O2 Inhibition of Ni‐Containing CO Dehydrogenase Is Partly Reversible

Ni‐containing CO dehydrogenases (CODHs) are very efficient metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion between CO₂ and CO. They are a source of inspiration for designing CO₂‐reduction catalysts and can also find direct use in biotechnology. They are deemed extremely sensitive to O₂, but very little is known about this aspect of their reactivity. We investigated the reaction with O₂ of Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans (Ch) CODH II and the homologous, recently characterized CODH from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Dv) through protein film voltammetry and solution assays (in the oxidative direction). We found that O₂ reacts very quickly with the active site of CODHs, generating species that reactivate upon reduction—this was unexpected. We observed that distinct CODHs exhibit different behaviors: Dv CODH reacts half as fast with O₂ than Ch CODH, and only the former fully recovers the activity upon reduction. The results raise hope that fast CO/CO₂ biological conversion may be feasible under aerobic conditions.     

Electrocatalytic and Biosensing Properties of Aerobic Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase from Hydrogenophaga Pseudoflava Immobilized on Au Electrode towards Carbon Monoxide Oxidation

Herein, an enzyme‐electrode based on the oxygen‐insensitive carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) containing molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and two different [2Fe‐2 S] clusters as cofactors from the aerobic bacterium Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava, is proposed as a platform for dissolved CO concentration monitoring. The immobilized CODHs on Au electrode retain their catalytic activity and demonstrates changes to cyclic voltammetry and amperometry signals upon interactions with various dissolved CO concentrations. Cyclic voltammetry shows that CODHs are capable of direct electron transfer without any mediator use as oxidative current which starts around ?0.268 V (vs Ag/AgCl) is observed in the presence of CO. When CO‐saturated standard solution was spiked sequentially into the gas‐tight reactor, amperometry analysis shows current increased accordingly with response time within 5 s. Our study demonstrates that this enzyme‐electrode is promising to serve as platform for developing an on‐line dissolved CO concentration monitoring tool which is essential to fill in the gap for conventional technologies which are limited to off‐line measurement.     

How the [NiFe4S4] Cluster of CO Dehydrogenase Activates CO2 and NCO−

Ni,Fe‐containing CO dehydrogenases (CODHs) use a [NiFe₄S₄] cluster, termed cluster C, to reversibly reduce CO₂ to CO with high turnover number. Binding to Ni and Fe activates CO₂, but current crystal structures have insufficient resolution to analyze the geometry of bound CO₂ and reveal the extent and nature of its activation. The crystal structures of CODH in complex with CO₂ and the isoelectronic inhibitor NCO^? are reported at true atomic resolution (d_min≤1.1 Å). Like CO₂, NCO^? is a μ₂,η² ligand of the cluster and acts as a mechanism‐based inhibitor. While bound CO₂ has the geometry of a carboxylate group, NCO^? is transformed into a carbamoyl group, thus indicating that both molecules undergo a formal two‐electron reduction after binding and are stabilized by substantial π backbonding. The structures reveal the combination of stable μ₂,η² coordination by Ni and Fe2 with reductive activation as the basis for both the turnover of CO₂ and inhibition by NCO^?.     

Carbon monoxide induced decomposition of the active site [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster of CO dehydrogenase

