Synthesis of dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with intramolecular hydrogen bonding

HSCH₂CONHCH₃ and HSCH₂CON(CH₃)₂ containing a peptide bond are prepared for the synthesis of DNICs with/without intra-molecular hydrogen bonding, respectively. The IR ν(NO) bands of [(NO)₂Fe(SCH₂CONHCH₃)₂]⁻ (2) appears at 1751, 1700 cm⁻¹. In complex 2, the presence of intramolecular [NH?S] hydrogen bonding was verified by the observation of IR spectroscopy with N−H stretching frequency 3334 cm⁻¹ (CDCl₃) and subsequently confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction showing N−S distance of 2.94 Å. Complex 2 displays the rhombic EPR spectrum with g₁ = 2.039, g₂ = 2.031 and g₃ = 2.013 at in frozen H₂O. Complexes 2 and 3 rapidly release NO when exposed to light. The time needed for photolysis reactions of 2 is two times faster than that of 3 in less polar solvent. Representative time courses for the photolability of 2 and 3 in THF display the NO-off ability: 2 > 3.     

Modeling structures and vibrational frequencies for dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with density functional theory

The biochemical and physiological importance of nitric oxide (NO) in signaling and vasodilation has been studied for several decades. The discovery of both protein-bound and free low molecular weight dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) suggests that such compounds might play roles in biological NO storage and transport. These complexes have important distinguishing spectroscopic features, including EPR and M?ssbauer spectra, and NO vibrational frequencies (ν((NO))). The latter are particularly sensitive to modifications of the ligand environment and metal oxidation states. Examinations of functionals and basis sets delineate their effect on the NO vibrational frequencies and allow development of a methodology to calculate these frequencies in other DNICs. Three complexes of the form (L)(CO)Fe(NO)(2) (L = CO, N,N'-dimethyl-imidazol-2-ylidene (IMe) or 1-methylimidazole (MeImid)), where {Fe(NO)(2)}(10) is in its reduced form, have been used to calibrate the vibrational frequencies. The functional BP86 paired with a basis set of SDD/ECP on the metal and 6-311++G(d,p) on the ligand atoms exhibits the most accurate results, with deviations from experimental vibrational frequencies of no more than ±40 cm(-1). Subsequent investigations were performed on a series of diiron trinitrosyl complexes of the form {Fe(NO)}(7)-{Fe(NO)(2)}(9) bridged by sulfurs, namely, [(ON)Fe(μ-S,S-C(6)H(4))(2)Fe(NO)(2)](-), [Fe(NO)(2){Fe(NS(3))(NO)}-μ-S,S'], and [(ON)Fe(bme-dach)Fe(NO)(2)-μ-S,S'](+), with the ideal functional/basis set pair determined via the aforementioned test set. The ground state energetics (singlet/triplet/singlet, respectively), geometric parameters, and nitrosyl vibrational frequencies were calculated. The results for the former two complexes correlated well with the experimental work, and in contrast with what was reported in an earlier computational study, a stable triplet ground state structure was optimized for [Fe(NO)(2){Fe(NS(3))(NO)}-μ-S,S']. For [(ON)Fe(bme-dach)Fe(NO)(2)-μ-S,S'](+), whose synthesis and structure were recently reported, the geometric parameters, vibrational frequencies, and total energies compare well to experimental ones and favor a singlet ground state.     

A new member of tetranuclear dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with 2-mercaptothiazoline ligand: synthesis,structure and properties

A new tetranuclear dinitrosyliron complex [(μ-SC₃H₄SN)Fe(NO)₂]₄ (2), each of a Fe center coordinated with two S or two N, was prepared by CO replacement from the reduced precursor (CO)₂Fe(NO)₂ with 1 equiv of HSC₃H₄SN (2-mercaptothiazoline) in the presence of O_2(g). The structure of 2 is similar to [(Imid-iPr)Fe(NO)₂]₄ (Imid-iPr = 2-isopropylimidazole) (Hess et al. J Am Chem Soc 133:20426–20434, 2011), and both complexes comprise a quadrilateral plane of irons with corresponding ligands, SC₃H₄SN^? or Imid-iPr^?, bridging the edges and two nitrosyl ligands capping the irons at the corners. An additional equiv of SC₃H₄SN^? was added to 2, which results in the mononuclear {Fe(NO)₂}⁹ (SC₃H₄SN)₂Fe(NO) ₂ ^? (3), in the manner of N bound-[SC₃H₄SN]. Reaction of (TMEDA)IFe(NO)₂ (TMEDA = tetramethylethylenediamine) and complex 3 leads to the formation of complex 2. Dinuclear complex [(μ-C₅H₇N₂)Fe(NO)₂]₂ (4) can be synthesized by the ligand displacement of SC₃H₄SN^? to C₅H₇N₂ ^? (3,5-dimethylpyrazolate) of 2 (Chong et al. Can J Chem 57:3119–3125, 1979). Complexes 2–4 were characterized by IR and UV–Vis. The molecular structures of 2 and 3 were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction.     

