Substrate‐Dependent H/D Kinetic Isotope Effects and the Role of the Di(μ‐oxo)diiron(IV) Core in Soluble Methane Monooxygenase: A Theoretical Study

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) is an enzyme that converts alkanes to alcohols using a di(μ‐oxo)diiron(IV) intermediate Q at the active site. Very large kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) indicative of significant tunneling are observed for the hydrogen transfer (H‐transfer) of CH₄ and CH₃CN; however, a relatively small KIE is observed for CH₃NO₂. The detailed mechanism of the enzymatic H‐transfer responsible for the diverse range of KIEs is not yet fully understood. In this study, variational transition‐state theory including the multidimensional tunneling approximation is used to calculate rate constants to predict KIEs based on the quantum‐mechanically generated intrinsic reaction coordinates of the H‐transfer by the di(μ‐oxo)diiron(IV) complex. The results of our study reveal that the role of the di(μ‐oxo)diiron(IV) core and the H‐transfer mechanism are dependent on the substrate. For CH₄, substrate binding induces an electron transfer from the oxygen to one Fe^IV center, which in turn makes the μ‐O ligand more electrophilic and assists the H‐transfer by abstracting an electron from the C?H σ orbital. For CH₃CN, the reduction of Fe^IV to Fe^III occurs gradually with substrate binding and H‐transfer. The charge density and electrophilicity of the μ‐O ligand hardly change upon substrate binding; however, for CH₃NO₂, there seems to be no electron movement from μ‐O to Fe^IV during the H‐transfer. Thus, the μ‐O ligand appears to abstract a proton without an electron from the C?H σ orbital. The calculated KIEs for CH₄, CH₃CN, and CH₃NO₂ are 24.4, 49.0, and 8.27, respectively, at 293 K, in remarkably good agreement with the experimental values. This study reveals that diverse KIE values originate mainly from tunneling to the same di(μ‐oxo)diiron(IV) core for all substrates, and demonstrate that the reaction dynamics are essential for reproducing experimental results and understanding the role of the diiron core for methane oxidation in sMMO.     

Activation of a Non‐Heme FeIII‐OOH by a Second FeIII to Hydroxylate Strong C−H Bonds: Possible Implications for Soluble Methane Monooxygenase

Non‐heme iron oxygenases contain either monoiron or diiron active sites, and the role of the second iron in the latter enzymes is a topic of particular interest, especially for soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO). Herein we report the activation of a non‐heme Fe^III‐OOH intermediate in a synthetic monoiron system using Fe^III(OTf)₃ to form a high‐valent oxidant capable of effecting cyclohexane and benzene hydroxylation within seconds at ?40 °C. Our results show that the second iron acts as a Lewis acid to activate the iron–hydroperoxo intermediate, leading to the formation of a powerful Fe^V=O oxidant—a possible role for the second iron in sMMO.     

CeIV- and HClO4-Promoted Assembly of an Fe2IV(μ-O)2 Diamond Core from its Monomeric FeIV=O Precursor at Room Temperature

Diiron(IV)-oxo species are proposed to effect the cleavage of strong C−H bonds by nonheme diiron enzymes such as soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) and fatty acid desaturases. However, synthetic mimics of such diiron(IV) oxidants are rare. Herein we report the reaction of (TPA*)Fe^II ( 1 ) (TPA*=tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxypyridyl-2-methyl)amine) in CH₃CN with 4 equiv CAN and 200 equiv HClO₄ at 20 °C to form a complex with an [Fe^IV₂(μ-O)₂]⁴⁺ core. CAN and HClO₄ play essential roles in this unprecedented transformation, in which the comproportionation of Fe^III-O-Ce^IV and Fe^IV=O/Ce⁴⁺ species is proposed to be involved in the assembly of the [Fe^IV₂(μ-O)₂]⁴⁺ core.     

