Electrochemical Formation of Fe(IV)=O Derived from H2O2 on a Hematite Electrode as an Active Catalytic Site for Selective Hydrocarbon Oxidation Reactions

The high-valence iron species (Fe(IV)=O) in the cytochrome P450 enzyme superfamily is generated via the activation of O₂, and serves as the active center of selective hydrocarbon oxidation reactions. Furthermore, P450 can employ an alternate route to produce Fe(IV)=O, even from H₂O₂ without O₂ activation. Meanwhile, Fe(IV)=O has recently been revealed to be the reactive intermediate during H₂O oxidation to O₂ on hematite electrodes. Herein, we demonstrated the generation of Fe(IV)=O on hematite electrodes during the electrochemical oxidative decomposition of H₂O₂ using in situ UV-visible absorption spectra. The generation of Fe(IV)=O on hematite electrodes from H₂O₂ exhibited 100 mV lower overpotential than that from H₂O. This is because H₂O₂ serves not only as the oxygen source of Fe(IV)=O, but also as the additional oxidant. Finally, we confirmed that the Fe(IV)=O generated on hematite electrodes can serve as the catalytic site for styrene epoxidation reactions.     

Biomimetic oxidation of organic sulfides with TPPFe(III)Cl/imidazole/hydrogen peroxide

An enzyme model system, consisted with TPPFe(III)Cl/imidazole has been found to catalyze hydrogen peroxide dependent S-oxygenation and oxidative S-dealkylation of organic sulfides. This biomimetic reaction has been compared with the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed H₂O₂ dependent oxygenation.     

Favoured conformations of methyl isopropyl,ethyl isopropyl,methyl tert‐butyl,and ethyl tert‐butyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate

The conformations of organic compounds determined in the solid state are important because they can be compared with those in solution and/or from theoretical calculations. In this work, the crystal and molecular structures of four closely related diesters, namely methyl isopropyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₅H₂₅O₄P, ethyl isopropyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₆H₂₇O₄P, methyl tert‐butyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₆H₂₇O₄P, and ethyl tert‐butyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)malonate, C₂₇H₂₉O₄P, have been analysed as a preliminary step for such comparative studies. As a result of extensive electronic delocalization, as well as intra‐ and intermolecular interactions, a remarkably similar pattern of preferred conformations in the crystal structures results, viz. a syn–anti conformation of the acyl groups with respect to the P atom, with the bulkier alkoxy groups oriented towards the P atom. The crystal structures are controlled by nonconventional hydrogen‐bonding and intramolecular interactions between cationoid P and acyl and alkoxy O atoms in syn positions.     

Spectroscopic and Kinetic Evidence for the Crucial Role of Compound 0 in the P450cam‐Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Camphor by Hydrogen Peroxide

The hydroperoxo iron(III) intermediate P450_camFe^III–OOH, being the true Compound 0 (Cpd 0) involved in the natural catalytic cycle of P450_cam, could be transiently observed in the peroxo‐shunt oxidation of the substrate‐free enzyme by hydrogen peroxide under mild basic conditions and low temperature. The prolonged lifetime of Cpd 0 enabled us to kinetically examine the formation and reactivity of P450_camFe^III–OOH species as a function of varying reaction conditions, such as pH, and concentration of H₂O₂, camphor, and potassium ions. The mechanism of hydrogen peroxide binding to the substrate‐free form of P450_cam differs completely from that observed for other heme proteins possessing the distal histidine as a general acid–base catalyst and is mainly governed by the ability of H₂O₂ to undergo deprotonation at the hydroxo ligand coordinated to the iron(III) center under conditions of pH≥p${K{{{\rm P450}\hfill \atop {\rm a}\hfill}}}$ . Notably, no spectroscopic evidence for the formation of either Cpd I or Cpd II as products of heterolytic or homolytic O?O bond cleavage, respectively, in Cpd 0 could be observed under the selected reaction conditions. The kinetic data obtained from the reactivity studies involving (1R)‐camphor, provide, for the first time, experimental evidence for the catalytic activity of the P450Fe^III–OOH intermediate in the oxidation of the natural substrate of P450_cam.     

