Synthesis and characterisation of polymeric materials consisting of {Fe2(CO)5}-unit and their relevance to the diiron sub-unit of [FeFe]-hydrogenase

By using "click" chemistry between a diazide and a diiron model complex armed with two alkynyl groups, two polymeric diiron complexes (Poly-Py and Poly-Ph) were prepared. The two polymeric complexes were investigated using infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), M?ssbauer spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (Poly-Py only, due to the insolubility of Poly-Ph). To probe the coordinating mode of the diiron units in the two polymeric complexes, two control complexes (3 and 4) were also synthesised using a monoazide. Complexes 3 and 4 were well characterised and the latter was further crystallographically analysed. It turns out that in both complexes (3 and 4) and the two polymeric diiron complexes, one of the two iron atoms in the diiron unit coordinates with one of the triazole N atoms. Our results revealed that both morphologies and properties of Poly-Py and Poly-Ph are significantly affected by the organic moiety of the diazide. Compared to the protonating behaviour of the complexes 3 and 4, Poly-Py exhibited proton resistance. In electrochemical reduction, potentials for the reduction of the diiron units in Poly-Py and hence its catalytic reduction of proton in acetic acid-DMF shifted by over 400 mV compared to those for complexes 3 and 4. It is likely that the polymeric nature of Poly-Py offers the diiron units a "protective" environment in an acidic medium and more positive reduction potential.     

Visualising the carboxylate shift at a bioinspired diiron(II) site in the solid state

A novel pyrazolate-based diiron(II) complex shows five different binding modes of exogenous carboxylate ligands in a single crystal structure. Temperature dependent X-ray data reveal thermally induced disorder due to carboxylate dynamics that resemble the carboxylate shift, as it is known from various diiron enzyme active sites.     

Role of carboxylate bridges in modulating nonheme diiron(II)/O(2) reactivity

A series of diiron(II) complexes of the dinucleating ligand HPTP (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane) with one or two supporting carboxylate bridges has been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of one member of each subset has been obtained to reveal for subset A a (micro-alkoxo)(micro-carboxylato)diiron(II) center with one five- and one six-coordinate metal ion and for subset B a coordinatively saturated (micro-alkoxo)bis(micro-carboxylato)diiron(II) center. These complexes react with O(2) in second-order processes to form adducts characterized as (micro-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that the oxygenation step is sensitive to the availability of an O(2) binding site on the diiron(II) center, as subset B reacts more slowly by an order of magnitude. The lifetimes of the O(2) adducts are also distinct and can be modulated by the addition of oxygen donor ligands. The O(2) adduct of a monocarboxylate complex decays by a fast second-order process that must be monitored by stopped-flow methods, but becomes stabilized in CH(2)Cl(2)/DMSO (9:1 v/v) and decomposes by a much slower first-order process. The O(2) adduct of a dicarboxylate complex is even more stable in pure CH(2)Cl(2) and decays by a first-order process. These differences in adduct stability are reflected in the observation that only the O(2) adducts of monocarboxylate complexes can oxidize substrates, and only those substrates that can bind to the diiron center. Thus, the much greater stability of the O(2) adducts of dicarboxylate complexes can be rationalized by the formation of a (micro-alkoxo)(micro-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complex wherein the carboxylate bridges in the diiron(II) complex become terminal ligands in the O(2) adduct, occupy the remaining coordination sites on the diiron center, and prevent binding of potential substrates. Implications for the oxidation mechanisms of nonheme diiron enzymes are discussed.     

Dioxygen binding to complexes with Fe(II)2(mu-OH)2 cores: steric control of activation barriers and O2-adduct formation

A series of complexes with [Fe(II)(2)(mu-OH)(2)] cores has been synthesized with N3 and N4 ligands and structurally characterized to serve as models for nonheme diiron(II) sites in enzymes that bind and activate O(2). These complexes react with O(2) in solution via bimolecular rate-limiting steps that differ in rate by 10(3)-fold, depending on ligand denticity and steric hindrance near the diiron center. Low-temperature trapping of a (mu-oxo)(mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediate after O(2) binding requires sufficient steric hindrance around the diiron center and the loss of a proton (presumably that of a hydroxo bridge or a yet unobserved hydroperoxo intermediate). The relative stability of these and other (mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediates suggests that these species may not be on the direct pathway for dioxygen activation.     