Untersuchung von Hydrolysereaktionen zum Aufbau von Eisen(III)‐Oxo‐Aggregaten

Investigation of the Hydrolytic Build‐up of Iron(III)‐Oxo‐Aggregates The synthesis and structures of five new iron/hpdta complexes [{Fe^III₄(μ‐O)(μ‐OH)(hpdta)₂(H₂O)₄}₂Fe^II(H₂O)₄]·21H₂O ( 2 ), (pipH₂)₂[Fe₂(hpdta)₂]·8H₂O ( 4 ), (NH₄)₄[Fe₆(μ‐O)(μ‐OH)₅(hpdta)₃]·20.5H₂O ( 5 ), (pipH₂)_1.5[Fe₄(μ‐O)(μ‐OH)₃(hpdta)₂]·6H₂O ( 7 ), [{Fe₆(μ₃‐O)₂(μ‐OH)₂(hpdta)₂(H₄hpdta)₂}₂]·py·50H₂O ( 9 ) are described and the formation of these is discussed in the context of other previously published hpdta‐complexes (H₅hpdta = 2‐Hydroxypropane‐1, 3‐diamine‐N, N, N′, N′‐tetraacetic acid). Terminal water ligands are important for the successive build‐up of higher nuclearity oxy/hydroxy bridged aggregates as well as for the activation of substrates such as DMA and CO₂. The formation of the compounds under hydrolytic conditions formally results from condensation reactions. The magnetic behaviour can be quantified analogously up to the hexanuclear aggregate 5 . The iron(III) atoms in 1 ‐ 7 are antiferromagnetically coupled giving rise to S = 0 spin ground states. In the dodecanuclear iron(III) aggregate 9 we observe the encapsulation of inorganic ionic fragments by dimeric{M₂hpdta}‐units as we recently reported for Al^III/hpdta‐system.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of α-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-substituted sulfur-bridged iron carbonyl complexes (μ-RS)(μ-EtOC(O)CH2S)Fe2(CO)6

A series of iron-sulfur cluster complexes (μ-RS) (μ-EtOC(O)CH₂S)Fe₂(CO)₆ (A) have been synthesized by reductive cleavage of an S-S bond of μ-S₂Fe₂(CO)₆ with Grignard reagents, followed by nucleophilic substitution of the intermediates, (μ-RS) (μ-XMgS)Fe₂(CO)₆ (B) toward ClCH₂C(O)OEt. The complexes (A) may be also synthesized by CF₃COOH-acidolysis of (B), followed by condensation of (μ-RS) (μ-HS)Fe₂(CO)₆ (C) with ClCH₂C(O)OEt in the presence of Et₃N. For the former method, the manipulations are more convenient and the starting materials are more easily available and much cheaper. Through conformational analysis, it has been shown that each of the complexes is a mixture of either three conformers of ae, ee and ea or two conformers in a given ratio.     

2,6‐Bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine as Meridional Capping Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of the First Corresponding Hexanuclear Iron(III) Complex

Based on the 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine ligand (H₂bpp) the hexanuclear iron(III) complex [Fe₆(bpp)₄(μ₃‐O)₂(μ‐OMe)₃(μ‐OH)Cl₂] ( 1 ) was synthesized. The reaction with iron(II) chloride and additional pyridine leads to the exclusive formation of the complex through self‐assembly process. Six octahedrally coordinated iron atoms are linked through the pyrazolido groups of four H₂bpp ligands. These are further linked through bridging hydroxido, methoxido, and oxido groups. The complex has been characterized by IR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and X‐ray crystallography. Temperature‐dependent magnetic measurements indicate strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the high‐spin iron(III) ions within the complex, which leads to an S = 0 spin ground state. As a result of the two Fe3(μ₃‐O) fragments two frustrated exchange pathways are present. In addition the properties of H₂bpp as a potential capping ligand for the synthesis of heteroleptic trinuclear complexes based on the triaminoguanidine core is investigated.     