Selective Oxidations Using a Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Variant Driven with Surrogate Oxygen Donors and Light

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzymes are versatile catalysts, which have been adapted for multiple applications in chemical synthesis. Mutation of a highly conserved active site threonine to a glutamate can convert these enzymes into peroxygenases that utilise hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Here, we use the T252E-CYP199A4 variant to study peroxide-driven oxidation activity by using H₂O₂ and urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP). We demonstrate that the T252E variant has a higher stability to H₂O₂ in the presence of substrate that can undergo carbon-hydrogen abstraction. This peroxygenase variant could efficiently catalyse O-demethylation and an enantioselective epoxidation reaction (94 % ee). Neither the monooxygenase nor peroxygenase pathways of the P450 demonstrated a significant kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the oxidation of deuterated substrates. These new peroxygenase variants offer the possibility of simpler cytochrome P450 systems for selective oxidations. To demonstrate this, a light driven H₂O₂ generating system was used to support efficient product formation with this peroxygenase enzyme.     

H2 and O2 Activation—A Remarkable Insight into Hydrogenase

This article summarizes the development of a range of organometallic, biomimetic analogues of [NiFe]hydrogenases and their employment in a new generation of H₂‐O₂ fuel cells. It begins with a summary of O₂‐sensitive and O₂‐tolerant enzyme chemistry before detailing the properties and functionality of our biomimetic complexes, including: the first ever fully functional model, selective H₂ and O₂ activation, and the first catalyst using only common metals. These systems are centered on Ni–Fe, Ni–Ru, Ir–Ir, and Rh–Rh cores and use a range of ligands that all follow a set of design principles described herein.     

Anchoring a Structurally Editable Proximal Cofactor-like Module to Construct an Artificial Dual-center Peroxygenase

A recent novel strategy for constructing artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) that target new-to-nature functions uses dual-functional small molecules (DFSMs) with catalytic and anchoring groups for converting P450BM3 monooxygenase into a peroxygenase. However, this process requires excess DFSMs (1000 equivalent of P450) owing to their low binding affinity for P450, thus severely limiting its practical application. Herein, structural optimization of the DFSM-anchoring group considerably enhanced their binding affinity by three orders of magnitude (K_d≈10⁻⁸ M), thus approximating native cofactors, such as FMN or FAD in flavoenzymes. An artificial cofactor-driven peroxygenase was thus constructed. The co-crystal structure of P450BM3 bound to a DFSM clearly revealed a precatalytic state in which the DFSM participates in H₂O₂ activation, thus facilitating peroxygenase activity. Moreover, the increased binding affinity substantially decreases the DFSM load to as low as 2 equivalents of P450, while maintaining increased activity. Furthermore, replacement of catalytic groups showed disparate selectivity and activity for various substrates. This study provides an unprecedented approach for assembling ArMs by binding editable organic cofactors as a co-catalytic center, thereby increasing the catalytic promiscuity of P450 enzymes.     

An Iron Impurity in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Complexes with Chitosan that Biomimics the Heme‐Peroxidase Function

A new biomimetic functional system having an impure multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT‐Fe)–chitosan biopolymer (H₂N–CHIT) chemically modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/[MWCNT‐Fe:H₂N‐CHIT]) has been developed and demonstrated efficient hydrogen peroxide electrocatalytic and electrochemical sensing applications in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The hybrid system showed a stable and well‐defined surface confined redox peak at an apparent electrode potential, E°′=?0.22 V versus Ag/AgCl with surface excess value 13.63 nmol cm^?2. Physicochemical characterizations of the hybrid by using FESEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and various control electrochemical experiments revealed that the iron impurity in the MWCNT interacted with the amino functional group of the chitosan polymer and thereby formed an unique complex‐like structure ([MWCNT‐Fe^III/II:NH₂‐CHIT]), similar to heme peroxidase with a central Fe^III/II‐redox‐active site. The biomimetic system followed Michaelis–Menten‐type reaction kinetics for the H₂O₂ reduction reaction with a K_M value of 0.23 mM . At pH 7, amperometric i–t sensing and flow‐injection analysis of H₂O₂ on the biomimetic system showed calibration plots in windows 5–500 and 50–2500 μM , with detection‐limit values of 2.3 and 9.7 μM , respectively. Unlike most of the previously reported systems that undergo serious interferences in physiological pH, the biomimetic system displayed a remarkable tolerance to other co‐existing interferants (such as cysteine, ascorbic acid, uric acid, nitrate, and nitrite), at a H₂O₂ detection potential similar to the peroxidase enzyme. The ability of the biosensor system to perform routine analyses was demonstrated by the detection of H₂O₂ present in simulated milk and clinical and cosmetic samples with appreciable recovery values.     

