The effect of the sixth sulfur ligand in the catalytic mechanism of periplasmic nitrate reductase

The catalytic mechanism of nitrate reduction by periplasmic nitrate reductases has been investigated using theoretical and computational means. We have found that the nitrate molecule binds to the active site with the Mo ion in the +6 oxidation state. Electron transfer to the active site occurs only in the proton‐electron transfer stage, where the Mo^V species plays an important role in catalysis. The presence of the sulfur atom in the molybdenum coordination sphere creates a pseudo‐dithiolene ligand that protects it from any direct attack from the solvent. Upon the nitrate binding there is a conformational rearrangement of this ring that allows the direct contact of the nitrate with Mo^VI ion. This rearrangement is stabilized by the conserved methionines Met141 and Met308. The reduction of nitrate into nitrite occurs in the second step of the mechanism where the two dimethyl‐dithiolene ligands have a key role in spreading the excess of negative charge near the Mo atom to make it available for the chemical reaction. The reaction involves the oxidation of the sulfur atoms and not of the molybdenum as previously suggested. The mechanism involves a molybdenum and sulfur‐based redox chemistry instead of the currently accepted redox chemistry based only on the Mo ion. The second part of the mechanism involves two protonation steps that are promoted by the presence of Mo^V species. Mo^VI intermediates might also be present in this stage depending on the availability of protons and electrons. Once the water molecule is generated only the Mo^VI species allow water molecule dissociation, and, the concomitant enzymatic turnover. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009     

Enzyme Mimetic Active Intermediates for Nitrate Reduction in Neutral Aqueous Media

Nitrate is a pervasive aquatic contaminant of global environmental concern. In nature, the most effective nitrate reduction reaction (NRR) is catalyzed by nitrate reductase enzymes at neutral pH, using a highly‐conserved Mo center ligated mainly by oxo and thiolate groups. Mo‐based NRR catalysts mostly function in organic solvents with a low water stability. Recently, an oxo‐containing molybdenum sulfide nanoparticle that serves as an NRR catalyst at neutral pH was first reported. Herein, in a nanoparticle‐catalyzed NRR system a pentavalent Mo^V(=O)S₄ species, an enzyme mimetic, served as an active intermediate for the NRR. Potentiometric titration analysis revealed that a redox synergy among Mo^V?S, S radicals, and Mo^V(=O)S₄ likely play a key role in stabilizing Mo^V(=O)S₄, showing the importance of secondary interactions in facilitating NRR. The first identification and characterization of an oxo‐ and thiolate‐ligated Mo intermediates pave the way to the molecular design of efficient enzyme mimetic NRR catalysts in aqueous solution.     

Mechanistic insight into the reactivity of oxotransferases by novel asymmetric dioxomolybdenum(VI) model complexes

The asymmetric molybdenum(VI) dioxo complexes of the bis(phenolate) ligands 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methylbenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dimethylbenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐4‐flurobenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, and 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐4‐chlorobenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane (H₂(L1)–H₂(L6), respectively) have been isolated and studied as functional models for molybdenum oxotransferase enzymes. These complexes have been characterized as asymmetric complexes of type [MoO₂(L)] 1–6 by using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and electrochemical methods. The molecular structures of [MoO₂(L)] 1–4 have been successfully determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, which show them to exhibit a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around molybdenum(VI) in an asymmetrical cis‐β configuration. The Mo? O_oxo bond lengths differ only by ≈0.01 Å. Complexes 1 , 2 , 5 , and 6 exhibit two successive Mo^VI/Mo^V (E_1/2, ?1.141 to ?1.848 V) and Mo^V/Mo^IV (E_1/2, ?1.531 to ?2.114 V) redox processes. However, only the Mo^VI/Mo^V redox couple was observed for 3 and 4 , suggesting that the subsequent reduction of the molybdenum(V) species is difficult. Complexes 1 , 2 , 5 , and 6 elicit efficient catalytic oxygen‐atom transfer (OAT) from dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to PMe₃ at 65 °C at a significantly faster rate than the symmetric molybdenum(VI) complexes of the analogous linear bis(phenolate) ligands known so far to exhibit OAT reactions at a higher temperature (130 °C). However, complexes 3 and 4 fail to perform the OAT reaction from DMSO to PMe₃ at 65 °C. DFT/B3LYP calculations on the OAT mechanism reveal a strong trans effect.     