Altering the Activity of Catechol Oxidase Model Compounds by Electronic Influence on the Copper Core

The catecholase activity of the dicopper(II) complexes [Cu₂(L¹)(μ‐OCH₃)(NCCH₃)₂](PF₆)₂·H₂O·CH₃CN ( 1 ), [Cu₂(L²)(μ‐OH)(MeOH)(NCCH₃)](BF₄)₂ ( 2 ), [Cu₂(L³)(μ‐OMe)(NCCH₃)₂](BF₄)₂·2CH₃CN·H₂O ( 3 ), [Cu₂(L²)(μ‐OAc)₂]BF₄·H₂O ( 4 ), [Cu₂(L⁴)(μ‐OAc)₂]ClO₄ ( 5 ) and [Cu₂(L⁵)(μ‐OMe)(NCCH₃)₃(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH·CH₃CN ( 6 ) consisting of varying para‐substituted phenol ligands HL¹ = 4‐trifluoromethyl‐2,6‐bis((4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl)phenol, HL² = 4‐bromo‐2,6‐bis((4‐methyl‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)methyl)phenol, HL³ = 4‐bromo‐2‐((4‐methyl‐1,4‐diazepan‐1‐yl)methyl)‐6‐((4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl)phenol, HL⁴ = 2,6‐bis((4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl)‐4‐nitrophenol and HL⁵ = 4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐bis((4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl)phenol was studied. The main difference within the six complexes lies in the individual copper–copper separation that is enforced by the chelating side arms of the phenolate ligand entity and more importantly in the exogenous bridging solvent, hydroxide, methanolate or acetate ions. The distance between the copper cores varies from 2.94Å in 1 to 3.29Å in 5 . The catalytic activity of the complexes 1 – 6 towards the oxidation of 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol was determined spectrophotometrically by monitoring the increase of the 3,5–di‐tert‐butylquinone characteristic absorption band at about 400 nm over time saturated with O₂. The complexes are able to oxidize the substrate 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol to the corresponding o‐quinone with distinct catalytic activity (k_cat between 92 h^?1 and 189 h^?1), with an order of decreasing activity 6 > 5 > 1 , 2 , 4 ≥ 3 . A kinetic treatment of the data based on the Michaelis‐Menten approach was applied. A correlation of the catecholase activities with the variation of the para‐ substituents as well as other effects resulting from the copper core distances is discussed. [Cu₂(L⁵)(μ‐OMe)(NCCH₃)₃(OH)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH·CH₃CN ( 6 ) exhibited the highest activity of the six complexes as a result of its high turnover rate.     

Selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, 1‐phenylethanol to acetophenone and fluorene to fluorenol catalysed by iron (II) complexes supported by pincer‐type ligands: Studies on rapid degradation of organic dyes

Hexacoordinated non‐heme iron complexes [Fe^II(L¹)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ) and [Fe^II(L²)₂](PF₆)₂ ( 2 ) have been synthesized using ligands L¹ = (E)‐2‐chloro‐6‐(2‐(pyridin‐2ylmethylene) hydrazinyl)pyridine and L² = (E)‐2‐chloro‐6‐(2‐(1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl) pyridine]. These complexes are highly active non‐heme iron catalysts to catalyze the C (sp³)?H bonds of alkanes. These iron complexes have been characterized using ESI?MS analysis and molecular structures were determined by X‐ray crystallography. ESI ? MS analysis also helped to understand the generation of intermediate species like Fe^III?OOH and Fe^IV=O. DFT and TD?DFT calculations revealed that the oxidation reactions were performed through high‐valent iron center and a probable reaction mechanism was proposed. These complexes were also utilized for the degradation of orange II and methylene blue dyes.     

Two Heterometallic–Organic Frameworks Composed of Iron(III)‐Salen‐Based Ligands and d10 Metals: Gas Sorption and Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Degradation of 2‐Chlorophenol