Correlation of the solid‐state reactivities of racemic 2,4(6)‐di‐O‐benzoyl‐myo‐inositol 1,3,5‐orthoformate and its 4,4′‐bipyridine cocrystal with their crystal structures

Racemic 2,4(6)‐di‐O‐benzoyl‐myo‐inositol 1,3,5‐orthoformate, C₂₁H₁₈O₈, (1) , shows a very efficient intermolecular benzoyl‐group migration reaction in its crystals. However, the presence of 4,4′‐bipyridine molecules in its cocrystal, C₂₁H₁₈O₈·C₁₀H₈N₂, (1)·BP , inhibits the intermolecular benzoyl‐group transfer reaction. In (1) , molecules are assembled around the crystallographic twofold screw axis (b axis) to form a helical self‐assembly through conventional O—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This helical association places the reactive C6‐O‐benzoyl group (electrophile, El) and the C4‐hydroxy group (nucleophile, Nu) in proximity, with a preorganized El...Nu geometry favourable for the acyl transfer reaction. In the cocrystal (1)·BP , the dibenzoate and bipyridine molecules are arranged alternately through O—H...N interactions. The presence of the bipyridine molecules perturbs the regular helical assembly of the dibenzoate molecules and thus restricts the solid‐state reactivity. Hence, unlike the parent dibenzoate crystals, the cocrystals do not exhibit benzoyl‐transfer reactions. This approach is useful for increasing the stability of small molecules in the crystalline state and could find application in the design of functional solids.     

Differences in the crystal structures of two dialkyl diester triphenyl­phospho­nium ylids

Hydrogen bonding and crystal packing play major roles in determining the conformations of ethyl methyl 2‐(triphenyl­phospho­ranyl­idene)malonate, Ph₃P=C(CO₂CH₃)CO₂CH₂CH₃ or C₂₄H₂₃O₄P, (I), and dimethyl 2‐(triphenyl­phosphor­anyl­idene)malonate, Ph₃P=C(CO₂CH₃)₂ or C₂₃H₂₁O₄P, (II). In (I), the acyl O atom of the ethyl ester group is anti to the P atom, while the O atom of the methyl ester group is syn. In (II), the dimethyl diester is a 1:1 mixture of anti–anti and syn–anti conformers.     

Chiral‐Substrate‐Assisted Stereoselective Epoxidation Catalyzed by H2O2‐Dependent Cytochrome P450SPα

The stereoselective epoxidation of styrene was catalyzed by H₂O₂‐dependent cytochrome P450_SPα in the presence of carboxylic acids as decoy molecules. The stereoselectivity of styrene oxide could be altered by the nature of the decoy molecules. In particular, the chirality at the α‐positions of the decoy molecules induced a clear difference in the chirality of the product: (R)‐ibuprofen enhanced the formation of (S)‐styrene oxide, whereas (S)‐ibuprofen preferentially afforded (R)‐styrene oxide. The crystal structure of an (R)‐ibuprofen‐bound cytochrome P450_SPα (resolution 1.9 Å) revealed that the carboxylate group of (R)‐ibuprofen served as an acid–base catalyst to initiate the epoxidation. A docking simulation of the binding of styrene in the active site of the (R)‐ibuprofen‐bound form suggested that the orientation of the vinyl group of styrene in the active site agreed with the formation of (S)‐styrene oxide.     

Conformations of diester triphenylphosphonium ylides with an ylidic ester or keto and ester ylidic groups

The structures of three related keto diester and diester ylides, namely diethyl 3‐oxo‐2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)glutarate, C₂₇H₂₇O₅P, (I), diethyl 3‐oxo‐2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)glutarate acetic acid monosolvate, C₂₇H₂₇O₅P·C₂H₄O₂, (II), and diethyl 2‐(triphenylphosphoranylidene)succinate, C₂₆H₂₇O₄P, (III), are presented. The syn‐keto anti‐ester conformations in the crystalline keto diesters are governed by electronic delocalization between the P—C and ylidic bonds and an acyl group, and by intra‐ and intermolecular interactions. There are also intramolecular attractive and repulsive interactions of different types (C—H...O and C—H...π) controlling the molecular conformations. The mono‐ylidic diester (III) has an anti‐ester conformation, while those for (I) and (II) are related to pyrolytic formation of acetylene derivatives. The terminal nonylidic ester group in (I) was disordered over two sets of almost equally populated positions.     