Synthesis and Structure of a Series of New Molybdenum(VI) Complexes with the Esters of 2‐Mercaptonicotinic Acid

The novel dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with methyl ( 1 ), ethyl ( 2 ), n‐propyl ( 3 ), i‐propyl ( 4 ), n‐butyl ( 5 ) and cyclohexyl ( 6 ) ester of 2‐mercaptonicotinic acid have been prepared in the reactions of MoO₂Cl₂ and MoO₂(acac)₂ (acac = 2,4‐pentandionate) with mercaptonicotinic acid in corresponding alcohol. The esterification reaction was catalyzed by Mo^V originated from the reduction of Mo^VI with mercaptonicotinic ‐SH group with simultaneous formation of S–S bond resulting from the condensation of two 2‐mercaptonicotinic molecules. The presence of Mo^V was proved by ESR spectra. The molecular and crystal structures of 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 as well as of the by‐products 1,1′‐dithio‐2,2′‐n‐butylnicotinoate ( 7 ) and tetramethylammonium hexachloromolybdate(V) ( 8 ) have been determined by a X‐ray single crystal diffraction. The complexes 1 – 4 contain MoO₂²⁺ core with octahedral coordination of each molybdenum atom complexed by two 2‐mercaptonicotinato N and S donor atoms.     

Recent Advances in the Deoxydehydration of Vicinal Diols and Polyols

Deoxydehydration (DODH) is one of the most promising tools to reduce the oxygen content of biomass (sugars and polyols) and provide analogues of platform chemicals that are derived from fossil resources. This reaction converts a vicinal diol into an alkene and is typically catalyzed by high‐oxidation‐state metal‐oxo compounds in the presence of a stoichiometric reductant, with examples of both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. This minireview will highlight the developments in this field over the past 5 years and focus on efforts to solve the problems that currently prevent DODH being performed on a commercial scale, including the nature of the reductant, substrate scope and selectivity, and catalyst recovery and expense.     

The catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene at the [MoVIO2(O2CC(S)(C6H5)2)2]2− complex intercalated in a Zn(II)–Al(III) layered double hydroxide host: A kinetic model for the molybdenum–pterin binding site in nitrate reductase

The heterogeneous reduction of nitrobenzene by thiophenol catalyzed by the dianionic bis(2‐sulfanyl‐2,2‐diphenylethanoxycarbonyl) dioxomolybdate(VI) complex, [Mo^VIO₂(O₂CC(S)(C₆H₅)₂)₂]²⁻, intercalated into a Zn(II)–Al(III) layered double hydroxide host [Zn_3−xAl_x(OH)₆]^x+, has been investigated under anaerobic conditions. Aniline was found to be the only product formed through a reaction consuming six moles of thiophenol for each mol of aniline produced. The kinetics of the system have been analyzed in detail. In excess of thiophenol, all reactions follow first‐order kinetics (ln([PhNO₂]/[PhNO₂]₀) = −k_appt) with the apparent rate constant k_app being a complex function of both initial nitrobenzene and thiophenol concentrations, as well as linearly dependent on the amount of solid catalyst used. A mechanism for this catalytic reaction consistent with the kinetic experiments as well as the observed properties of the intercalated molybdenum complex has thiophenol inducing the initial coupled proton–electron transfer steps to form an intercalated Mo^IV species, which is oxidized back to the parent Mo^VI complex by nitrobenzene via a two‐electron oxygen atom transfer reaction that yields nitrosobenzene. This mechanism is widespread in enzymatic catalysis and in model chemical reactions. The intermediate nitrosobenzene thus formed is reduced directly by excess thiophenol to aniline. The values of rate coefficients indicate that reduction of nitrobenzene proceeds much faster than proton‐assisted oxidation of thiophenol. This may account for the observation that the presence of protonic amberlite IR‐120(H) increases considerably the rate of the overall reaction catalyzed. Activation parameters in excess of the protonic resin and PhSH were ΔH^≠ = 80 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS^≠ = −70 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The large negative activation entropy is consistent with an associative transition state. The present system is characterized by a well‐defined catalytic cycle with multiple‐turnovers reductions of nitrobenzene to aniline without appreciable deactivation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 212–224, 2001     

Mechanistic Study on Oxorhenium‐Catalyzed Deoxydehydration and Allylic Alcohol Isomerization

