Cu3(mu-S)2]3+ clusters supported by N-donor ligands: progress toward a synthetic model of the catalytic site of nitrous oxide reductase

By treating Cu(I) complexes of neutral, bidentate N-donor ligands with S8, clusters with novel delocalized mixed-valence [Cu3(mu-S)2]3+ cores have been isolated. X-ray crystal structures and UV-vis and resonance Raman spectral features of these clusters reveal similarities to the tetracopper-sulfide "CuZ" site in nitrous oxide reductase. A delocalized S = 1 ground state for the mixed-valent CuIIICu2II cores is supported by the observation of high symmetry in the X-ray structures and 10-line hyperfine features arising from coupling to three equivalent Cu ions in EPR spectra obtained at room temperature (shown) and 10 K. The delocalization we observe contrasts with the localization reported previously for a [Cu3(mu-O)2]3+ analogue (Root, D. E.; Henson, M. J.; Machonkin, T.; Mukherjee, P.; Stack, T. D. P.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 4982), which we rationalized through DFT calculations.     

Electronic structure of binuclear mixed valence copper azacryptates derived from integrated advanced EPR and DFT calculations

Binuclear, mixed valence copper complexes with a [Cu(+1)(.5), Cu(+1)(.5)] redox state and S = (1)/(2) can be stabilized with rigid azacryptand ligands. In this system the unpaired electron is delocalized equally over the two copper ions, and it is one of the very few synthetic models for the electron mediating Cu(A) site of nitrous oxide reductase and cytochrome c oxidase. The spatial and electronic structures of the copper complex in frozen solution were obtained from the magnetic interactions, namely the g-tensor and the (63,65)Cu, (14)N, (2)H, and (1)H hyperfine couplings, in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The magnetic interactions were determined from continuous wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), two-dimensional TRIPLE, and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy (HYSCORE) carried out at W-band or/and X-band frequencies. The DFT calculated g and Cu hyperfine values were in good agreement with the experimental values showing that the structure in solution is indeed close to that of the optimized structure. Then, the DFT calculated hyperfine parameters were used as guidelines and starting points in the simulations of the various experimental ENDOR spectra. A satisfactory agreement with the experimental results was obtained for the (14)N hyperfine and quadrupole interactions. For (1)H the DFT calculations gave good predictions for the hyperfine tensor orientations and signs, and they were also successful in reproducing trends in the magnitude of the various proton hyperfine couplings. These, in turn, were very useful for ENDOR signals assignments and served as constraints on the simulation parameters.     

Isotropic and antisymmetric double-exchange, zero-field, Zeeman, and hyperfine splittings in trinuclear valence-delocalized [Cu3(7+)] clusters

Valence delocalization in the [Cu3(7+)] trimer is considered in the model of the double-exchange coupling, in which full delocalization corresponds to the migration of the single d(x2-y2) hole and relatively strong isotropic double-exchange coupling. Strong double exchange results in the pairing of the individual spins in the delocalized trimer even at room temperature. The model explains the delocalized singlet 1A1 ground state in the planar Cu3(mu3-O) core by strong double exchange with positive double-exchange parameter t(0), whereas the delocalized triplet ground state of the [Cu3(7+)] trimer, which was observed in the Cu3(mu3-S)2 cluster, may be explained by the double exchange with relatively weak positive t(0): 0 < t(0) < 2J (degenerate 3E ground state) or negative t(0) (triplet 3A2 ground state). An analysis of the splitting of the delocalized degenerate 3E term requires inclusion of the antisymmetric double-exchange interaction, which takes into account the spin-orbit coupling in the double-exchange model. The cluster parameter KZ of the antisymmetric double-exchange coupling is proportional to t(0) and anisotropy of the g factor Deltag(parallel)[Cu(II)], KZ < t(0). Antisymmetric double exchange is relatively large in the [Cu3(7+)] cluster with the d(x2-y2) magnetic orbitals lying in the Cu3 plane [Cu3(mu3-O) core], whereas for the d(x2-y2) magnetic orbitals lying in the plane perpendicular to Cu3, antisymmetric double-exchange coupling is weak [Cu3(mu3-S)2 cluster]. The antisymmetric double-exchange coupling results in the linear zero-field splitting DeltaK = 2[equation: see text]KZ (approximately t(0)) of the delocalized degenerate 3E term that leads to strong anisotropy of the Zeeman splittings in the external magnetic field and a complex electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum. The delocalized model of hyperfine interaction explains the hyperfine structure [10 hyperfine lines with the relative intensities 1:3:6:10:12:12:10:6:3:1 and the interval a/3] of the EPR transitions in the triplet states that was observed in the EPR spectra of the Cu3(mu3-S)2 cluster.     