During the past two years, crystal structures of Cu- and Mo-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODHs) and Ni- and Fe-containing CODHs have been reported. The active site of CODHs from anaerobic bacteria (cluster C) is composed of Ni, Fe, and S for which crystallographic studies of the enzymes from Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Moorella thermoaceticarevealed structural similarities in the overall protein fold but showed substantial differences in the essential Ni coordination environment. The [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster C in the fully catalytically competent dithionite-reduced CODH II from C. hydrogenoformans (CODHII(Ch)) at 1.6 A resolution contains a characteristic mu(2)-sulfido ligand between Ni and Fe1, resulting in a square-planar ligand arrangement with four S-ligands at the Ni ion. In contrast, the [Ni-4Fe-4S] clusters C in CO-treated CODH from R. rubrum resolved at 2.8 A and in CO-treated acetyl-CoA synthase/CODH complex from M. thermoacetica at 2.2 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively, do not contain the mu(2)-sulfido ligand between Ni and Fe1 and display dissimilar geometries at the Ni ion. The [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster is composed of a cubane [Ni-3Fe-4S] cluster linked to a mononuclear Fe site. The described coordination geometries of the Ni ion in the [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster of R. rubrum and M. thermoacetica deviate from the square-planar ligand geometry in the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster C of CODHII(Ch). In addition, the latter was converted into a [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster under specific conditions. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the structure of cluster C in CODHII(Ch) and the functionality of the protein. We have determined the CO oxidation activity of CODHII(Ch) under different conditions of crystallization, prepared crystals of the enzyme in the presence of dithiothreitol or dithionite as reducing agents under an atmosphere of N(2) or CO, and solved the corresponding structures at 1.1 to 1.6 A resolutions. Fully active CODHII(Ch) obtained after incubation of the enzyme with dithionite under N(2) revealed the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster. Short treatment of the enzyme with CO in the presence of dithiothreitol resulted in a catalytically competent CODHII(Ch) with a CO-reduced [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster, but a prolonged treatment with CO caused the loss of CO-oxidizing activity and revealed a [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster, which did not contain a mu(2)-S. These data suggest that the [Ni-4Fe-4S] cluster of CODHII(Ch) is an inactivated decomposition product originating from the [Ni-4Fe-5S] cluster.     

Carbonyl–carbonyl and carbonyl–π interactions as directing motifs in the supramolecular structure of carbonyl(3‐oxopenta‐1,4‐diene‐1,5‐diyl)[tris(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl‐κN2)methane]iridium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate

In the title complex salt, [Ir(C₅H₄O)(C₁₆H₂₂N₆)(CO)](CF₃O₃S), the Ir^III centre adopts a distorted octahedral geometry with a facial coordination of the tris(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)methane ligand. The C—C distances of the iridacycle are in agreement with its iridacyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐4‐one nature, which presents a nonsymmetric boat‐like conformation with the C—Ir—C vertex more bent than the C—C(=O)—C vertex. The supramolecular architecture is mainly directed by CO...CO and CO...π and Csp³—H...O interactions, the arrangement of which depends on the anion.     

Synthesis and structures of photoactive manganese–carbonyl complexes derived from 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole and 2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole

PhotoCORMs (photo‐active CO‐releasing molecules) have emerged as a class of CO donors where the CO release process can be triggered upon illumination with light of appropriate wavelength. We have recently reported an Mn‐based photoCORM, namely [MnBr(pbt)(CO)₃] [pbt is 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole], where the CO release event can be tracked within cellular milieu by virtue of the emergence of strong blue fluorescence. In pursuit of developing more such trackable photoCORMs, we report herein the syntheses and structural characterization of two Mn^I–carbonyl complexes, namely fac‐tricarbonylchlorido[2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐κ²N ,N ′]manganese(I), [MnCl(C₁₂H₈N₂S)(CO)₃], (1), and fac‐tricarbonylchlorido[2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐κ²N ,N ′]manganese(I), [MnCl(C₁₆H₁₀N₂S)(CO)₃], (2). In both complexes, the Mn^I center resides in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. Weak intermolecular C—H…Cl contacts in complex (1) and Cl…S contacts in complex (2) consolidate their extended structures. These complexes also exhibit CO release upon exposure to low‐power broadband visible light. The apparent CO release rates for the two complexes have been measured to compare their CO donating capacity. The fluorogenic 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole and 2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole ligands provide a convenient way to track the CO release event through the `turn‐ON' fluorescence which results upon de‐ligation of the ligands from their respective metal centers following CO photorelease.     