The reaction mechanism of 1,2×n‐deoxydehydration (DODH; n=1, 2, 3 …) reactions with 1‐butanol as a reductant in the presence of methyltrioxorhenium(VII) catalyst has been investigated by DFT. The reduced rhenium compound, methyloxodihydroxyrhenium(V), serves as the catalytically relevant species in both allylic alcohol isomerization and subsequent DODH processes. Compared with three‐step pathway A, involving [1,3]‐transposition of allylic alcohols, direct two‐step pathway B is an alternative option with lower activation barriers. The rate‐limiting step of the DODH reaction is the first hydrogen transfer in methyltrioxorhenium(VII) reduction. Moreover, the increase in the distance between two hydroxyl groups in direct 1,2×n‐DODH reactions for C4 and C6 diols results in a higher barrier height.     

The separation of molybdenum valencies by paper chromatography part II1

The preparation of Mo^VI oxinate and a purported Mo^V oxine complex is described. The latter was analysed, and a number of its properties, including separation from the Mo^VI compound by paper chromatography, were studied.The preparation of a solution containing trivalent molybdenum and the separation of this valency from the pentavalent state by chromatography upon cellulose is also described.Suggestions as to the stability of thiocyanate and oxine compounds of Mo^III were made from the results of some extraction experiments performed upon trivalXnt molybdenum solutions.     

Kinetic investigation of the textile bleaching process

Volumetric H₂-uptake measurements on an Mo₂N (79 m²g^–1) sample reduced at 673 K have been carried out and the uptake isotherms in the temperature range of 308–623 K have been determined. Both the total and reversible hydrogen uptake increased with the uptake temperature. The irreversible hydrogen uptake increased abruptly when the uptake temperature was raised up to 423 K. The maximum of irreversible hydrogen uptake was measured at 473 K. The H_IR/Mo ratio calculated from the uptakes obtained in the temperature range of 308–623 K varies in the range of 0.0010–0.0202. One possible mechanism for hydrogen adsorption is proposed to be heterolytic dissociation on Mo-N paris, in which the molybdenum atoms are in unsaturated coordination.     

Crystal Structure and EPR Spectra of cis—Dioxo—molybdenum（V） Complex with o—Aminophenol

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Structural Studies of Bis(cyclopentadienyl)molybdenum‐Amino Acid Complexes

The crystal structures of molybdocene‐amino acid compounds of the type [Cp₂Mo^IV(κN, κO‐AA)]⁺Cl^—·xH₂O with AA = D ‐phenylalaninato (x = 1.5), DL ‐leucinato (x = 2) and DL ‐valinato (x = 1) have been determined (Cp = η⁵‐C₅H₅). The compounds feature an almost planar, five‐membered chelate ring of the aminocarboxylate moiety (deprotonated amino acid) with the molybdenum atom. In the phenylalaninato complex π‐stacking between the phenyl rings is found. The complexes were proven kinetically stable at pH < 1 for at least 24 h.     

DFT study on mechanism of carbonyl hydrosilylation catalyzed by high-valent molybdenum (IV) hydrides

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been employed to investigate hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by three high-valent molybdenum (VI) hydrides: Mo(NAr)H(Cp)(PMe₃) (1A), Mo(NAr)H(PMe₃)₃ (1B), and Mo(NAr)H (Tp)(PMe₃) (Tp?=?tris(pyrazolyl) borate) (1C). Three independent mechanisms have been explored. The first mechanism is “carbonyl insertion pathway”, in which the carbonyls insert into Mo?H bond to give a metal alkoxide complex. The second mechanism is the “ionic hydrosilylation pathway”, in which the carbonyls nucleophilically attacks η¹-silane molybdenum adduct. The third mechanism is [2 + 2] addition mechanism which was proposed to be favorable for the high-valent di-oxo molybdenum complex MoO₂Cl₂ catalyzing the hydrosilylation. Our studies have identified the “carbonyl insertion pathway” to be the preferable pathway for three molybdenum hydrides catalyzing hydrosilylation of carbonyls. For Mo(NAr)H (Tp)(PMe₃) (Tp?=?tris(pyrazolyl) borate), the proposed nonhydride mechanism experimentally is calculated to be more than 32.6?kcal/mol higher than the “carbonyl insertion pathway”. Our calculation results have derived meaningful mechanistic insights for the high-valent transition metal complexes catalyzing the reduction reaction.     