Two examples of heterometallic–organic frameworks (HMOFs) composed of dicarboxyl‐functionalized Fe^III‐salen complexes and d¹⁰ metals (Zn, Cd), [Zn₂(Fe‐L)₂(μ₂‐O)(H₂O)₂] ? 4 DMF ? 4 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Cd₂(Fe‐L)₂(μ₂‐O)(H₂O)₂] ? 2 DMF ? H₂O ( 2 ) (H₄L=1,2‐cyclohexanediamino‐N,N′‐bis(3‐methyl‐5‐carboxysalicylidene), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In 1 and 2 , each square‐pyramidal Fe^III atom is embedded in the [N₂O₂] pocket of an L^4? anion, and these units are further bridged by a μ₂‐O anion to give an (Fe‐L)₂(μ₂‐O) dimer. The two carboxylate groups of each L^4? anion bridge Zn^II or Cd^II atoms to afford a 3D porous HMOF. The gas sorption and magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been studied. Remarkably, 1 and 2 show activity for the photocatalytic degradation of 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP) under visible‐light irradiation, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first time that this has been observed for Fe^III‐salen‐based HMOFs.     

Facile Insertion of Carbon Dioxide into Cu2(μ‐H) Dinuclear Units Supported by Tetraphosphine Ligands

Reactions of meso‐bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane (dpmppm) with Cu^I species in the presence of NaBH₄ afforded di‐ and tetranuclear copper hydride complexes, [Cu₂(μ‐H)(μ‐dpmppm)₂]X ( 1 ) and [Cu₄(μ‐H)₂(μ₄‐H)(μ‐dpmppm)₂]X ( 2 ) (X=BF₄, PF₆). Complex 1 undergoes facile insertion of CO₂ (1 atm) at room temperature, leading to a formate‐bridged dicopper complex [Cu₂(μ‐HCOO)(dpmppm)₂]X ( 3 ). The experimental and DFT theoretical studies clearly demonstrate that CO₂ insertion into the Cu₂(μ‐H) unit occurred with the flexible dicopper platform. Complex 2 also undergoes CO₂ insertion to give a formate‐bridged complex, [Cu₄(μ‐HCOO)₃(dpmppm)₂]X, during which the square Cu₄ framework opened up to a linear tetranuclear chain.     

Synthesis,Structure and Magnetic Property of an “Adamantane” Type Tetranuclear Iron(III) Complex

A new tetranuclear complex [Fe₄ L ₂(μ‐O)₂(μ‐>OH)₂](ClO₄)₄·H₂O ( 1 ), (H L = N,N,N′,N′‐tetrakis‐[(2‐pyridyl)methyl]‐2‐hydroxypropane‐1,3‐diamine) has been synthesized and its crystal structure and magnetic properties are shown. X‐ray crystallography reveals that complex 1 contains a quadruply‐charged, tetranuclear iron(III) cation and four perchlorate anions. In 1 , the Fe₄O₆ core is composed of a tetrahedron of iron atoms bridged by six oxygen atoms (two oxo, two hydroxo, and two alkoxo groups from L ). This results in an adamantane‐type geometry with the iron atoms occupying the bridgehead positions. Susceptibility data of 1 indicate strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling of high‐spin Fe^III atoms.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Antibacterial Activities of Four Schiff Base Complexes of Copper and Zinc

Four Schiff base complexes, [Cu₂(L1)₂(μ‐NCS)₂] ( 1 ), [Cu₂(L2)₂(μ‐N₃)₂] ( 2 ), Cu[Cu(CH₃COO)(L3)]₂ ( 3 ), and [Zn{Zn(C₃H₄N₂)(L3)}₂(NO₃)](NO₃) ( 4 ) (where L1 = 2‐[(pyridin‐2‐ylmethylimino)methyl]phenol, L2 = 1‐[(pyridin‐2‐ylmethylimino)methyl]naphthalen‐2‐ol, and L3 = bis(salicylidene)‐1, 3‐propanediamine), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and single crystal X‐ray determinations. Both 1 and 2 are structurally similar di‐nuclear complexes, which are located at crystallographic inversion centers (with the center of the central Cu₂N₂ ring). In 1 , each copper atom has a slightly distorted square pyramidal configuration, coordinated by two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom from L1 and another two terminal nitrogen atoms from two bridging thiocyanate anions. The Cu···Cu separation is 3.466(3) Å. The structure of 2 is similar to that of 1 , with Cu···Cu separation of 3.368(2) Å. Both 3 and 4 are linear tri‐nuclear complexes. In 3 , the central Cu²⁺ ion is located on an inversion centre and has a distorted octahedral coordination involving four bridging O atoms from two Schiff base ligands (L3) in the equatorial plane and one O atom from each bridging acetate group in the axial positions. The coordination around the terminal Cu²⁺ ions is irregular‐square pyramidal, with two O and two N atoms of L3 in the basal plane and one O atom from an acetate group in the apical position. The acetate bridges linking the central and terminal Cu²⁺ ions are mutually trans. The Cu···Cu separation is 3.009(3) Å. In 4 , the coordination configuration of the central and the terminal zinc atoms are similar to that of the 3 , with Zn···Zn separation of 3.153(4) Å. The three Schiff bases and the corresponding three copper complexes exhibit good antibacterial properties, while the zinc complex 4 has nearly no.     