Three New MOFs Induced by Organic Linker Coordination Modes: Gas Sorption,Luminescence, and Magnetic Properties

By using a new 4,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl) isophthalic acid ligand (H₂bimip) with imidazolyl and carboxyl bifunctional groups, three new MOFs, [Co(bimip)(H₂O)_0.5] ? 0.5 H₂O ( 1 ), [Zn(bimip)] ( 2 ), and [Mn(bimip)(H₂O)₂] ? H₂O ( 3 ), have been solvothermally synthesized in different solvent systems. H₂bimip displays three different coordinated modes through the imidazolyl and carboxyl groups, and different cis–cis and trans–cis configurations, which result in distinct 3D topological frameworks: a (4,8)‐connected scu net for 1 ; a twofold interpenetrated (4,4)‐connected pts net for 2 ; and a four‐connected sra net for 3 . Compounds 1 and 3 show antiferromagnetic properties, and 2 emits strong solid‐state blue luminescence. Compound 1 shows good chemical stability in acidic and basic environments and in boiling water. Additionally, the polar channels in 1 , which are decorated by uncoordinated carboxylate O atoms and imidazolyl fragments, allow it to adsorb CO₂ molecules selectively over CH₄, and the CO₂ binding sites in the framework were distinguished by molecular simulations.     

Crystal structures of deprotonated nucleobases from an expanded DNA alphabet

Reported here is the crystal structure of a heterocycle that implements a donor–donor–acceptor hydrogen‐bonding pattern, as found in the Z component [6‐amino‐5‐nitropyridin‐2(1H)‐one] of an artificially expanded genetic information system (AEGIS). AEGIS is a new form of DNA from synthetic biology that has six replicable nucleotides, rather than the four found in natural DNA. Remarkably, Z crystallizes from water as a 1:1 complex of its neutral and deprotonated forms, and forms a `skinny' pyrimidine–pyrimidine pair in this structure. The pair resembles the known intercalated cytosine pair. The formation of the same pair in two different salts, namely poly[[aqua(μ₆‐2‐amino‐6‐oxo‐3‐nitro‐1,6‐dihydropyridin‐1‐ido)sodium]–6‐amino‐5‐nitropyridin‐2(1H)‐one–water (1/1/1)], denoted Z‐Sod, {[Na(C₅H₄N₃O₃)(H₂O)]·C₅H₅N₃O₃·H₂O}_n, and ammonium 2‐amino‐6‐oxo‐3‐nitro‐1,6‐dihydropyridin‐1‐ide–6‐amino‐5‐nitropyridin‐2(1H)‐one–water (1/1/1), denoted Z‐Am, NH₄⁺·C₅H₄N₃O₃⁻·C₅H₅N₃O₃·H₂O, under two different crystallization conditions suggests that the pair is especially stable. Implications of this structure for the use of this heterocycle in artificial DNA are discussed.     

Orthogonal Activation of RNA‐Cleaving DNAzymes in Live Cells by Reactive Oxygen Species

RNA‐cleaving DNAzymes are useful tools for intracellular metal‐ion sensing and gene regulation. Incorporating stimuli‐responsive modifications into these DNAzymes enables their activities to be spatiotemporally and chemically controlled for more precise applications. Despite the successful development of many caged DNAzymes for light‐induced activation, DNAzymes that can be intracellularly activated by chemical inputs of biological importance, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are still scarce. ROS like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hypochlorite (HClO) are critical mediators of oxidative stress‐related cell signaling and dysregulation including activation of immune system as well as progression of diseases and aging. Herein, we report ROS‐activable DNAzymes by introducing phenylboronate and phosphorothioate modifications to the Zn²⁺‐dependent 8–17 DNAzyme. These ROS‐activable DNAzymes were orthogonally activated by H₂O₂ and HClO inside live human and mouse cells.     

Kinetic and Molecular‐Modelling Study of the Interaction between Staphylococcus aureus PC1 Enzyme and Imipenem

The interactions between imipenem ( 3 ), a clinically significant carbapenem antibiotic, and Staphylococcus aureus PC1 enzyme, were studied in detail. Imipenem behaves as a slow substrate that reacts by a branched pathway, which suggests the formation of a second acyl‐enzyme intermediate. The individual microscopic rate constants for the process were determined. The results were analysed in the light of molecular‐modelling considerations. Based on the analysis, the Ser‐70(O^γ) group in the Michaelis‐Menten complex formed between 3 and PC1 is very distant from the carbonyl group of the β‐lactam ring of 3 , which is consistent with the decreased value of k₂ (Model 2, see Scheme 2) for imipenem relative to an appropriate substrate such as benzylpenicillin ( 2 ). The deacylation is the rate‐determining step of the turnover process. This can be ascribed to the fact that in the deacylation of the second acyl‐enzyme, the H₂O molecule lying closest to the ester group, Wat81, is in an unfavorable orientation to hydrolyse the intermediate.     