Transformation of the {Fe(NO)2}9 dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) into S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) triggered by acid-base pairs

S‐Nitrosation of the coordinated thiolate of dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) to generate S‐nitrosothiols (RSNOs) was demonstrated. Transformation of [{(NO)₂Fe(μ‐StBu)}₂] ( 1‐tBuS ) into the {Fe(NO)₂}⁹ DNIC [(NO)₂Fe(StBu)(MeIm)] ( 2‐MeIm ) occurs under addition of 20 equiv of 1‐methylimidazole (MeIm) into a solution of 1‐tBuS in THF. The dynamic interconversion between {Fe(NO)₂}⁹ [(NO)₂Fe(S‐NAP)(dmso)] ( 2‐dmso ) (NAP=N‐acetyl‐D ‐penicillamine) and [{(NO)₂Fe(μ‐S‐NAP)}₂] ( 1‐NAP ) was also observed in a solution of complex 1‐NAP in DMSO. In contrast to the reaction of complex 2‐MeIm and bis(dimethylthiocarbamoyl) disulfide ((DTC)₂) to yield {Fe(NO)}⁷ [(NO)Fe(DTC)₂] ( 3 ) (DTC=S₂CNMe₂) accompanied by (tBuS)₂ and NO_(g), transformation of {Fe(NO)₂}⁹ 2‐MeIm ( 2‐dmso ) into RSNOs (RS=tBuS, NAP‐S) along with complex 3 induced by the Brønsted acid solution of (DTC)₂ demonstrated that Brønsted acid may play a critical role in triggering S‐nitrosation of the coordinated thiolate of DNICs 2‐MeIm (or 2‐dmso ) to produce RSNOs. That is, DNIC‐mediated S‐nitrosation requires a Brønsted acid–Lewis base pair to produce RSNO. Transformation of DNICs into RSNOs may only occur on the one‐thiolate‐containing {Fe(NO)₂}⁹ DNICs, in contrast to protonation of the two‐thiolate‐containing DNICs [(NO)₂Fe(SR)₂]^? by Brønsted acid to yield [{(NO)₂Fe(μ‐SR)}₂]. These results might rationalize that the known protein‐Cys‐SNO sites derived from DNICs were located adjacent to acid and base motifs, and no protein‐bound SNO characterized to date has been directly derived from [protein–(cysteine)₂Fe(NO)₂] in biology.     

Simulating picosecond iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectra by ab initio methods to study photoinduced changes in the electronic structure of Fe(II) spin crossover complexes

Recent time-resolved X-ray absorption experiments probing the low-spin to high-spin photoconversion in Fe(II) complexes have monitored the complex interplay between electronic and structural degrees of freedom on an ultrafast time scale. In this study, we use transition potential (TP) and time-dependent (TD) DFT to simulate the picosecond time-resolved iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectrum of the spin crossover (SCO) complex, [Fe(tren(py)(3))](2+). This is achieved by simulating the X-ray absorption spectrum of [Fe(tren(py)(3))](2+) in its low-spin (LS), (1)A(1), ground state and its high-spin (HS), (5)T(2), excited state. These results are compared with the X-ray absorption spectrum of the high-spin analogue (HSA), [Fe(tren(6-Me-py)(3))](2+), which has a (5)T(2) ground state. We show that the TP-DFT methodology can simulate a 40 eV range of the iron K-edge XANES spectrum reproducing all of the major features observed in the static and transient spectra of the LS, HS, and HSA complexes. The pre-edge region of the K-edge spectrum, simulated by TD-DFT, is shown to be highly sensitive to metal-ligand bonding. Changes in the intensity of the pre-edge region are shown to be sensitive to both symmetry and π-backbonding by analysis of relative electric dipole and quadrupole contributions to the transition moments. We generate a spectroscopic map of the iron 3d orbitals from our TD-DFT results and determine ligand field splitting energies of 1.55 and 1.35 eV for the HS and HSA complexes, respectively. We investigate the use of different functionals finding that hybrid functionals (such as PBE0) produce the best results. Finally, we provide a detailed comparison of our results with theoretical methods that have been previously used to interpret Fe K-edge spectroscopy of equilibrium and time-resolved SCO complexes.     