Spectroscopic Properties of a Biologically Relevant [Fe2(μ-O)2] Diamond Core Motif with a Short Iron-Iron Distance

Diiron cofactors in enzymes perform diverse challenging transformations. The structures of high valent intermediates ( Q in methane monooxygenase and X in ribonucleotide reductase) are debated since Fe−Fe distances of 2.5–3.4 Å were attributed to “open” or “closed” cores with bridging or terminal oxido groups. We report the crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of a Fe^III₂(μ-O)₂ complex ( 2 ) with tetrahedral (4C) centres and short Fe−Fe distance (2.52 Å), persisting in organic solutions. 2 shows a large Fe K-pre-edge intensity, which is caused by the pronounced asymmetry at the T_D Fe^III centres due to the short Fe−μ−O bonds. A ≈2.5 Å Fe−Fe distance is unlikely for six-coordinate sites in Q or X , but for a Fe₂(μ-O)₂ core containing four-coordinate (or by possible extension five-coordinate) iron centres there may be enough flexibility to accommodate a particularly short Fe−Fe separation with intense pre-edge transition. This finding may broaden the scope of models considered for the structure of high-valent diiron intermediates formed upon O₂ activation in biology.     

Heterotrimetallic Coordination Polymers: {CuIILnIIIFeIII} Chains and {NiIILnIIIFeIII} Layers: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Magnetic Properties

The use of the [Fe^III(AA)(CN)₄]^? complex anion as metalloligand towards the preformed [Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ or [Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ heterometallic complex cations (AA=2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10‐phenathroline (phen); H₂valpn=1,3‐propanediyl‐bis(2‐iminomethylene‐6‐methoxyphenol)) allowed the preparation of two families of heterotrimetallic complexes: three isostructural 1D coordination polymers of general formula {[Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III(H₂O)₃(μ‐NC)₂Fe^III(phen)(CN)₂ {(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃}]NO₃ ? 7 H₂O}_n (Ln=Gd ( 1 ), Tb ( 2 ), and Dy ( 3 )) and the trinuclear complex [Cu^II(valpn)La^III(OH₂)₃(O₂NO)(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃] ? NO₃ ? H₂O ? CH₃CN ( 4 ) were obtained with the [Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ assembling unit, whereas three isostructural heterotrimetallic 2D networks, {[Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III(ONO₂)₂(H₂O)(μ‐NC)₃Fe^III(bipy)(CN)] ? 2 H₂O ? 2 CH₃CN}_n (Ln=Gd ( 5 ), Tb ( 6 ), and Dy ( 7 )) resulted with the related [Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ precursor. The crystal structure of compound 4 consists of discrete heterotrimetallic complex cations, [Cu^II(valpn)La^III(OH₂)₃(O₂NO)(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃]⁺, nitrate counterions, and non‐coordinate water and acetonitrile molecules. The heteroleptic {Fe^III(bipy)(CN)₄} moiety in 5 – 7 acts as a tris‐monodentate ligand towards three {Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III} binuclear nodes leading to heterotrimetallic 2D networks. The ferromagnetic interaction through the diphenoxo bridge in the Cu^II?Ln^III ( 1 – 3 ) and Ni^II?Ln^III ( 5 – 7 ) units, as well as through the single cyanide bridge between the Fe^III and either Ni^II ( 5 – 7 ) or Cu^II ( 4 ) account for the overall ferromagnetic behavior observed in 1 – 7 . DFT‐type calculations were performed to substantiate the magnetic interactions in 1 , 4 , and 5 . Interestingly, compound 6 exhibits slow relaxation of the magnetization with maxima of the out‐of‐phase ac signals below 4.0 K in the lack of a dc field, the values of the pre‐exponential factor (τ_o) and energy barrier (E_a) through the Arrhenius equation being 2.0×10^?12 s and 29.1 cm^?1, respectively. In the case of 7 , the ferromagnetic interactions through the double phenoxo (Ni^II–Dy^III) and single cyanide (Fe^III–Ni^II) pathways are masked by the depopulation of the Stark levels of the Dy^III ion, this feature most likely accounting for the continuous decrease of χ_M T upon cooling observed for this last compound.     