Synthesis of novel aromatic nitroxides as potential DNA intercalators. An EPR spectroscopical and DFT computational study

The synthesis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic properties of three novel aromatic nitroxides and potential DNA intercalators, the carbazole-based 3,6-dimethylcarbazole-9-oxyl, as well as the acridane-based 9-acridanylidenemalonitrile-10-oxyl and 9-ethylacridanylidenecyanoacetate-10-oxyl, are described. The two acridane-based nitroxides can be isolated and are stable in solution as well as in the solid state for several days. Continuous wave X-band EPR measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the spin density is delocalized over the whole molecule in all three cases. Furthermore, the DFT calculations provided insight into the molecular and electronic structures of these nitroxides and yielded hyperfine coupling constants which are in very good agreement with the experimental data allowing therefore an unambiguous assignment of the hyperfine couplings.     

Spin delocalization over type zero copper

Hard-ligand, high-potential copper sites have been characterized in double mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (C112D/M121X (X = L, F, I)). These sites feature a small A(zz)(Cu) splitting in the EPR spectrum together with enhanced electron transfer activity. Due to these unique properties, these constructs have been called "type zero" copper sites. In contrast, the single mutant, C112D, features a large A(zz)(Cu) value characteristic of the typical type 2 Cu(II). In general, A(zz)(Cu) comprises contributions from Fermi contact, spin dipolar, and orbital dipolar terms. In order to understand the origin of the low A(zz)(Cu) value of type zero Cu(II), we explored in detail its degree of covalency, as manifested by spin delocalization over its ligands, which affects A(zz)(Cu) through the Fermi contact and spin dipolar contributions. This was achieved by the application of several complementary EPR hyperfine spectroscopic techniques at X- and W-band (～9.5 and 95 GHz, respectively) frequencies to map the ligand hyperfine couplings. Our results show that spin delocalization over the ligands in type zero Cu(II) is different from that of type 2 Cu(II) in the single C112D mutant. The (14)N hyperfine couplings of the coordinated histidine nitrogens are smaller by about 25-40%, whereas that of the (13)C carboxylate of D112 is about 50% larger. From this comparison, we concluded that the spin delocalization of type zero copper over its ligands is not dramatically larger than in type 2 C112D. Therefore, the reduced A(zz)(Cu) value of type zero Cu(II) is largely attributable to an increased orbital dipolar contribution that is related to its larger g(zz) value, as a consequence of the distorted tetrahedral geometry. The increased spin delocalization over the D112 carboxylate in type zero mutants compared to type 2 C112D suggests that electron transfer paths involving this residue are enhanced.     

Targeted ferromagnetic coupling in a trinuclear copperII complex: analysis of the St = 3/2 spin ground state

The trinuclear Cu(II) complex [(talen)Cu(II)(3)] (1) using the new triplesalen ligand H(6)talen has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The three Cu(II) ions are bridged in a m-phenylene linkage by the phloroglucinol backbone of the ligand. This m-phenylene bridging mode results in ferromagnetic couplings with an S(t) = (3)/(2) spin ground state, which has been analyzed by means of EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The EPR spectrum exhibits an unprecedented pattern of 10 hyperfine lines due to the coupling of three Cu(II) ions (I = (3)/(2)). Resonances around g = 4 in both perpendicular and parallel mode EPR spectra demonstrate a zero-field splitting of D approximately 74 x 10(-4) cm(-1) arising from anisotropic/antisymmetric exchange interactions. The DFT calculations show an alteration in the sign of the spin densities of the central benzene ring corroborating the spin-polarization mechanism as origin for the ferromagnetic coupling.     