Metal‐Catalyzed “On‐Demand” Production of Carbonyl Sulfide from Carbon Monoxide and Elemental Sulfur

The group 6 molybdenum(II) cyclopentadienyl amidinate (CPAM) bis(carbonyl) complex [Cp*Mo{N(iPr)C(Ph)N(iPr)}(CO)₂] (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) serves as a precatalyst for the high‐yielding photocatalytic production of COS from CO and S₈ under near‐ambient conditions (e.g., 10 psi, 25 °C). Further documented is the isolation and structural characterization of several key transition‐metal intermediates which collectively support a novel molybdenum(IV)‐based catalytic cycle as being operative. Finally, in the presence of an excess amount of a primary amine, it is demonstrated that this catalytic system can be successfully used for the “on‐demand” generation and utilization of COS as a chemical reagent for the synthesis of ureas.     

Reactions of the Donor‐Stabilized Silylene Bis[N,N′‐diisopropyl‐benzamidinato(−)]silicon(II) with Brønsted Acids

Reaction of the donor‐stabilized silylene 1 (which is three‐coordinate in the solid state and four‐coordinate in solution) with [HMCp(CO)₃] (M=Mo, W; Cp=cyclopentadienyl) leads to the cationic five‐coordinate silicon(IV) complexes 2 and 3 , respectively, and reaction of 1 with CH₃COOH yields the neutral six‐coordinate silicon(IV) complex 4 . Compounds 2 – 4 were structurally characterized by crystal structure analyses and multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies in the solid state and in solution. The formation of 2 – 4 can be formally described in terms of a Brønsted acid/base reaction, coupled with a redox process (Si^II→Si^IV, H⁺→H^?).     

A molybdenum complex with 4,7‐­diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline

In the title compound, tetra­carbonyl­(4,7‐di­phenyl‐1,10‐phen­an­throline‐N,N′)­molyb­denum(0), [Mo(C₂₄H₁₆N₂)(CO)₄], the Mo‐atom coordination is distorted octahedral, with two CO groups cis to each other, but each trans to an N atom of the 4,7‐di­phenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline (dpphen) ligand, and with the other two CO groups trans to each other and on the axis position. The complex has better solubility than [Mo(phen)(CO)₄], where phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline.     

Synthesis and structures of photoactive rhenium carbonyl complexes derived from 2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole, 2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole and 1,10‐phenanthroline

Carbon monoxide (CO) has recently been identified as a gaseous signaling molecule that exerts various salutary effects in mammalian pathophysiology. Photoactive metal carbonyl complexes (photoCORMs) are ideal exogenous candidates for more controllable and site‐specific CO delivery compared to gaseous CO. Along this line, our group has been engaged for the past few years in developing group‐7‐based photoCORMs towards the efficient eradication of various malignant cells. Moreover, several such complexes can be tracked within cancerous cells by virtue of their luminescence. The inherent luminecscent nature of some photoCORMs and the change in emission wavelength upon CO release also provide a covenient means to track the entry of the prodrug and, in some cases, both the entry and CO release from the prodrug. In continuation of the research circumscribing the development of trackable photoCORMs and also to graft such molecules covalently to conventional delivery vehicles, we report herein the synthesis and structures of three rhenium carbonyl complexes, namely, fac‐tricarbonyl[2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐κ²N ,N ′](4‐vinylpyridine‐κN )rhenium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Re(C₇H₇N)(C₁₂H₈N₂S)(CO)₃](CF₃SO₃), ( 1 ), fac‐tricarbonyl[2‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐κ²N ,N ′](4‐vinylpyridine‐κN )rhenium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Re(C₇H₇N)(C₁₆H₁₀N₂S)(CO)₃](CF₃SO₃), ( 2 ), and fac‐tricarbonyl[1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N ,N ′](4‐vinylpyridine‐κN )rhenium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [Re(C₇H₇N)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(CO)₃](CF₃SO₃), ( 3 ). In all three complexes, the Re^I center resides in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. These complexes exhibit CO release upon exposure to low‐power UV light. The apparent CO release rates of the complexes have been measured to assess their comparative CO‐donating capacity. The three complexes are highly luminescent and this in turn provides a convenient way to track the entry of the prodrug molecules within biological targets.     