Electrochemical and chemical reduction studies of molybdenum(VI)-and molybdenum (V)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid complexes

Summary The electrochemical reduction characteristics of the molyb-denum(VI)-and molybdenum(V)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate complexes, [(MoO₃)₂Y]^4– and [Mo₂O₄Y]^2– respectively have been investigated as a function of pH and free ligand concentration. The nature of chemical reduction of these two complexes with sodium borohydride and sodium dithionite have also been studied in acetate and borate buffers. The electroactive species undergoing electrode reductions have been ascertained by analysing polarograms of the complexes. A mechanism has been proposed to account for the differences observed in the reactivities of these two complexes.     

Methane Activation by Diatomic Molybdenum Carbide Cations

Metal carbide species have been proposed as a new type of chemical entity to activate methane in both gas‐phase and condensed‐phase studies. Herein, methane activation by the diatomic cation MoC⁺ is presented. MoC⁺ ions have been prepared and mass‐selected by a quadrupole mass filter and then allowed to interact with methane in a hexapole reaction cell. The reactant and product ions have been detected by a reflectron time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Bare metal Mo⁺ and MoC₂H₂⁺ ions have been observed as products, suggesting the occurrence of ethylene elimination and dehydrogenation reactions. The branching ratio of the C₂H₄ elimination channel is much larger than that of the dehydrogenation channel. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to explore in detail the mechanism of the reaction of MoC⁺ with CH₄. The computed results indicate that the ethylene elimination process involves the occurrence of spin conversions in the C?C coupling (doublet→quartet) and hydrogen atom transfer (quartet→sextet) steps. The carbon atom in MoC⁺ plays a key role in methane activation because it becomes sp³ hybridized in the initial stages of the ethylene elimination reaction, which leads to much lower energy barriers and more stable intermediates. This study provides insights into the C?H bond activation and C?C coupling involved in methane transformation over molybdenum carbide‐based catalysts.     

Determination of Acetylcysteine in Pharmaceutical Samples by Silicomolybdenum Blue Spectrophotometry

An accurate and fast spectrophotometric method for the determination of acetylcysteine by silicomolybdenum blue has been established. The various effect factors on the determination of acetylcysteine by silicomolybdenum blue spectrophotometry are investigated in detail. The results show that under the optimum reaction conditions, SiO₃^2‐ reacts with Mo₇O₂₄^6‐ to form silicon molybdenum heteropoly acid (H₄Si(Mo₃O₁₀)₄). Then H₄Si(Mo₃O₁₀)₄ is reduced by hydrosulfuryl (‐SH) in acetylcysteine to form silicomolybdenum blue (H₄Si(Mo₃O₁₀)₂(Mo₃O₉)₂). The absorbance of silicomolybdenum blue is measured at the maximal absorption wavelength of 735 nm, and the content of acetylcysteine can be calculated based on this absorbance. A good linear relationship is obtained between the absorbance of silicomolybdenum blue and the concentration of acetylcysteine in the range of 5.040∼25.20 μg⋅mL^‐1. The linear regression equation is A = 0.0272 + 21.484C (mg⋅mL^‐1), with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9995. This proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of acetylcysteine in pharmaceutical samples, and the results agree well with those obtained by pharmacopoeial method.     

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Arene‐Bridged Metal–Metal‐Bonded Dimolybdenum Complexes

The bis(hydride) dimolybdenum complex, [Mo₂(H)₂{HC(N‐2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)₂}₂(thf)₂], 2 , which possesses a quadruply bonded Mo₂^II core, undergoes light‐induced (365 nm) reductive elimination of H₂ and arene coordination in benzene and toluene solutions, with formation of the Mo^I₂ complexes [Mo₂{HC(N‐2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)₂}₂(arene)], 3?C₆H₆ and 3?C₆H₅Me , respectively. The analogous C₆H₅OMe, p‐C₆H₄Me₂, C₆H₅F, and p‐C₆H₄F₂ derivatives have also been prepared by thermal or photochemical methods, which nevertheless employ different Mo₂ complex precursors. X‐ray crystallography and solution NMR studies demonstrate that the molecule of the arene bridges the molybdenum atoms of the Mo^I₂ core, coordinating to each in an η² fashion. In solution, the arene rotates fast on the NMR timescale around the Mo₂‐arene axis. For the substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, the NMR data are consistent with the existence of a major rotamer in which the metal atoms are coordinated to the more electron‐rich C?C bonds.     