Origin of Nitric Oxide Reduction Activity in Flavo–Diiron NO Reductase: Key Roles of the Second Coordination Sphere

The second coordination sphere constitutes a distinguishing factor in the active site to modulate enzymatic reactivity. To unravel the origin of NO‐to‐N₂O reduction activity of non‐heme diiron enzymes, herein we report a strong second‐coordination‐sphere interaction between a conserved Tyr₁₉₇ and the key iron–nitrosyl intermediate of Tm FDP (flavo–diiron protein), which leads to decreased reaction barriers towards N–N formation and N–O cleavage in NO reduction. This finding supports the direct coupling of diiron dinitrosyl as the N–N formation mode in our QM/MM modeling, and reconciles the mechanistic controversy of external reduction between FDPs and synthetic biomimetics of the iron–nitrosyls. This work highlights the application of QM/MM ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer modeling in elucidating the structural features of not only first, but also second coordination spheres of the key transient species involved in NO/O₂ activation by non‐heme diiron enzymes.     

A hydrogenase model system based on the sequence of cytochrome c: photochemical hydrogen evolution in aqueous media

The diiron carbonyl cluster is held by a native CXXC motif, which includes Cys14 and Cys17, in the cytochrome c sequence. It is found that the diiron carbonyl complex works well as a catalyst for H(2) evolution. It has a TON of ～80 over 2 h at pH 4.7 in the presence of a Ru-photosensitizer and ascorbate as a sacrificial reagent in aqueous media.     

Iron complexes capped with dendrimer-appended triazacyclononanes as the novel spatially encumbered models of non-heme iron proteins

Poly(benzyl ether) dendrimers with a 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN) focal core (Ln(3)TACN, 2a-4a) and nondendritic L1(3)TACN (1a), upon reaction with FeCl(2), followed by NaOAc and NH(4)PF(6), afforded mononuclear iron(II) complexes [Fe(II)(eta(2)-OAc)(Ln(3)TACN)](+) (1b-4b), which were oxidized under O(2) to form dinuclear (mu-O)(mu-OAc)(2)diiron(III) complexes (1c-4c) in 54-74% isolated yields. The formation of 1c-4c obeyed second-order kinetics with respect to 1b-4b, respectively, where the observed rate constants (k(2)) were clearly dependent on the generation number of the dendritic substituents. Photoirradiation of 1c-4c in the presence of NaOAc gave diiron(II) complexes (1d-4d), which were reoxidized to 1c-4c by O(2), following first-order kinetics with respect to 1d-4d, respectively. The crystal structure of nondendritic 1cshowed that the diiron(III) center is surrounded by an aromatic wall of the six 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl substituents, while spectroscopic profiles of dendritic 2c-4c suggested that the geometries of their diiron(III) centers are little different from that of 1c. The diiron(III) center of the largest 4c was highly robust toward alkaline hydrolysis and also insulated electrochemically.     

Mechanistic studies on the formation and reactivity of dioxygen adducts of diiron complexes supported by sterically hindered carboxylates

Dioxygen activation by enzymes such as methane monooxygenase, ribonucleotide reductase, and fatty acid desaturases occurs at a nonheme diiron active site supported by two histidines and four carboxylates, typically involving a (peroxo)diiron(III,III) intermediate in an early step of the catalytic cycle. Biomimetic tetracarboxylatodiiron(II,II) complexes with the familiar "paddlewheel" topology comprising sterically bulky o-dixylylbenzoate ligands with pyridine, 1-methylimidazole, or THF at apical sites readily react with O(2) to afford thermally labile peroxo intermediates that can be trapped and characterized spectroscopically at low temperatures (193 K). Cryogenic stopped-flow kinetic analysis of O(2) adduct formation carried out for the three complexes reveals that dioxygen binds to the diiron(II,II) center with concentration dependences and activation parameters indicative of a direct associative pathway. The pyridine and 1-methylimidazole intermediates decay by self-decomposition. However, the THF intermediate decays much faster by oxygen transfer to added PPh(3), the kinetics of which has been studied with double mixing experiments in a cryogenic stopped-flow apparatus. The results show that the decay of the THF intermediate is kinetically controlled by the dissociation of a THF ligand, a conclusion supported by the observation of saturation kinetic behavior with respect to PPh(3), inhibition by added THF, and invariant saturation rate constants for the oxidation of various phosphines. It is proposed that the proximity of the reducing substrate to the peroxide ligand on the diiron coordination sphere facilitates the oxygen-atom transfer. This unique investigation of the reaction of an O(2) adduct of a biomimetic tetracarboxylatodiiron(II,II) complex provides a synthetic precedent for understanding the electrophilic reactivity of like adducts in the active sties of nonheme diiron enzymes.     