Synthesis and Basic Coordination Properties of Side‐chain Functionalized Bis‐phosphonio‐benzophospholides

Salts containing bis‐phosphonio‐benzophospholide cations 2 a – d with an additional donor site in one of the phosphonio‐moieties were synthesized either via quaternisation of the Ph₂P moiety in the neutral phosphonio‐benzophospholide 3 , or via ring‐closure of the functionalized bis‐phosphonium ion 6 . The Ph₂P‐substituted cation 2 d formed chelate complexes [M(k²P,P′‐ 2 d )(CO)_n]⁺ with M(CO)_n = Ni(CO)₂, Fe(CO)₃, Cr(CO)₄. In the latter case, competition between formation of the chelate and a complex [Cr(kP‐ 2 d )₂(CO)₄]²⁺ was observed, and interpreted as a consequence of antagonism between the stabilizing chelate effect and destabilizing ligand–ligand repulsions. The formation of stable Pd^II and Pt^II complexes of 2 d suggests that the chelate effect may also overcome the kinetic inhibition which so far prevented isolation of complexes of these metals with bis‐phosphonio‐benzophospholides. The newly synthesized ligands and complexes were characterized by spectroscopic data, and an X‐ray crystal structure analysis of 2 a [Br]. The reactivity of chelate complexes towards Ph₃P indicates that the ring phosphorus atom is a weaker donor than the pendant Ph₂P‐group.     

Three sterically hindered 6‐amino‐5‐cyano‐2‐methyl‐4‐(1‐naphthyl)‐4H‐pyran‐3‐carboxylate derivatives

In the title compounds, 2‐methoxyethyl 6‐amino‐5‐cyano‐2‐methyl‐4‐(1‐naphthyl)‐4H‐pyran‐3‐carboxylate, C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄, (II), isopropyl 6‐amino‐5‐cyano‐2‐methyl‐4‐(1‐naphthyl)‐4H‐pyran‐3‐carboxylate, C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₃, (III), and ethyl 6‐amino‐5‐cyano‐2‐methyl‐4‐(1‐naphthyl)‐4H‐pyran‐3‐carboxylate, C₂₀H₁₈N₂O₃, (IV), the heterocyclic pyran ring adopts a flattened boat conformation. In (II) and (III), the carbonyl group and a double bond of the heterocyclic ring are mutually anti, but in (IV) they are mutually syn. The ester O atoms in (II) and (III) and the carbonyl O atom in (IV) participate in intramolecular C—H...O contacts to form six‐membered rings. The dihedral angles between the naphthalene substituent and the closest four atoms of the heterocyclic ring are 73.3 (1), 71.0 (1) and 74.3 (1)° for (II)–(IV), respectively. In all three structures, only one H atom of the NH₂ group takes part in N—H...O [in (II) and (III)] or N—H...N [in (IV)] intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and chains [in (II) and (III)] or dimers [in (IV)] are formed. In (II), weak intermolecular C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds, and in (III) intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the chains into ladders along the a axis.     

Phthalocyaninate und Tetraphenylporphyrinate von hochkoordiniertem ZrIV/HfIV mit Hydroxo‐, Chloro‐, (Di)Phenolato‐, (Hydrogen)Carbonato‐ sowie (Amino)Carboxylato‐Liganden