Investigations of molybdenum redox phenomenon in Li2O-MoO3-P2O5 phosphate glasses

Two series of glasses have been prepared and characterized. One with varying Li₂O/P₂O₅ ratio and the other with varying Mo/P ratio. The relationship between the formation of the reduced state of molybdenum in phosphate glasses and the type of gases released in heating batch materials has been investigated. Effect of temperature on the valence state of molybdenum is also studied. Oxidation-reduction (redox) equilibrium of Mo⁵⁺/Mo⁶⁺ and environment of molybdenum (V) in these series of lithium-molybdenum-phosphate glasses are related to the glass composition and the possible structural units formation in the glasses.     

Dinitrogen‐Molybdenum Complex Induces Dinitrogen Cleavage by One‐Electron Oxidation

Reported here is the N₂ cleavage of a one‐electron oxidation reaction using trans‐[Mo(depe)₂(N₂)₂] ( 1 ) (depe=Et₂PCH₂CH₂PEt₂), which is a classical molybdenum(0)‐dinitrogen complex supported by two bidentate phosphine ligands. The molybdenum(IV) terminal nitride complex [Mo(depe)₂N][BArf₄] ( 2 ) (BArf₄=B(3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃)₄) is synthesized by the one‐electron oxidation of 1 upon addition of a mild oxidant, [Cp₂Fe][BArf₄] (Cp=C₅H₅), and proceeds by N₂ cleavage from a Mo^II‐N=N‐Mo^II structure. In addition, the electrochemical oxidation reaction for 1 also cleaved the N₂ ligand to give 2 . The dimeric Mo complex with a bridging N₂ is detected by in situ resonance Raman and in situ UV‐vis spectroscopies during the electrochemical oxidation reaction for 1 . Density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the unstable monomeric oxidized Mo^I species is converted into 2 via the dimeric structure involving a zigzag transition state.     

Oxidation of Hypophosphite and Phosphite by Anderson‐Type Hexamolybdocobaltate(III) Anion

The oxidation of hypophosphite and phosphite by the Anderson‐type hexamolybdocobaltate(III), [H₆Co^IIIMo₆O₂₄]^3?, anion was investigated at pH 2 and 1, respectively, in aqueous medium. The reaction is found to occur through an outer‐sphere mechanism with a prior weak complex formation between the reactants. Under the reaction conditions, the oxidant exists in the [H₅Co^IIIMo₅O₂₀]^2?, [H₆Co^IIIMo₆O₂₄]^3?, and [H₄Co^III₂Mo₁₀O₃₈]^6?(dimer) forms, and [H₅Co^IIIMo₅O₂₀]^2? is the active species. Inhibition of the reaction by the oxidant anion and added molybdate ion kinetically indicates existence of prior equilibria between various forms of the oxidant. Both hypophosphite and phosphite exists in their protonated forms. The reaction involves direct electron transfer from the phosphorus center to the anion‐generating free radicals in a rate‐determining step. The effect of ionic strength and change in the solvent polarity did not affect the rate of the reaction. A probable mechanism was proposed leading to a complicated rate law as a result of involvement of prior equilibria between various forms of the oxidant. The activation parameters were also determined and are in support of the proposed mechanism.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of butane-2,3-diol by alkaline hexacyanoferrate (III), catalyzed by ruthenium trichloride

The kinetics of oxidation of butane-2,3-diol by alkaline hexacyanoferrate (III), catalyzed by ruthenium trichloride has been studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction rate shows a zero-order dependence on oxidant, a first-order dependence on |Ru(III)|_T, a Michaelis-Menten dependence on |diol|, and a variation complicated on |OH⁻|. A reaction mechanism involving the existence of two active especies of catalyst, Ru(OH)₂⁺ and Ru(OH)₃, is proposed. Each one of the active species of catalyst forms an intermediate complex with the substrate, which disproportionates in the rate determining step. The complex disproportionation involves a hydrogen atom transfer from the α C(SINGLE BOND)H of alcohol to the oxygen of hydroxo ligand of ruthenium, to give Ru(II) and an intermediate radical which is then further oxidized. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 1–7, 1997.