S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic investigation of the Ni-containing superoxide dismutase active site: new structural insight into the mechanism

Superoxide dismutases protect cells from the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species derived from superoxide. Nickel-containing superoxide dismutases (NiSOD), found in Streptomyces species and in cyanobacteria, are distinct from Mn-, Fe-, or Cu/Zn-containing SODs in amino acid sequence and metal ligand environment. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic investigations were carried out for a series of mono- and binuclear Ni model compounds with varying sulfur ligation, and for oxidized and reduced NiSOD to elucidate the types of Ni-S interactions found in the two oxidation states. The S K-edge XAS spectra clearly indicate the presence of Ni(III)-bound terminal thiolate in the oxidized enzyme and the absence of such coordination to Ni(II) in the peroxide-reduced enzyme. This striking change in the S ligation for Ni with redox suggests that, upon peroxide reduction, an electron is transferred to the Ni(III) site and the terminal thiolate becomes protonated, providing an efficient mechanism for proton-coupled electron transfer.     

Computational insight into the electronic structure and absorption spectra of lithium complexes of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin

The present work is a theoretical investigation on lithium complexes of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrins (aka inverted) employing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT, using the B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, and M06-2X functionals in conjunction with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The purpose of the present study is to calculate the electronic structure and the bonding of the complexes to explain the unusual coordination environment in which Li is found experimentally and how the Li binding affects the Q and the Soret bands. The calculations show that, unlike a typical tetrahedral Li(+) cation, this Li forms a typical bond with one N and interacts with the remaining two N atoms, and it is located in the right place to form an agostic-like interaction with the internal C atom. The reaction energy, the enthalpy for the formation of the lithium complexes of N-confused porphyrins, and the effect of solvation are also calculated. The insertion of Li into N-confused porphyrin, in the presence of tetrahydrofuran, is exothermic with a reaction energy calculated to be as high as -72.4 kcal/mol using the lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide reagent. Finally, there is agreement in the general shape among the vis-UV spectra determined with different functionals and the experimentally available ones. The calculated geometries are in agreement with crystallographic data, where available.     

On the reactivity of mononuclear iron(V)oxo complexes

Ferric tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (TAML)-based catalysts [Fe{C(6)H(4)-1,2-(NCOCMe(2)NCO)(2)CR(2)}(OH(2))]PPh(4) [1; R = Me (a), Et (b)] are oxidized by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid at -40 °C in acetonitrile containing trace water in two steps to form Fe(V)oxo complexes (2a,b). These uniquely authenticated Fe(V)(O) species comproportionate with the Fe(III) starting materials 1a,b to give μ-oxo-(Fe(IV))(2) dimers. The comproportionation of 1a-2a is faster and that of 1b-2b is slower than the oxidation by 2a,b of sulfides (p-XC(6)H(4)SMe) to sulfoxides, highlighting a remarkable steric control of the dynamics. Sulfide oxidation follows saturation kinetics in [p-XC(6)H(4)SMe] with electron-rich substrates (X = Me, H), but changes to linear kinetics with electron-poor substrates (X = Cl, CN) as the sulfide affinity for iron decreases. As the sulfide becomes less basic, the Fe(IV)/Fe(III) ratio at the end of reaction for 2b suggests a decreasing contribution of concerted oxygen-atom transfer (Fe(V) → Fe(III)) concomitant with increasing electron transfer oxidation (Fe(V) → Fe(IV)). Fe(V) is more reactive toward PhSMe than Fe(IV) by 4 orders of magnitude, a gap even larger than that known for peroxidase Compounds I and II. The findings reinforce prior work typecasting TAML activators as faithful peroxidase mimics.     

The electronic structure of iron carbonyl complexes as probed by X-ray emission spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations

The electronic structure of the polynuclear iron carbonyl complexes [Et₂N][Fe₄N(CO)₁₂], [Et₄N]₂[Fe₅C(CO)₁₄], and [Et₄N]₂[Fe₆C(CO)₁₆] has been studied by X-ray emission spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. The fine structure of the FeKβ₅ X-ray emission spectra characterizes the distribution of iron valence p electrons over the molecular orbitals of the compounds. Comparison of the fine structure of the FeKβ₅ X-ray emission spectra with the densities of states of all atoms in the molecules has made it possible to determine in detail the character and specific features of chemical bonding in the complexes.     

Dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) containing S/N/O ligation: transformation of Roussin's red ester into the neutral {Fe(NO)2}10 DNICs

Addition of the Lewis base [OPh]- to the THF solution of Roussin's red ester [Fe(mu-SC6H4-o-NHCOPh)(NO)2]2 (1) and [Fe(mu-SC6H4-o-COOH)(NO)2]2 (2), respectively, yielded the EPR-active, anionic {Fe(NO)2}9, [(SC6H4-o-NCOPh)Fe(NO)2]- (3) with the anionic [SC6H4-o-NCOPh]2- ligand bound to the {Fe(NO)2} core in a bidentate manner (S,N-bonded) and [(SC6H4-o-COO)Fe(NO)2]- (4) with the anionic [SC6H4-o-COO]2- ligand bound to the {Fe(NO)2} core in a bidentate manner (S,O-bonded), characterized by IR, UV-vis, EPR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In contrast to the bridged-thiolate cleavage yielding the neutral {Fe(NO)2}9, [(SC6H4-o-NHCOPh)(Im)Fe(NO)2] (Im=imidazole), by addition of 2 equiv of imidazole to complex 1 observed in the previous study, the addition of the stronger sigma-donating and pi-accepting PPh3 ligand triggered the reductive elimination of bridged thiolates of complex 1 to yield the neutral {Fe(NO)2}10, [(PPh3)2Fe(NO)2]. These results unambiguously illustrate one aspect of how the nucleophile L (L=imidazole, PPh3, [OPh]-) functions to control the reaction pathways (bridged-thiolate cleavage, reductive elimination, and deprotonation) upon the reaction of complex 1 and the nucleophile L. The EPR-active, dimeric {Fe(NO)2}9 dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC) [Fe(mu-SC7H4SN)(NO)2]2 (6), with S and N atoms of the anionic [-SC7H4SN-]- (2-benzothiozolyl thiolate) ligands bound to two separate {Fe(NO)2}9 cores, was also synthesized from reaction of bis(2-benzothiozolyl) disulfide and [(NO)2Fe(PPh3)2]. A straightforward reaction of complex 6 and 4 equiv of [N3]- conducted in THF led to the anionic {Fe(NO)2}9, [(N3)2Fe(NO)2]- (7). Conclusively, the EPR-active, {Fe(NO)2}9 DNICs can be classified into the anionic {Fe(NO)2}9 DNICs with S/N/O ligation, the neutral {Fe(NO)2}9 DNIC with one thiolate and one neutral imidazole ligation, and the cationic {Fe(NO)2}9 DNICs with the neutral N-/P-containing coordinated ligands.     

Insight into the short-range structure of amorphous iron inositol hexaphosphate as provided by (31)P NMR and Fe X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Short-range structure and formation of amorphous aggregates of iron inositol hexaphosphate (iron phytate) were studied by broadline solid-state 31P NMR and Fe X-ray absorption spectroscopy. It was shown that bonds P-O-Fe with strong covalent character exist in solid substances. Iron in these substances is octahedrally coordinated by six oxygen atoms and further monodentatly bonded to three or four phosphorus atoms. In this way, iron generates -P-O-Fe-O-P- intermolecular connections. An insight into the formation of the network was obtained by studying structural changes in iron phytates with increasing concentrations of iron. It was shown that the solid network builds when at least four out of six phosphate groups per one phytic molecule bond to iron atoms and thus participate in the intermolecular connections. This leads to iron phytate with approximately two iron atoms per one molecule of phytate. When the concentration of iron in aggregates increases, the number of P-O-Fe bonds, and thus the number of phosphate groups that are bonded to iron, increases. Solid iron phytate with approximately four iron atoms per one molecule of phytate is almost saturated with iron. Its short-range structural properties can be explained well by a structure that is approaching an idealized model, in which each phosphate group is bonded to two iron atoms and each iron atom is bonded to three phosphorus atoms and is shared between two phytic molecules.     