Phthalocyaninates and Tetraphenylporphyrinates of High Co‐ordinated Zr^IV/Hf^IV with Hydroxo, Chloro, (Di)Phenolato, (Hydrogen)Carbonato, and (Amino)Carboxylato Ligands Crystals of tetra(n‐butyl)ammonium cis‐tri(phenolato)phthalocyaninato(2‐)zirconate(IV) ( 2 ) and ‐hafnate(IV) ( 1 ), di(tetra(n‐butyl)ammonium) cis‐di(tetrachlorocatecholato(O, O')phthalocyaninato(2‐)zirconate(IV) ( 3 ), and cis‐(di(μ‐alaninato(O, O')di(μ‐hydroxo))di(phthalocyaninato(2‐)zirconium(IV)) ( 12 ) have been isolated from tetra(n‐butyl)ammonium hydroxide solutions of cis‐di(chloro)phthalocyaninato(2‐)zirconium(IV) and ‐hafnium(IV), respectively, and the corresponding acid in polar organic solvents. Similarly, with cis‐di(chloro)tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV), ^cis[Zr(Cl)₂tpp] as precursor crystalline tetra(n‐butyl)ammoniumcis‐tetrachlorocatecholato(O, O')hydrogentetrachlorocatecholato(O)tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconate(IV) ( 4 ), cis‐hydrogencarbonato(O, O')phenolatotetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) ( 6 ), cis‐di(benzoato(O, O'))tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) ( 11 ), and cis‐tetra(μ‐hydroxo)di(tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV)) ( 13 ) with a cis‐arrangement of the symmetry equivalent μ‐hydroxo ligands, and from di(acetato)tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) the corresponding trans‐isomer ( 14 ) have been prepared. The endothermic dehydration at 215 °C of 13/14 yields μ‐oxodi(μ‐hydroxo)di(tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV)) ( 15 ). 15 also precipitates on dilution of a solution of ^cis[Zr(X)₂tpp] (X = Cl, OAc) in dmf/(ⁿBu₄N)OH with water, while on prolonged standing of this solution on air tri(tetra(n‐butyl)ammonium) cis‐(^nido〈di(carbonato(O, O'))undecaaquamethoxide〉tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconate(IV) ( 7 ) crystallizes, in which Zr^IV coordinates a supramolecular nestlike ^nido〈(O₂CO)₂(H₂O)₁₁OCH₃〉^5— cluster anion stabilised by hydrogen bonding in a nanocage of surrounding (ⁿBu₄N)⁺ cations. On the other hand, ^cis[Zr(Cl)₂pc] forms with (Et₄N)₂CO₃ in dichloromethane di(tetraethylammonium) cis‐di(carbonato(O, O')phthalocyaninato(2‐)zirconate(IV) ( 5 ). ^cis[Zr(Cl)₂tpp] dissolves in various O‐donor solvents, from which cis‐di(chloro)dimethylformamidetetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) ( 8 ), cis‐di(chloro)dimethylsulfoxidetetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) ( 9 ), and a 1:1 mixture ( 10 ) of cis‐di(chloro)dimethylsulfoxidetetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) ( 10a ) and cis‐chlorodi(dimethylsulfoxide)tetraphenylporphyrinato(2‐)zirconium(IV) chloride ( 10b ) crystallize. All complexes contain solvate molecules in the solid state, except 3 . Zr^IV/Hf^IV is directed by ∼1Å out of the plane of the tetrapyrrolic ligand (pc, tpp) towards the mutually cis‐coordinated axial ligands. In the more concavely distorted phthalocyaninates, Zr^IV is mainly eight‐coordinated and in the tetraphenylporphyrinates seven‐coordinated. The octa‐coordinated Zr atom is in a distorted quadratic antiprism, and the hepta‐coordinated one is in a square‐base‐trigonal‐cap cooordination polyhedron. In most tpp complexes, the Zr atom is displaced by up to 0.3Å out of the centre of the coordination polyhedron towards the tetrapyrrolic ligand. In 13/14 , both antiprisms are face shared by an O₄ plane, and in 12 they are shared by an O₂ edge and the O atoms of the bridging aminocarboxylates, the dihedral angle between the O₄ planes of both antiprisms being 50.1(1)°. The mean Zr‐N_p distance is 0.05Å longer in the pc complexes than in the tpp complexes (d(Zr‐N_p)_pc = 2.31Å). In the monophenolato complexes, the mean Zr‐O distance (∼2.00Å) is shorter than in the complexes with other O‐donor ligands (d(Zr‐O)_pc = 2.18Å; d(Zr‐O)_tpp = 2.21Å); the Zr‐Cl distances vary between 2.473(1) and 2.559(2)Å (d(Zr‐Cl)_tpp = 2.51Å). d(C‐O_exo) = 1.494(4)Å in the bidentate hydrogencarbonato ligand in 6 is 0.26Å longer than in the bidentate carbonato ligands in 5 and 7 . 9 and 10a are rotamers slightly differing by the orientation of the axial ligands with respect to the tpp ligand. In 1—4, 6 , and 11 the phenolato, catecholato, and benzoato ligands, respectively, are in syn‐ and/or anti‐conformations with respect to the plane of the macrocycle. π‐Dimers with modest overlap of the neighbouring macrocyclic rings are observed in 5, 6, 8, 9, 10b, 12 , and 14 . The common UV/Vis spectroscopical and vibrational properties of the new phthalocyaninates and tetraphenylporphyrinates scarcely reflect their rich structural diversity.     

