Instead, TPEN and other chelating agents extract between 25 and 35% of the Zn(2+) bound to the proteome, including zinc(2+) from zinc metallothionein, and thereby quench some, but not all, of the sensor-zinc-protein fluorescence. Another mechanism in which TPEN exchanges with TSQ or Zinquin to form TPEN-zinc-protein adducts found support in the reactions of TPEN with Zinquin-zinc-alcohol dehydrogenase. TPEN also removed one of the two Zn(2+) ions per monomer from zinc-alcohol dehydrogenase and zinc-alkaline phosphatase, consistent with its ligand substitution reactivity with the zinc proteome.     

Kinetics of the reaction of nitric oxide with polypyridylamine iron(II) complexes

The reactions of three polypyridylamine ferrous complexes, [Fe(TPEN)]²⁺, [Fe(TPPN)]²⁺, and [Fe(TPTN)]²⁺, with nitric oxide (NO) (where TPEN = N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine, TPPN = N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-propylenediamine, and TPTN = N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)trimethylenediamine) were investigated. The first two complexes, which are spin-crossover systems, presented second-order rate constants for complex formation reactions (k_f) of 8.4 × 10³ and 9.3 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1, respectively (pH 5.0, 25 °C, I = 0.1 M). In contrast, the [Fe(TPTN)]²⁺ complex, which is in low-spin ground state, did not show any detectable reaction with NO. k_f values are lower than those of high-spin Fe(II) complexes, such as [Fe(EDTA)]^2? (EDTA = ethylenediaminetetraacetate) and [Fe(H₂O)]²⁺, but higher than low-spin Fe(II) complexes, such as [Fe(CN)₅(H₂O)]^3? and [Fe(bipyridine)₃]²⁺. The release of NO from the [Fe(TPEN)NO]²⁺ and [Fe(TPPN)NO]²⁺ complexes were also studied, showing the values 15.6 and 17.7 s^?1, respectively, comparable to the high-spin aminocarboxylate analogs. A mechanism is proposed based on the spin-crossover behavior and the geometry of these complexes and is discussed in the context of previous publications.     

Extraction behavior and separation of lanthanides with a diglycol amic acid derivative and a nitrogen-donor ligand.

The extraction and separation of lanthanides have been investigated using CHON-type extractants, which are composed of only C, H, O, and N atoms. N,N-Dioctyldiglycol amic acid (DODGAA) showed high extraction and separation performances for heavier lanthanides compared with typical CHON-type extractants. On the other hand, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) provided an unprecedentedly high selectivity for lighter lanthanides. Furthermore, it was found that the combination of DODGAA and TPEN under suitable conditions enabled the mutual separation of light, middle, and heavy lanthanides.     

Tetrakis(2-quinolinylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TQEN) as a new fluorescent sensor for zinc

A new fluorescent sensor for zinc that binds 1 equivalent of zinc ion, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-quinolylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TQEN), has been prepared and characterized. Zinc-bound TQEN exhibits fluorescence around 383 nm upon excitation at 317 nm, while free TQEN emits very weak fluorescence. UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectral changes also detected the binding of TQEN with zinc ion. The crystal structure of zinc complex with TQEN was determined by X-ray crystallography and compared with that of the TPEN-Zn complex (TPEN =N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine). The binding affinity of TQEN with zinc ion is very high (Kd < 1 microM in aqueous dmf solution). Competition experiments reveal that the zinc-binding affinity of TQEN is lower than the parent, strong metal ion chelator TPEN, and comparable to EGTA (EGTA = ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminomethyl)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid).     