Structurally distinct active sites in the copper(II)-substituted aminopeptidases from Aeromonas proteolytica and Escherichia coli

The aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP) was titrated with copper, which bound sequentially at two distinct sites. Both the mono- and disubstituted forms of AAP exhibited catalytic hyperactivity relative to the native dizinc enzyme. Monosubstituted AAP exhibited an axial Cu(II) EPR spectrum with slight pH dependence: at pH 6.0 g(parallel) = 2.249, g( perpendicular ) = 2.055, and A(parallel)((63/65)Cu) = 1.77 x 10(-)(2) cm(-)(1), whereas at pH 9.65 g(parallel) = 2.245, g( perpendicular ) = 2.056, and A(parallel)((63/65)Cu) = 1.77 x 10(-)(2) cm(-)(1). These data indicate oxygen and nitrogen ligation of Cu. AAP further substituted with copper exhibited a complex signal with features around g approximately 2 and 4. The features at g approximately 4 were relatively weak in the B(0) perpendicular B(1) (perpendicular) mode EPR spectrum but were intense in the B(0) parallel B(1) (parallel) mode spectrum. The g approximately 2 region of the perpendicular mode spectrum exhibited two components, one corresponding to mononuclear Cu(II) with g(parallel) = 2.218, g( perpendicular ) = 2.023, and A(parallel)((63/65)Cu) = 1.55 x 10(-)(2) cm(-)(1) and likely due to adventitious binding of Cu(II) to a site distant from the active site. Excellent simulations were obtained for the second component of the spectrum assuming that two Cu(II) ions experience dipolar coupling corresponding to an inter-copper distance of 5 A with the two Cu(II) g(z)() directions parallel to each other and at an angle of approximately 17 degrees to the inter-copper vector (H = betaB.g(CuA).S(CuA) + betaB.g(CuB).S(CuB) + [S.A.I](CuA) + [S.A.I](CuB) + [S(CuA).J.S(CuB)]; g(parallel(CuA,CuB)) = 2.218, g( perpendicular )((CuA,CuB)) = 2.060; A(parallel(CuA,CuB))((63/65)Cu) = 1.59 x 10(-)(2) cm(-)(1), J(isotropic) = 50 cm(-)(1), r(Cu)(-)(Cu) = 4.93 A, and chi = 17 degrees ). The exchange coupling between the two copper ions was found to be ferromagnetic as the signals exhibited Curie law temperature dependence. The Cu-Cu distance of approximately 5 A indicated by EPR was significantly higher than the inter-zinc distance of 3.5 A in the native enzyme, and the dicopper species therefore represents a novel dinuclear site capable of catalysis of hydrolysis. In contrast to AAP, the related methionyl aminopeptidase from Escherichia coli (EcMetAP) was found to bind only one Cu(II) ion despite possessing a dinuclear binding site motif. A further difference was the marked pH dependence of the signal in EcMetAP, suggestive of a change in ligation. The structural motifs of these two Cu(II)-substituted aminopeptidases provide important insight into the observed catalytic activity.     

Quantum chemical interpretation of redox properties of ruthenium complexes with vinyl and TCNX type non-innocent ligands

This review provides an overview of density functional theory (DFT) calculations in a consequence with spectroelectrochemical measurements on mononuclear and symmetrically or unsymmetrically bridged di- and tetranuclear ruthenium complexes of vinyl and TCNX ligands. The DFT approach is used for the calculations of molecular structures, vibrational frequencies, electronic and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectral data. DFT calculations enable us to identity the primary redox site and the electron and spin-density distribution between the individual components for the individual redox congeners. The DFT technique reproduces the spectral properties of the presented complexes and their radical ions. The generally close correspondence between experimental and quantum chemical results demonstrate that modern DFT is a powerful tool to address issues like ligand non-innocence and electron and spin delocalization in systems containing both redox-active metal ions and redox-active ligands.     

One-electron-reduced and -oxidized stages of donor-substituted 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-dienes of different molecular architectures

A series of monomeric and oligomeric donor-substituted 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-dienes (TCBDs) with various topologies have been synthesized by means of thermal [2+2] cycloaddition between tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and donor-substituted alkynes, followed by retro-electrocyclization. One-electron-reduced and -oxidized stages of the donor-substituted TCBDs were generated by chemical methods. The obtained radical anions and radical cations were studied by using electron paramagnetic resonance/electron nuclear double resonance (EPR/ENDOR) spectroscopy, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The extent of pi-electron delocalization in the paramagnetic species was investigated in terms of the EPR parameters. Despite favorable molecular orbital (MO) coefficients, the EPR results suggest that in radical anions the spin and charge are confined to the electron-withdrawing TCBD moieties on the hyperfine EPR timescale. The observed spin localization is presumably caused by an interplay between the nonplanarity of the studied pi systems, limited pi-electron conjugation, and very likely counterion effects. In radical cations, an analogous spin and charge localization confined to the electron-donating N,N-dialkylaniline moieties was found. In this case, an efficient electron delocalization is disabled by small MO coefficients at the joints between the donor and acceptor portions of the studied TCBDs.     