Two atropisomers of tri­carbonyl­[η6‐7‐chloro‐3‐(3‐chloro‐2‐methyl­phenyl)‐2,4,8‐tri­methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetra­hydro‐2,4‐dibora‐1,3‐di­aza­naphthalene]­chromium(0)

The structures of two atropisomers of the title compound, [Cr(C₁₆H₁₈B₂Cl₂N₂)(CO)₃], are reported. For both compounds, the Cr(CO)₃ moiety is bound to the C₆ aromatic ring of the mol­ecule; the existence of atropisomers resulting from the non‐equivalence of both faces of the C₆ aromatic ring is a consequence of the 3‐chloro‐2‐methylphenyl ring being nearly perpendicular to the mean plane of the 2,4‐dibora‐1,3‐di­aza­naphthalene ring. The orientation of the Cr(CO)₃ tripod relative to the C₆ aromatic ring is such that it is nearly eclipsed in one isomer (2.4° rotation from being eclipsed with C—N, C—Cl and C—H) and slightly twisted (16.2°) from an eclipsed conformation in the other.     

Highly Efficient CO2 Electroreduction on ZnN4‐based Single‐Atom Catalyst

The electrochemical reduction reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) to carbon monoxide (CO) is the basis for the further synthesis of more complex carbon‐based fuels or attractive feedstock. Single‐atom catalysts have unique electronic and geometric structures with respect to their bulk counterparts, thus exhibiting unexpected catalytic activities. A nitrogen‐anchored Zn single‐atom catalyst is presented for CO formation from CO2RR with high catalytic activity (onset overpotential down to 24 mV), high selectivity (Faradaic efficiency for CO (FE_CO) up to 95 % at ?0.43 V), remarkable durability (>75 h without decay of FE_CO), and large turnover frequency (TOF, up to 9969 h^?1). Further experimental and DFT results indicate that the four‐nitrogen‐anchored Zn single atom (Zn‐N₄) is the main active site for CO2RR with low free energy barrier for the formation of *COOH as the rate‐limiting step.     

Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction to Carbon Monoxide over Defect‐Rich Plasma‐Activated Silver Catalysts

Efficient, stable catalysts with high selectivity for a single product are essential if electroreduction of CO₂ is to become a viable route to the synthesis of industrial feedstocks and fuels. A plasma oxidation pre‐treatment of silver foil enhances the number of low‐coordinated catalytically active sites, which dramatically lowers the overpotential and increases the activity of CO₂ electroreduction to CO. At −0.6 V versus RHE more than 90 % Faradaic efficiency towards CO was achieved on a pre‐oxidized silver foil. While transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy showed that oxygen species can survive in the bulk of the catalyst during the reaction, quasi in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the surface is metallic under reaction conditions. DFT calculations reveal that the defect‐rich surface of the plasma‐oxidized silver foils in the presence of local electric fields drastically decrease the overpotential of CO₂ electroreduction.     