Simultaneous detection of [metal(II)-tpen]2+ as kinetically inert cationic complexes using pre-capillary derivatization electrophoresis: an application to biological samples

A high resolution of doubly charged first row transition (Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn) and heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Hg) ions was achieved in capillary electrophoresis (CE) with high sensitivity (sub-micromol dm(-3) level), using NN,N'N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) as a pre-capillary derivatizing agent. The non-charged reagent, TPEN, was applied to capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for the first time. Since complete spatial separation between the complexes and the ligand was carried out in a carrier buffer, which was free of TPEN, kinetic inertness of metal complexes was necessary for the detection in this pre-capillary method. All the nine listed metal complexes were detected: Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Al(3+), Fe(3+), and Co(3+) complexes were undetectable. This, interestingly, suggests that those nine cations form kinetically inert tpen complexes without strong charge-charge interactions between the metal ion and the ligand. It is expected that the hard-soft-acid-base (HSAB) principle governed the kinetics selectivity. With respect to the electrophoretic behavior, the addition of chloride ion and methanol to the carrier significantly improved the resolution. This is due to the formation of ternary complexes or ion aggregates and the solvation effect, respectively. These effects provided a satisfactory baseline resolution among the nine metal ions. An application to biological samples was demonstrated. Some metal ions in human serum and urine were successfully detected in a simple process without the need for deproteinization using a non-coated fused-silica capillary because of the differenciation in the direction of migration between organic matter and complexes.     

Syntheses, X-ray structures, solid state high-field electron paramagnetic resonance, and density-functional theory investigations on chloro and aqua Mn(II) mononuclear complexes with amino-pyridine pentadentate ligands

The two pentadentate amino-pyridine ligands L5(2) and L5(3) (L5(2) and L5(3) stand for the N-methyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine and the N-methyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine, respectively) were used to synthesize four mononuclear Mn(II) complexes, namely [(L5(2))MnCl](PF6) (1(PF6)), [(L5(3))MnCl](PF6) (2(PF6)), [(L5(2))Mn(OH2)](BPh4)2 (3(BPh4)2), and [(L5(3))Mn(OH2)](BPh4)2 (4(BPh4)2). The X-ray diffraction studies revealed different configurations for the ligand L5(n) (n = 2, 3) depending on the sixth exogenous ligand and/or the counterion. Solid state high-field electron paramagnetic resonance spectra were recorded on complexes 1-4 as on previously described mononuclear Mn(II) systems with tetra- or hexadentate amino-pyridine ligands. Positive and negative axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters D were determined whose absolute values ranged from 0.090 to 0.180 cm(-1). Density-functional theory calculations were performed unraveling that, in contrast with chloro systems, the spin-spin and spin-orbit coupling contributions to the D-parameter are comparable for mixed N,O-coordination sphere complexes.     

Synthesis, magnetostructural correlation, and catalytic promiscuity of unsymmetric dinuclear copper(II) complexes: models for catechol oxidases and hydrolases

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization, through elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, potentiometric titration, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetochemistry, of two dinuclear copper(II) complexes, using the unsymmetrical ligands N',N',N-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (L1) and N',N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (L2). The structures of the complexes [Cu(2)(L1)(μ-OAc)](ClO(4))(2)·(CH(3))(2)CHOH (1) and [Cu(2)(L2)(μ-OAc)](ClO(4))·H(2)O·(CH(3))(2)CHOH (2) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex [Cu(2)(L3)(μ-OAc)](2+) [3; L3 = N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N',N',N-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol] was included in this study for comparison purposes only (Neves et al. Inorg. Chim. Acta2005, 358, 1807-1822). Magnetic data show that the Cu(II) centers in 1 and 2 are antiferromagnetically coupled and that the difference in the exchange coupling J found for these complexes (J = -4.3 cm(-1) for 1 and J = -40.0 cm(-1) for 2) is a function of the Cu-O-Cu bridging angle. In addition, 1 and 2 were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of the model substrate 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and can be considered as functional models for catechol oxidase. Because these complexes possess labile sites in their structures and in solution they have a potential nucleophile constituted by a terminal Cu(II)-bound hydroxo group, their activity toward hydrolysis of the model substrate 2,4-bis(dinitrophenyl)phosphate and DNA was also investigated. Double electrophilic activation of the phosphodiester by monodentate coordination to the Cu(II) center that contains the phenol group with tert-butyl substituents and hydrogen bonding of the protonated phenol with the phosphate O atom are proposed to increase the hydrolase activity (K(ass.) and k(cat.)) of 1 and 2 in comparison with that found for complex 3. In fact, complexes 1 and 2 show both oxidoreductase and hydrolase/nuclease activities and can thus be regarded as man-made models for studying catalytic promiscuity.     