Selective Activation of C−H Bonds in a Cascade Process Combining Photochemistry and Biocatalysis

Selective oxyfunctionalizations of inert C−H bonds can be achieved under mild conditions by using peroxygenases. This approach, however, suffers from the poor robustness of these enzymes in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as the stoichiometric oxidant. Herein, we demonstrate that inorganic photocatalysts such as gold–titanium dioxide efficiently provide H₂O₂ through the methanol‐driven reductive activation of ambient oxygen in amounts that ensure that the enzyme remains highly active and stable. Using this approach, the stereoselective hydroxylation of ethylbenzene to (R )‐1‐phenylethanol was achieved with high enantioselectivity (>98 % ee ) and excellent turnover numbers for the biocatalyst (>71 000).     

Hybrid Coordination Networks Constructed from ɛ‐Keggin‐Type Polyoxometalates and Rigid Imidazole‐Based Bridging Ligands as New Carriers for Noble‐Metal Catalysts

Three hybrid coordination networks that were constructed from ?‐Keggin polyoxometalate building units and imidazole‐based bridging ligands were prepared under hydrothermal conditions, that is, H[(Hbimb)₂(bimb){Zn₄PMo^V8Mo^VI₄O₄₀}] ? 6 H₂O ( 1 ), [Zn(Hbimbp)(bimbp)₃{Zn₄PMo^V8Mo^VI₄O₄₀}] ? DMF ? 3.5 H₂O ( 2 ), and H[Zn₂(timb)₂(bimba)₂Cl₂{Zn₄PMo^V8Mo^VI₄O₄₀}] ? 7 H₂O ( 3 ) (bimb=1,4‐bis(1‐imidazolyl)benzene, bimbp=4,4′‐bis(imidazolyl)biphenyl, timb=1,3,5‐tris(1‐imidazolyl)benzene, bimba=3,5‐bis(1‐imidazolyl)benzenamine). All three compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The mixed valence of the Mo centers was analyzed by XPS spectroscopy and bond‐valence sum calculations. In all three compounds, the ?‐Keggin polyoxometalate (POM) units acted as nodes that were connected by rigid imidazole‐based bridging ligands to form hybrid coordination networks. In compound 1 , 1D zigzag chains extended to form a 3D supramolecular architecture through intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Compound 2 consisted of 2D curved sheets, whilst compound 3 contained chiral 2D networks. Because of the intrinsic reducing properties of ?‐Keggin POM species, noble‐metal nanoparticles were loaded onto these POM‐based coordination networks. Thus, compounds 1 – 3 were successfully loaded with Ag nanoparticles, and the corresponding composite materials exhibited high catalytic activities for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol.     

Decomposition of 2‐Mercaptoethyl O‐Ester: SN2 Displacement or Acyl Transfer? A Theoretical Study

The mechanism for the decomposition of 2‐mercaptoethyl O‐ester was theoretically investigated. The mechanism that 2‐mercaptoethyl O‐ester undergoes an S_N2 displacement of the O atom by the S atom on α‐C is much favored over the mechanism of N‐to‐S acyl transfer. The length of the alcohol moiety has large effects on the decomposition efficiency of thiol‐substituted alkyl O‐esters. The reactivities of these esters are controlled by distortion energies. Only 2‐mercaptoethyl O‐ester can undergo the decomposition at room temperature due to the low distortion energy to achieve the transition state geometry. If the thiol group of 2‐mercaptoethyl O‐ester is replaced by an amino group, the N‐to‐N acyl transfer mechanism is more favored than the S_N2 displacement mechanism.     

The first 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotide–amino acid complex: l‐His–cIMP

In the crystal structure of the l ‐His–cIMP complex, i.e.l ‐histidinium inosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate [systematic name: 5‐(2‐amino‐2‐carboxyethyl)‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium 7‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐6‐(6‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro‐1H‐purin‐9‐yl)‐4a,6,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4H‐1,3,5,2λ⁵‐furo[3,2‐d][1,3,2λ⁵]dioxaphosphinin‐2‐olate], C₆H₁₀N₃O₂⁺·C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₇P⁻, the Hoogsteen edge of the hypoxanthine (Hyp) base of cIMP and the Hyp face are engaged in specific amino acid–nucleotide (His...cIMP) recognition, i.e. by abutting edge‐to‐edge and by π–π stacking, respectively. The Watson–Crick edge of Hyp and the cIMP phosphate group play a role in nonspecific His...cIMP contacts. The interactions between the cIMP anions (anti/C3′–endo/trans–gauche/chair conformers) are realized mainly between riboses and phosphate groups. The results for this l ‐His–cIMP complex, compared with those for the previously reported solvated l ‐His–IMP crystal structure, indicate a different nature of amino acid–nucleotide recognition and interactions upon the 3′:5′‐cyclization of the nucleotide phosphate group.