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes based on p‐xylylene‐bridged bis(1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) ligands: Synthesis,characterization, DNA cleavage abilities and evaluation of superoxide dismutase‐ and catalase‐like activities

Three new dinuclear Cu(II) complexes with the formulas [Cu₂(pxdmbtacn)Cl₄] ( 1 ), [Cu₂(pxdmbtacn)Cl_0.7(NO₃)_1.3(OH)₂(H₂O)_1.3]?6H₂O ( 2 ) and [Cu₂(pxdiprbtacn)Cl₄] ( 3 ) together with one previously reported complex, [Cu₂(pxbtacn)Cl₄] ( 4 ), were obtained from Cu(II) salts with three p‐xylylene‐bridged bis‐tacn ligands bearing pendant alkyl substituents or without pendant group. Complex 2 was structurally characterized as a centrosymmetric dinuclear molecule with each metal center being coordinated to some labile ligands in addition to one tacn ring. Based on the results of mass spectrometry and UV–visible spectroscopy, complexes 1 and 3 are capable of existing in aqueous solution as dinuclear species but 4 can partially form a dimer of the original dinuclear motif. Complexes 1 , 3 and 4 can all effectively cleave supercoiled DNA oxidatively in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of 1 and 3 measured under physiological conditions are comparable to that of the native CuZnSOD enzyme but the enzymatic activity of 4 is about three‐ to fourfold lower. Furthermore, complexes 1 , 3 and 4 demonstrate moderate scavenging effect on hydrogen peroxide and their catalase activities are in the decreasing order of 3 > 1 > 4 .     

Mechanistic Insight into Peroxo‐Shunt Formation of Biomimetic Models for Compound II,Their Reactivity toward Organic Substrates,and the Influence of N‐Methylimidazole Axial Ligation

High‐valent iron‐oxo species have been invoked as reactive intermediates in catalytic cycles of heme and nonheme enzymes. The studies presented herein are devoted to the formation of compound II model complexes, with the application of a water soluble (TMPS)Fe^III(OH) porphyrin ([meso‐tetrakis(2,4,6‐trimethyl‐3‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinato]iron(III) hydroxide) and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant, and their reactivity toward selected organic substrates. The kinetics of the reaction of H₂O₂ with (TMPS)Fe^III(OH) was studied as a function of temperature and pressure. The negative values of the activation entropy and activation volume for the formation of (TMPS)Fe^IV?O(OH) point to the overall associative nature of the process. A pH‐dependence study on the formation of (TMPS)Fe^IV?O(OH) revealed a very high reactivity of OOH^? toward (TMPS)Fe^III(OH) in comparison to H₂O₂. The influence of N‐methylimidazole (N‐MeIm) ligation on both the formation of iron(IV)‐oxo species and their oxidising properties in the reactions with 4‐methoxybenzyl alcohol or 4‐methoxybenzaldehyde, was investigated in detail. Combined experimental and theoretical studies revealed that among the studied complexes, (TMPS)Fe^III(H₂O)(N‐MeIm) is highly reactive toward H₂O₂ to form the iron(IV)‐oxo species, (TMPS)Fe^IV?O(N‐MeIm). The latter species can also be formed in the reaction of (TMPS)Fe^III(N‐MeIm)₂ with H₂O₂ or in the direct reaction of (TMPS)Fe^IV?O(OH) with N‐MeIm. Interestingly, the kinetic studies involving substrate oxidation by (TMPS)Fe^IV?O(OH) and (TMPS)Fe^IV?O(N‐MeIm) do not display a pronounced effect of the N‐MeIm axial ligand on the reactivity of the compound II mimic in comparison to the OH^? substituted analogue. Similarly, DFT computations revealed that the presence of an axial ligand (OH^? or N‐MeIm) in the trans position to the oxo group in the iron(IV)‐oxo species does not significantly affect the activation barriers calculated for C?H dehydrogenation of the selected organic substrates.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Crystal Structures of Four Dinuclear Schiff Base Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Complexes with Versatile Bridging Groups