Highly active copper-based catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) generally requires a catalyst/initiator molar ratio of 0.1 to 1 and catalyst/monomer molar ratio of 0.001 to 0.01 (i.e., catalyst concentration: 1000-10,000 ppm versus monomer). Herein, we report a new copper-based complex CuBr/N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) as a versatile and highly active catalyst for acrylic, methacrylic, and styrenic monomers. The catalyst mediated ATRP at a catalyst/initiator molar ratio of 0.005 and produced polymers with well-controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities. ATRP occurred even at a catalyst/initiator molar ratio as low as 0.001 with copper concentration in the produced polymers as low as 6-8 ppm (catalyst/monomer molar ratio = 10(-5)). The catalyst structures were studied by X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. The activator CuIBr/TPEN existed in solution as binuclear and mononuclear complexes in equilibrium but as a binuclear complex in its single crystals. The deactivator CuIIBr2/TPEN complex was mononuclear. High stability and appropriate KATRP (ATRP equilibrium constant) were found crucial for the catalyst working under high dilution or in coordinating solvents/monomers. This provides guidance for further design of highly active ATRP catalysts.     

Pyridinderivate als Komplexbildner. XI. Die Thermodynamik der Metallkomplexbildung mit Bis-, Tris- und Tetrakis[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-aminen

Pyridine Derivatives as Complexing Agents XI. Thermodynamics of Metal Complex Formation with Bis-, Tris- and Tetrakis[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-amines. The equilibria between H⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺, and the ligands bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (=DPA), tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (=TPA), tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (=TLA) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-ethylenediamine (=TPEN) have been studied. Only the stability constants of DPA and TLA with almost all these cations were obtained using the pH method. For the other ligands, the complexes are already formed in acid solutions and only the use of different ligand-ligand or metal-metal exchanges as well as of pM methods were successful. The protonation constants indicate that for DPA the protonation occurs firstly at the aliphatic nitrogen atom whereas in all other cases only the pyridine groups can be protonated. The thermodynamic functions of protonation are in agreement with this interpretation. The stability constants of the complexes are often similar in magnitude to those of the analogous aliphatic amines, in spite of the much lower basicities of the pyridine derivatives. The Fe(II)N₆ species of DPA and TPEN are appreciably more stable than those of the corresponding aliphatic ligands. This is due to the formation of low-spin complexes with an unexpected ΔH value. Comparison of the thermodynamic data of formation of the complexes with TPA and TLA shows the effect of the three bulky methyl groups of the second ligand. As a consequence of steric hindrance and of the major dehydration, ΔH and less ΔS are more positive for M(TLA)²⁺ than for M(TPA)²⁺. Therefore M(TLA)²⁺ is normally much less stable than M(TPA)²⁺. The data for MnTPA²⁺ and ZnTPA²⁺ appear to indicate that in these complexes the coordination number of the metal ion is seven and four respectively. In addition to the complexes ML²⁺, with these two ligands hydroxo complexes ML(OH)⁺ are formed at remarkably low pH. Further TPEN seems to be sexidentate in the 1:1 complexes with Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ but quinquedentate in those with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, also in agreement with the spectra in solution and of the solid complex salts. The reaction: M(DPA)₂²⁺ + TPEN → M(TPEN)²⁺ + 2DPA is for all metal ions favoured by ΔH and ΔS, whereas in the case of the corresponding aliphatic ligands only by the second term. This result is explained in terms of a different magnitude of hydration of the two sexidentate ligands as a consequence of the presence of the hydrophobic aromatic rings in TPEN.     

Self-assembled monolayer electrode of a diiron complex with a phenoxo-based dinucleating ligand: observation of molecular oxygen adsorptionldesorption in aqueous media

The phenoxo-based dinucleating ligand, 2,6-bis[bis(6-pivalamido-2-pyridylmethyl)amino-methyl-4-aminophenol (1), and its Fe2(II) complex, [Fe2(II)(1)(PhCOO)2](CF3SO3) (2), were prepared and 2 deposited on the Au surface (2/Au) is much more stable than in solution and exhibits redox behavior in aqueous media as well as reversible adsorption/desorption of oxygen at room temperature.