Pseudooctahedral complexes of vanadium(III): electronic structure investigation by magnetic and electronic spectroscopy

A variety of physical methods has been used to probe the non-Kramers, S = 1, V(III) ion in two types of pseudooctahedral complexes: V(acac)(3), where acac = anion of 2,4-pentanedione, and VX(3)(thf)(3), where thf = tetrahydrofuran and X = Cl and Br. These methods include tunable frequency and high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy (using frequencies of approximately 95-700 GHz and fields up to 25 T) in conjunction with electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and variable-temperature variable-field MCD (VTVH-MCD) spectroscopies. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization measurements were also performed. All measurements were conducted on complexes in the solid state (powder or mull samples). The field versus sub-THz wave quantum energy dependence of observed HFEPR resonances yielded the following spin Hamiltonian parameters for V(acac)(3): D = +7.470(1) cm(-1); E = +1.916(1) cm(-1); g(x) = 1.833(4); g(y) = 1.72(2); g(z) = 2.03(2). For VCl(3)(thf)(3), HFEPR detected a single zero-field transition at 15.8 cm(-1) (474 GHz), which was insufficient to determine the complete set of spin Hamiltonian parameters. For VBr(3)(thf)(3), however, a particularly rich data set was obtained using tunable-frequency HFEPR, and analysis of this data set gave the folowing: D = -16.162(6) cm(-1); E = -3.694(4) cm(-1); g(x) = 1.86(1); g(y) = 1.90(1); g(z) = 1.710(4). Analysis of the VTVH-MCD data gave spin Hamiltonian parameters in good agreement with those determined by HFEPR for both V(acac)(3) and VBr(3)(thf)(3) and in rough agreement with the estimate for VCl(3)(thf)(3) (D approximately 10 cm(-1), |E/D| approximately 0.18), together with the finding that the value of D is negative for both thf complexes. The electronic structures of these V(III) complexes are discussed in terms of their molecular structures and the electronic transitions observed by electronic absorption and MCD spectroscopies.     

Preparation of mononuclear and dinuclear Rh hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borato complexes containing arenethiolato ligands and conversion of the mononuclear complexes into dinuclear Rh-Rh and Rh-Ir complexes with bridging arenethiolato ligands

Reactions of [Tp*Rh(coe)(MeCN)](; Tp*= HB(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)(3); coe = cyclooctene) with one equiv. of the organic disulfides, PhSSPh, TolSSTol (Tol = 4-MeC(6)H(4)), PySSPy (Py = 2-pyridyl), and tetraethylthiuram disulfide in THF at room temperature afforded the mononuclear Rh(III) complexes [Tp*Rh(SPh)(2)(MeCN)](3a), [Tp*Rh(STol)(2)(MeCN)](3b), [Tp*Rh(eta(2)-SPy)(eta(1)-SPy)](6), and [Tp*Rh(eta(2)-S(2)CNEt(2))(eta(1)-S(2)CNEt(2))](7), respectively, via the oxidative addition of the organic disulfides to the Rh(I) center in 1. For the Tp analogue [TpRh(coe)(MeCN)](2, Tp = HB(pyrazol-1-yl)(3)), the reaction with TolSSTol proceeded similarly to give the bis(thiolato) complex [TpRh(STol)(2)(MeCN)](4) as a major product but the dinuclear complex [[TpRh(STol)](2)(micro-STol)(2)](5) was also obtained in low yield. Complex 3 was treated further with the Rh(III) or Ir(III) complexes [(Cp*MCl)(2)(micro-Cl)(2)](Cp*=eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) in THF at room temperature, yielding the thiolato-bridged dinuclear complexes [Tp*RhCl(micro-SPh)(2)MCp*Cl](8a: M = Rh, 8b: M = Ir). Dirhodium complex [TpRhCl(micro-STol)(2)RhCp*Cl](9) was obtained similarly from 4 and [(Cp*RhCl)(2)(micro-Cl)(2)]. Anion metathesis of 8a proceeds only at the Rh atom with the Cp* ligand to yield [Tp*RhCl(micro-SPh)(2)RhCp*(MeCN)][PF(6)](10), when treated with excess KPF(6) in CH(2)Cl(2)-MeCN. The X-ray analyses have been undertaken to determine the detailed structures of 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8a, 9, and 10.     

Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations on superoxide reductase: role of the axial thiolate in reactivity

Superoxide reductase (SOR) is a non-heme iron enzyme that reduces superoxide to peroxide at a diffusion-controlled rate. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is used to investigate the ground-state electronic structure of the resting high-spin and CN- bound low-spin FeIII forms of the 1Fe SOR from Pyrococcus furiosus. A computational model with constrained imidazole rings (necessary for reproducing spin states), H-bonding interaction to the thiolate (necessary for reproducing Fe-S bond covalency of the high-spin and low-spin forms), and H-bonding to the exchangeable axial ligand (necessary to reproduce the ground state of the low-spin form) was developed and then used to investigate the enzymatic reaction mechanism. Reaction of the resting ferrous site with superoxide and protonation leading to a high-spin FeIII-OOH species and its subsequent protonation resulting in H2O2 release is calculated to be the most energetically favorable reaction pathway. Our results suggest that the thiolate acts as a covalent anionic ligand. Replacing the thiolate with a neutral noncovalent ligand makes protonation very endothermic and greatly raises the reduction potential. The covalent nature of the thiolate weakens the FeIII bond to the proximal oxygen of this hydroperoxo species, which raises its pKa by an additional 5 log units relative to the pKa of a primarily anionic ligand, facilitating its protonation. A comparison with cytochrome P450 indicates that the stronger equatorial ligand field from the porphyrin results in a low-spin FeIII-OOH species that would not be capable of efficient H2O2 release due to a spin-crossing barrier associated with formation of a high-spin 5C FeIII product. Additionally, the presence of the dianionic porphyrin pi ring in cytochrome P450 allows O-O heterolysis, forming an FeIV-oxo porphyrin radical species, which is calculated to be extremely unfavorable for the non-heme SOR ligand environment. Finally, the 5C FeIII site that results from the product release at the end of the O2- reduction cycle is calculated to be capable of reacting with a second O2-, resulting in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. However, in contrast to FeSOD, the 5C FeIII site of SOR, which is more positively charged, is calculated to have a high affinity for binding a sixth anionic ligand, which would inhibit its SOD activity.     

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.     

Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of 2Fe-2S ferredoxin: covalency of the oxidized and reduced 2Fe forms and comparison to model complexes

Ligand K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides a direct experimental probe of ligand-metal bonding. In previous studies, this method has been applied to mononuclear Fe-S and binuclear 2Fe-2S model compounds as well as to rubredoxins and the Rieske protein. These studies are now extended to the oxidized and reduced forms of ferredoxin I from spinach. Because of its high instability, the mixed-valence state was generated electrochemically in the protein matrix, and ligand K-edge absorption spectra were recorded using an XAS spectroelectrochemical cell. The experimental setup is described. The XAS edge data are analyzed to independently determine the covalencies of the iron-sulfide and -thiolate bonds. The results are compared with those obtained previously for the Rieske protein and for 2Fe-2S model compounds. It is found that the sulfide covalency is significantly lower in oxidized FdI compared to that of the oxidized model complex. This decrease is interpreted in terms of H bonding present in the protein, and its contribution to the reduction potential E degrees is estimated. Further, a significant increase in covalency for the Fe(III)-sulfide bond and a decrease of the Fe(II)-sulfide bond are observed in the reduced Fe(III)Fe(II) mixed-valence species compared to those of the Fe(III)Fe(III) homovalent site. This demonstrates that, upon reduction, the sulfide interactions with the ferrous site decrease, allowing greater charge donation to the remaining ferric center. That is the dominant change in electronic structure of the Fe(2)S(2)RS(4) center upon reduction and can contribute to the redox properties of this active site.     

Studies of bicarbonate binding by dinuclear and mononuclear Ni(II) complexes

Bicarbonate ion reacts with the dinuclear nickel(II) complex containing the taec ligand (taec = N,N',N' ',N' '-tetrakis(2-aminoethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) in buffered aqueous solution to form the mu-eta(2),eta(2)-carbonate complex with a large effective binding constant for bicarbonate ion, log K(B) = 4.39 at pH = 7.4. In contrast, the dinuclear nickel(II) complex containing the o-xyl-DMC(2) ligand (o-xyl-DMC(2) = alpha,alpha'-bis(5,7-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecan-6-yl)-o-xylene) does not react with bicarbonate or carbonate ion in aqueous solution. In propylene carbonate, the reaction of [Ni(2)(o-xyl-DMC(2))](4+) with bicarbonate proceeds rapidly to form the mu-eta(1),eta(1)-carbonate complex. The structure of this carbonate complex has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study that confirms the mu-eta(1),eta(1)-carbonate binding mode. A mononuclear analogue of [Ni(2)(taec)](4+), [Ni(2,3,2-tetraamine)](2+) does not form a detectable mononuclear or dinuclear product with bicarbonate ion in aqueous solution, but [NiDMC](2+) (DMC = 5,7-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) reacts slowly with carbonate ion in aqueous solution to form a 2:1 complex.