Hyperfine structure observed in EPR spectra of polyphenylacetylene solutions

The high-temperature (>120C) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of solutions of polyphenylacetylene have been deconvoluted into the spectra of two separate radicals, a delocalized π radical, whose EPR spectrum consists of a single 15-G wide Gaussian line comprising about 90% of the total signal and a second, more localized π radical exhibiting complex hyperfine structure in its EPR spectrum. Some possible structures for the minor component radical are suggested and their hyperfine splitting constants calculated using molecular orbital theory.     

Characterisation of [Cu4S], the catalytic site in nitrous oxide reductase, by EPR spectroscopy

The enzyme nitrous oxide reductase (N(2)OR) has a unique tetranuclear copper centre [Cu(4)S], called Cu(Z), at the catalytic site for the two-electron reduction of N(2)O to N(2). The X- and Q-band EPR spectra have been recorded from two forms of the catalytic site of the enzyme N(2)OR from Paracoccus pantotrophus, namely, a form prepared anaerobically, Cu(Z), that undergoes a one-electron redox cycle and Cu(Z)*, prepared aerobically, which cannot be redox cycled. The spectra of both species are axial with that of Cu(Z) showing a rich hyperfine splitting in the g||-region at X-band. DFT calculations were performed to gain insight into the electronic configuration and ground-state properties of Cu(Z) and to calculate EPR parameters. The results for the oxidation state [Cu(+1)(3)Cu(+2)(1)S](3+) are in good agreement with values obtained from the fitting of experimental spectra, confirming the absolute oxidation state of Cu(Z). The unpaired spin density in this configuration is delocalised over four copper ions, thus, Cu(I) 20.1%, Cu(II) 9.5%, Cu(III) 4.8% and Cu(IV) 9.2%, the mu(4)-sulfide ion and oxygen ligand. The three copper ions carrying the highest spin density plus the sulfide ion lie approximately in the same plane while the fourth copper ion is perpendicular to this plane and carries only 4.8% spin density. It is suggested that the atoms in this plane represent the catalytic core of Cu(Z), allowing electron redistribution within the plane during interaction with the substrate, N(2)O.     

An EPR, ESEEM, structural NMR, and DFT study of a synthetic model for the covalently ring-linked tyrosine-histidine structure in the heme-copper oxidases

We report CW-EPR, ESEEM, and structural NMR results, as well as DFT calculations, on model compounds relevant to the unusual cross-linked Tyr-His (YH) moiety at the active site of the heme-copper oxidases. CW-EPR spectra of an (15)N isotopically labeled 4-methyl-2-(4-methyl-imidazole-1-yl)-phenol radical are nearly identical to those of the natural abundance (14)N compound. We obtain good simulations of these EPR spectra without including hyperfine couplings to the nitrogen nuclei. This implies that the electron distribution of the radical is largely localized on the phenol ring with only a small amount of spin delocalized onto the nitrogens of the imidazole. Using three-pulse ESEEM spectroscopy, we have successfully detected the two imidazole ring nitrogens, one near the "exact cancellation" ESEEM condition and the other more weakly coupled. We assign these to the imino and amino nitrogens, respectively, based on DFT calculations performed on this radical species. The experimental results and the supporting density functional calculations clearly show that the imidazole substituent has only a minor effect on the electronic structure of the substituted phenol radical.     