Family of cofacial bimetallic complexes of a hexaanionic carboxamide cryptand

A series of coordination compounds has been prepared comprising manganese, iron, nickel, and zinc bound by a hexaanionic cryptand where carboxamides are anionic N-donors. The metal complexes have been investigated by X-ray crystallography, and possess metal centers in trigonal monopyramidal geometries with intermetallic distances spanning d(Mn,avg) = 6.080 ? to d(Ni,avg) = 6.495 ?. All complexes featuring trigonal monopyramidal metal(II) ions crystallize in Cc, and feature extended three-dimensional networks composed of cryptate anions linked by bridging potassium countercations. We also report the first solid state structure of the free cryptand ligand, which features no guest in its cavity and which possesses an extended hydrogen-bonding network. SQuID magnetometry data of the metal complexes reveal weak antiferromagnetic coupling of the metal centers. Only the diiron(II) complex exhibits reversible electrochemistry, and correspondingly, its chemical oxidation yields a powder formulated as the diiron(III) congener. The insertion of cyanide into the intermetallic cleft of the diiron(II) complex has been achieved, and comparisons of its solid state structure to the recently reported dicobalt(II) analogue are made. The antiferromagnetic coupling between the diiron(II) and the dicobalt(II) centers when bridged by cyanide does not increase significantly relative to the unbridged congeners. A one-site model satisfactorily fits Mo?ssbauer spectra of unbridged diiron(II) and diiron(III) complexes whereas a two site fit was needed to model the iron(II) centers that are bridged by cyanide.     

Variable coordination geometries at the diiron(II) active site of ribonucleotide reductase R2

The R2 subunit of Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase contains a dinuclear iron center that generates a catalytically essential stable tyrosyl radical by one electron oxidation of a nearby tyrosine residue. After acquisition of Fe(II) ions by the apo protein, the resulting diiron(II) center reacts with O(2) to initiate formation of the radical. Knowledge of the structure of the reactant diiron(II) form of R2 is a prerequisite for a detailed understanding of the O(2) activation mechanism. Whereas kinetic and spectroscopic studies of the reaction have generally been conducted at pH 7.6 with reactant produced by the addition of Fe(II) ions to the apo protein, the available crystal structures of diferrous R2 have been obtained by chemical or photoreduction of the oxidized diiron(III) protein at pH 5-6. To address this discrepancy, we have generated the diiron(II) states of wildtype R2 (R2-wt), R2-D84E, and R2-D84E/W48F by infusion of Fe(II) ions into crystals of the apo proteins at neutral pH. The structures of diferrous R2-wt and R2-D48E determined from these crystals reveal diiron(II) centers with active site geometries that differ significantly from those observed in either chemically or photoreduced crystals. Structures of R2-wt and R2-D48E/W48F determined at both neutral and low pH are very similar, suggesting that the differences are not due solely to pH effects. The structures of these "ferrous soaked" forms are more consistent with circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopic data and provide alternate starting points for consideration of possible O(2) activation mechanisms.     

Crystal structure and spectroscopic studies of a stable mixed-valent state of the hemerythrin-like domain of a bacterial chemotaxis protein

The bacterial chemotaxis protein of Desulfovibrio vulgaris DcrH (DcrH-Hr) functions as an O(2)-sensing protein. This protein has a hemerythrin-like domain that includes a nonheme diiron center analogous to the diiron center of the hemerythrin (Hr) family. Interestingly, the O(2) affinity of DcrH-Hr is 3.3 × 10(6) M(-1), a value 25-fold higher than that of the Pectinaria gouldii Hr. This high affinity arises from the fast association of the O(2) ligand with DcrH-Hr (k(on) = 5.3 × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)), which is made possible by a hydrophobic tunnel that accelerates the passage of the O(2) ligand to the diiron site. Furthermore, the autoxidation kinetics indicate that the rate of autoxidation of DcrH-Hr is 54-fold higher than that of P. gouldii Hr, indicating that the oxy form of DcrH-Hr is not stable toward autoxidation. More importantly, a mixed-valent state, semimet(R), which was spectroscopically observed in previous Hr studies, was found to be stable for over 1 week and isolable in the case of DcrH-Hr. The high-resolution crystal structures of the semimet(R)- (1.8 ?) and met-DcrH-Hr (1.4 ?) indicate that the semimet(R)- and met-DcrH-Hr species have very similar coordination geometry at the diiron site.     