Evaluation of the Catalytic Relevance of the CO‐Bound States of V‐Nitrogenase

Binding and activation of CO by nitrogenase is a topic of interest because CO is isoelectronic to N₂, the physiological substrate of this enzyme. The catalytic relevance of one‐ and multi‐CO‐bound states (the lo‐CO and hi‐CO states) of V‐nitrogenase to C−C coupling and N₂ reduction was examined. Enzymatic and spectroscopic studies demonstrate that the multiple CO moieties in the hi‐CO state cannot be coupled as they are, suggesting that C−C coupling requires further activation and/or reduction of the bound CO entity. Moreover, these studies reveal an interesting correlation between decreased activity of N₂ reduction and increased population of the lo‐CO state, pointing to the catalytic relevance of the belt Fe atoms that are bridged by the single CO moiety in the lo‐CO state. Together, these results provide a useful framework for gaining insights into the nitrogenase‐catalyzed reaction via further exploration of the utility of the lo‐CO conformation of V‐nitrogenase.     

Ionization‐Induced Solvent Migration in Acetanilide‐Methanol Clusters Inferred from Isomer‐Selective Infrared Spectroscopy

We present the resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization, infrared‐ultraviolet hole burning (IR‐UV HB), and IR dip spectra of the trans‐acetanilide–methanol (AA–MeOH) cluster in the S₀, S₁, and cationic ground state (D₀) in a supersonic jet. The IR‐UV HB spectra demonstrate the co‐existence of two isomers in S_0,1, in which MeOH binds either to the NH or the CO site of the peptide linkage in AA, denoted as AA(NH)–MeOH and AA(CO)–MeOH. When AA(CO)–MeOH is selectively ionized, its IR spectrum in D₀ is the same as that measured for AA⁺(NH)–MeOH. Thus, photoionization of AA(CO)–MeOH induces migration of MeOH from the CO to the NH site with 100% yield.     

Second‐Sphere Biomimetic Multipoint Hydrogen‐Bonding Patterns to Boost CO2 Reduction of Iron Porphyrins

Inspired by nature's orchestra of chemical subtleties to activate and reduce CO₂, we have developed a family of iron porphyrin derivatives in to which we have introduced urea groups functioning as multipoint hydrogen‐bonding pillars on the periphery of the porphyrinic ring. This structure closely resembles the hydrogen‐bond stabilization scheme of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) adduct in the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH). We found that such changes to the second coordination sphere significantly lowered the overpotential for CO₂ reduction in this family of molecular catalysts and importantly increased the CO₂ binding rate while maintaining high turnover frequency (TOF) and selectivity. Entrapped water molecules within the molecular clefts were found to be the source of protons for the CO₂ reduction.     

trans‐3‐Ethyl‐cis‐2,6,6‐trimethyl‐4‐oxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid: an intermediate in the synthesis of a highly potent estrogen

The title compound, C₁₂H₂₀O₃, (IV), the ethyl ester of which is an intermediate in the synthesis of a compound reported to be highly estrogenic, has been prepared. After the initial steps reported for the synthesis of this ester intermediate were followed, it was converted into the crystalline acid, (IV), for X‐ray analysis. It was verified that (IV) was racemic when prepared. X‐ray analysis showed that anti‐hydrogenation of the double bond had occurred in the synthesis, making the orientation of the carboxyl group cis to the 2‐methyl group and trans to the 3‐ethyl group. NMR spectroscopy showed that the stereochemistry of (IV) was identical with that of its ester precursor. While the earlier report did not note the stereochemistry of this ester, it pointed out that the estrogenic product derived from it possessed the opposite carboxyl‐2‐methyl orientation, i.e.trans, although no X‐ray analysis was performed. In the light of these results and the importance of correlating biological activity with compound structure, the unequivocal characterization of the highly estrogenic compound is warranted.