Characterization of the phenoxyl radical in model complexes for the Cu(B) site of cytochrome c oxidase: steady-state and transient absorption measurements, UV resonance raman spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations for M-BIAIP

Physicochemical properties of the covalently cross-linked tyrosine-histidine-Cu(B) (Tyr-His-Cu(B)) unit, which is a minimal model complex [M(II)-BIAIPBr]Br (M = Cu(II), Zn(II)) for the Cu(B) site of cytochrome c oxidase, were investigated with steady-state and transient absorption measurements, UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy, X-band continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The pH dependency of the absorption spectra reveals that the pK(a) of the phenolic hydroxyl is ca. 10 for the Cu(II) model complex (Cu(II)-BIAIP) in the ground state, which is similar to that of p-cresol (tyrosine), contrary to expectations. The bond between Cu(II) and nitrogen of cross-linked imidazole cleaves at pH 4.9. We have successfully obtained UVRR spectra of the phenoxyl radical form of BIAIPs and have assigned bands based on the previously reported isotope shifts of Im-Ph (2-(1-imidazoyl)-4-methylphenol) (Aki, M.; Ogura, T.; Naruta, Y.; Le, T. H.; Sato, T.; Kitagawa, T. J. Phys. Chem. A 2002, 106, 3436-3444) in combination with DFT calculations. The upshifts of the phenoxyl vibrational frequencies for 8a (C-C stretching), 7a' (C-O stretching), and 19a, and the Raman-intensity enhancements of 19b, 8b, and 14 modes indicate that UVRR spectra are highly sensitive to imidazole-phenol covalent linkage. Both transient absorption measurements and EPR spectra suggest that the Tyr-His-Cu(B) unit has only a minor effect on the electronic structure of the phenoxyl radical form, although our experimental results appear to indicate that the cross-linked Tyr radical exhibits no EPR. The role of the Tyr-His-Cu(B) unit in the enzyme is discussed in terms of the obtained spectroscopic parameters of the model complex.     

Structure of radicals from X-irradiated guanine derivatives. 2. An experimental and computational study of 9-ethylguanine single crystals

An EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) and ENDOR (electron-nuclear double resonance) study of 9-ethylguanine crystals X-irradiated at 10 K detected evidence for three radical forms. Radical R1, characterized by three proton and two nitrogen hyperfine interactions, was identified as the product of net hydrogenation at N7 of the guanine unit. R1, which evidently formed by protonation of the primary electron addition product, exhibited an unusually distorted structure leading to net positive isotropic components of the alpha-coupling to the hydrogen attached to C8 of the guanine unit. Radical R2, characterized by two nitrogen and three proton hyperfine couplings, was identified as the primary electron loss product, *G+. Distinguishing between *G+ and its N1-deprotonated product is difficult because their couplings are so similar, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were indispensable for doing so. The results for R2 provide the most complete ENDOR characterization of *G+ presented so far. Radical R3 exhibited a narrow EPR pattern but could not be identified. The identification of radicals R1 and R2 was supported by DFT calculations using the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,p)//6-31+G(d,p) approach. Radical R4, detected after irradiation of the crystals at room temperature, was identified as the well-known product of net hydrogenation at C8 of the guanine component. Spectra from the room temperature irradiation contained evidence for R5, an additional radical that could not be identified. Radical concentrations from the low temperature irradiation were estimated as follows: R1, 20%; R2, 65%; R3, 15%.     

Reversibly reducible cis-dichloroplatinum(II) and cis-dichloropalladium(II) complexes of bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)glyoxal

Complexes cis-MCl2(big), big=bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)glyoxal, M=Pt, Pd, were prepared and characterized through electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and for M=Pt, by X-ray structure analysis. The seven-membered chelate ring formed through N,N' coordination of the ligand big shows a boat conformation in agreement with density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. No significant intermolecular interactions were observed for the platinum compound. Both the PdII and PtII complexes undergo reversible one-electron reduction in CH2Cl2/ 0.1 M Bu4NPF6; the reduced palladium compound disintegrates above -30 degrees C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV-vis, and IR spectroelectrochemistry studies were employed to study the monoanions. The anion radical complex [cis-PtCl2(big)]*- exhibits a well-resolved EPR spectrum with small but well-detectable g anisotropy and an isotropic 195Pt hyperfine coupling of 12.2 G. DFT calculations confirm the spin concentration in the alpha-semidione part of the radical complex with small delocalization to the bis(imidazolyl)metal section. The results show that EPR and electroactive moieties can be linked to the cis-dichloroplatinum(II) group via imidazole coordination.     