Demonstration by 2H ENDOR spectroscopy that myo-inositol binds via an alkoxide bridge to the mixed-valent diiron center of myo-inositol oxygenase

myo-Inositol oxygenase (MIOX) is a non-heme diiron oxygenase that cleaves cyclohexane-(1,2,3,5/4,6-hexa)-ol (myo-inositol, MI) to d-glucuronate. Here, we use 2H ENDOR spectroscopy to demonstrate that MI binds to the diiron(II/III) cofactor of MIOX via an alkoxide bridge, most likely involving O1. Analysis shows that MI adopts a symmetrical geometry in which the O-C-2H plane of the bridge is approximately orthogonal to the Fe-O-Fe plane.     

Mechanistic Studies of the Formation and Decay of Diiron(III) Peroxo Complexes in the Reaction of Diiron(II) Precursors with Dioxygen

Mechanistic studies of the reactions of three analogous alkoxo-bridged diiron(II) complexes with O(2) have been carried out. The compounds, which differ primarily in the steric accessibility of dioxygen to the diiron(II) center, form metastable &mgr;-peroxo intermediates when studied at low temperature. At ambient temperatures, these intermediates decay to form (&mgr;-oxo)polyiron(III) products. The effect of ligand steric constraints on the O(2) reactivity was investigated. When access to the diiron center was unimpeded, the reaction was first-order with respect to both [Fe(II)(2)] and [O(2)] and the activation parameters for O(2) addition were similar to those for O(2) reacting with the dioxygen transport protein hemerythrin. When the binding site was occluded, however, reduced order with respect to [O(2)] was observed and a two-step mechanism was required to explain the kinetic results. Decay of all three peroxide intermediates involves a bimolecular event, implying the formation of tetranuclear species in the transition state.     

Water-dependent reactions of diiron(II) carboxylate complexes

Carboxylate-rich diiron(II) compounds with varying numbers of water ligands have been characterized, including the first complex with a {Fe2(mu-OH2)2(mu-O2CArTol)}3+ unit. The isolation of these complexes reveals how water can alter the structural properties of carboxylate-bridged diiron(II) core similar to those that occur in a variety of dioxygen-activating metalloenzyme cores. M?ssbauer and variable temperature, variable field magnetic susceptibility experiments indicate that the compound [Fe2(mu-OH2)2(mu-O2CAr4F-Ph)(O2CAr4F-Ph)3(THF)2(OH2)] has a high-spin diiron(II) core with little significant magnetic exchange coupling.     

Influence of the basicity of internal bases in diiron model complexes on hydrides formation and their transformation into protonated diiron hexacarbonyl form

Reaction of 2-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)propane-1,3-dithiol with tri-iron dodecacarbonyl afforded a diiron pentacarbonyl complex, [Fe₂L(CO)₅] (A and H₂L = 2-methyl-2-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-dithiol). In the reaction, the pyridinyl ring of the original ligand was partially hydrogenated during the reaction. This complex was fully characterised by using crystallographic, infrared, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Formation reaction of its bridging hydride and subsequent conversion into its protonated diiron hexacarbonyl complex, [Fe₂L(CO)₆] (ACOH⁺ in which the N atom of L is decoordinated and protonated), were experimentally and theoretically investigated. Results for this complex alongside with theoretic investigations into other diiron pentacarbonyl analogues revealed positive correlation of basicity of the internal bases of these investigated complexes to bridging hydrides formation. But subsequent conversion of these bridging hydrides into protonated diiron hexacarbonyl complexes was not solely dictated by the basicity. Protophilicity of the internal base and lability of its coordination with the diiron centre play also an important role as revealed by experimental and theoretic investigations.     

Crystal structures of the soluble methane monooxygenase hydroxylase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) demonstrating geometrical variability at the dinuclear iron active site.

The oxidation of methane to methanol is performed at carboxylate-bridged dinuclear iron centers in the soluble methane monooxygenase hydroxylase (MMOH). Previous structural studies of MMOH, and the related R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, have demonstrated the occurrence of carboxylate shifts involving glutamate residues that ligate the catalytic iron atoms. These shifts are thought to have important mechanistic implications. Recent kinetic and theoretical studies have also emphasized the importance of hydrogen bonding and pH effects at the active site. We report here crystal structures of MMOH from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) in the diiron(II), diiron(III), and mixed-valent Fe(II)Fe(III) oxidation states, and at pH values of 6.2, 7.0, and 8.5. These structures were investigated in an effort to delineate the range of possible motions at the MMOH active site and to identify hydrogen-bonding interactions that may be important in understanding catalysis by the enzyme. Our results present the first view of the diiron center in the mixed-valent state, and they indicate an increased lability for ferrous ions in the enzyme. Alternate conformations of Asn214 near the active site according to redox state and a distortion in one of the alpha-helices adjacent to the metal center in the diiron(II) state have also been identified. These changes alter the surface of the protein in the vicinity of the catalytic core and may have implications for small-molecule accessibility to the active site and for protein component interactions in the methane monooxygenase system. Collectively, these results help to explain previous spectroscopic observations and provide new insight into catalysis by the enzyme.     

ADT-Type [FeFe]-hydrogenase biomimics featuring monodentate phosphines: formation,structures, and electrocatalysis

Transition Metal Chemistry - To further develop the diiron subsite biomimics of [FeFe]-hydrogenases, two new diiron azadithiolate (adt) complexes Fe2(μ-adtNPh)(CO)5(Ph2PX)...     

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of (mu-hydroxo or mu-oxo)(mu-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes: models for peroxo intermediates of non-heme diiron proteins

(mu-Hydroxo or oxo)(mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes having a tetradentate tripodal ligand (L) containing a carboxylate sidearm [Fe2(mu-OH or mu-O)(mu-O2)(L)2]n+ were synthesized as models for peroxo-intermediates of non-heme diiron proteins and characterized by various physicochemical measurements including X-ray analysis, which provide fundamental structural and spectroscopic insights into the peroxodiiron(III) complexes.     

Bio-inspired, side-on attachment of a ruthenium photosensitizer to an iron hydrogenase active site model

The first ruthenium-diiron complex [(mu-pdt)Fe2(CO)5{PPh2(C6H4CCbpy)}Ru(bpy)2]2+ 1 (pdt = propyldithiolate, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) is described in which the photoactive ruthenium trisbipyridyl unit is linked to a model of the iron hydrogenase active site by a ligand directly attached to one of the iron centers. Electrochemical and photophysical studies show that the light-induced MLCT excited state of the title complex is localized towards the potential diiron acceptor unit. However, the relatively mild potential required for the reduction of the acetylenic bipyridine together with the easily oxidized diiron portion leads to a reductive quenching of the excited state, instead. This process results in a transiently oxidized diiron unit which may explain the surprisingly high light sensitivity of complex 1.     

CO-migration in the ligand substitution process of the chelating diphosphite diiron complex (mu-pdt)[Fe(CO)3][Fe(CO){(EtO)2PN(Me)P(OEt)2}

Selective synthetic routes to isomeric diiron dithiolate complexes containing the (EtO) 2PN(Me)P(OEt) 2 (PNP) ligand in an unsymmetrical chelating role, for example, (mu-pdt)[Fe(CO) 3][Fe(CO)(kappa (2)-PNP)] ( 3) and as a symmetrically bridging ligand in (mu-pdt)(mu-PNP)[Fe(CO) 2] 2 ( 4), have been developed. 3 was converted to 4 in 75% yield after extensive reflux in toluene. The reactions of 3 with PMe 3 and P(OEt) 3 afforded bis-monodentate P-donor complexes (mu-pdt)[Fe(CO) 2PR 3][Fe(CO) 2(PNP)] (PR 3 = PMe 3, 5; P(OEt) 3, 7), respectively, which are formed via an associative PMe 3 coordination reaction followed by an intramolecular CO-migration process from the Fe(CO) 3 to the Fe(CO)(PNP) unit with concomitant opening of the Fe-PNP chelate ring. The PNP-monodentate complexes 5 and 7 were converted to a trisubstituted diiron complex (mu-pdt)(mu-PNP)[Fe(CO)PR 3][Fe(CO) 2] (PR 3 = PMe 3, 6; P(OEt) 3, 8) on release of 1 equiv CO when refluxing in toluene. Variable-temperature (31)P NMR spectra show that trisubstituted diiron complexes each exist as two configuration isomers in solution. All diiron dithiolate complexes obtained were characterized by MS, IR, NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction studies.