The two-state issue in the mixed-valence binuclear CuA center in cytochrome C oxidase and N2O reductase

For the CuA site in the protein, sigmau* and piu are the ground and lowest energy excited-states, respectively. EPR data on CuA proteins show a low g parallel value of 2.19 which derives from spin-orbital coupling between sigmau* and piu which requires an energy gap between sigmau* and piu of 3000-4500 cm-1. On the other hand, from paramagnetic NMR studies, it has been observed that the first excited-state is thermally accessible and the energy gap between the ground state and the thermally accessible state is approximately 350 cm-1. This study addressed this apparent discrepancy and evaluated the roles of the two electronic states, sigmau* and piu, in electron transfer (ET) of CuA. The potential energy surface calculations show that both NMR and EPR results are consistent with the electronic/geometric structure of CuA. The anti-Curie behavior observed in paramagnetic NMR studies of CuA results from the thermal equilibrium between the sigmau* and piu states which are at very close energies in their respective equilibrium geometries. Alternatively, the EPR g-value analysis involves the sigmau* ground state in the geometry with a short dCu-Cu where the piu state is a Frank-Condon excited-state with the energy of 3200 cm-1. The protein environment plays a role in maintaining CuA in the sigmau* state as a lowest-energy state with the lowest reorganization energy and high-covalent coupling to the Cys and His ligands for efficient intra- and intermolecular ET with a low-driving force.     

Electronic structure description of a [Co(III)3Co(IV)O4] cluster: a model for the paramagnetic intermediate in cobalt-catalyzed water oxidation

Multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonace (EPR) spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations were performed on [Co(4)O(4)(C(5)H(5)N)(4)(CH(3)CO(2))(4)](+) (1(+)), a cobalt tetramer with total electron spin S = 1/2 and formal cobalt oxidation states III, III, III, and IV. The cuboidal arrangement of its cobalt and oxygen atoms is similar to that of proposed structures for the molecular cobaltate clusters of the cobalt-phosphate (Co-Pi) water-oxidizing catalyst. The Davies electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectrum is well-modeled using a single class of hyperfine-coupled (59)Co nuclei with a modestly strong interaction (principal elements of the hyperfine tensor are equal to [-20(±2), 77(±1), -5(±15)] MHz). Mims (1)H ENDOR spectra of 1(+) with selectively deuterated pyridine ligands confirm that the amount of unpaired spin on the cobalt-bonding partner is significantly reduced from unity. Multifrequency (14)N ESEEM spectra (acquired at 9.5 and 34.0 GHz) indicate that four nearly equivalent nitrogen nuclei are coupled to the electron spin. Cumulatively, our EPR spectroscopic findings indicate that the unpaired spin is delocalized almost equally across the eight core atoms, a finding corroborated by results from DFT calculations. Each octahedrally coordinated cobalt ion is forced into a low-spin electron configuration by the anionic oxo and carboxylato ligands, and a fractional electron hole is localized on each metal center in a Co 3d(xz,yz)-based molecular orbital for this essentially [Co(+3.125)(4)O(4)] system. Comparing the EPR spectrum of 1(+) with that of the catalyst film allows us to draw conclusions about the electronic structure of this water-oxidation catalyst.     

Diketone radical cations: ketonic and enolic forms as revealed by matrix EPR studies and DFT calculations

Radical cations of 2,3-butanedione, 2,4-pentanedione, 3-methylpentane-2,4-dione, 2,5-hexanedione, and 2,3-pentanedione were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in a solid Freon matrix and density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations. All the diketone radical cations in ketonic form show small proton hyperfine couplings (typically unresolved in the EPR spectra). In the cases of 2,4-pentanedione and 3-methylpentane-2,4-dione, enolic forms of the radical cations (pi-type species with main spin population at carbon atom) were characterized. Preferential stabilization of the enolic form of 3-methylpentane-2,4-dione radical cation was explained by trap-to-trap positive hole migration rather than monomolecular relaxation of the ionized ketonic form through H atom transfer.     

EPR and DFT studies of the one-electron reduction product of phospholium cations

Cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy show that cationic phospholium groups are good electron acceptors whose reduction leads to a neutral radical where the unpaired electron is mainly delocalized on the carbon atoms of the five-membered ring. DFT calculations together with the crystal structure of phospholiums indicate that the electron addition causes a drastic diminution of the exocyclic CPC angle. The SOMO of reduced phospholium is compared to the SOMO of the phosphole radical anion.