Four novel Schiff base nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes, derived from the end‐on (μ_1,1‐N₃) azide, end‐to‐end (μ_1,3‐NCS) thiocyanate, or phenolate oxygen bridges, have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. They are the dinuclear double end‐on azide‐bridged [Ni₂(L1)₂(MeCN)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)₂]·MeOH ( 1 ), the dinuclear double end‐on azide‐bridged [Ni₂(L2)₂(MeOH)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)₂][Ni₂(L2)₂(OH₂)₂(μ_1,1‐N₃)₂]·MeOH ( 2 ), the dinuclear double end‐to‐end thiocyanate‐bridged [Cu₂(L3)₂(μ_1,3‐NCS)₂] ( 3 ), and the dinuclear double phenolate O‐bridged [Cu₂(L4)₂(NCS)₂] ( 4 ), where HL1, HL2, HL3 and HL4 are four tridentate Schiff bases obtained by the condensation of 3,5‐dibromosalicylaldehyde with N‐ethylethane‐1,2‐diamine, of 3,5‐dichlorosalicylaldehyde with N‐methylpropane‐1,3‐diamine, of 3‐bromo‐5‐chlorosalicylaldehyde with 2‐aminomethylpyridine, and of 5‐nitrosalicylaldehyde with 2‐aminomethylpyridine, respectively. Each nickel(II) atom in 1 and 2 is in an octahedral coordination, while each copper(II) atom in 3 and 4 is in a square pyramidal coordination. There exists crystallographic inversion centre symmetry in each of the complexes.     

Facile Conversion of syn‐[FeIV(O)(TMC)]2+ into the anti Isomer via Meunier's Oxo–Hydroxo Tautomerism Mechanism

The syn and anti isomers of [Fe^IV(O)(TMC)]²⁺ (TMC=tetramethylcyclam) represent the first isolated pair of synthetic non‐heme oxoiron(IV) complexes with identical ligand topology, differing only in the position of the oxo unit bound to the iron center. Both isomers have previously been characterized. Reported here is that the syn isomer [Fe^IV(O_syn)(TMC)(NCMe)]²⁺ ( 2 ) converts into its anti form [Fe^IV(O_anti)(TMC)(NCMe)]²⁺ ( 1 ) in MeCN, an isomerization facilitated by water and monitored most readily by ¹H NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Indeed, when H₂¹⁸O is introduced to 2 , the nascent 1 becomes ¹⁸O‐labeled. These results provide compelling evidence for a mechanism involving direct binding of a water molecule trans to the oxo atom in 2 with subsequent oxo–hydroxo tautomerism for its incorporation as the oxo atom of 1 . The nonplanar nature of the TMC supporting ligand makes this isomerization an irreversible transformation, unlike for their planar heme counterparts.     

A Non‐Heme Iron Photocatalyst for Light‐Driven Aerobic Oxidation of Methanol

Non‐heme (L)Fe^III and (L)Fe^III‐O‐Fe^III(L) complexes (L=1,1‐di(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐N,N‐bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethan‐1‐amine) underwent reduction under irradiation to the Fe^II state with concomitant oxidation of methanol to methanal, without the need for a secondary photosensitizer. Spectroscopic and DFT studies support a mechanism in which irradiation results in charge‐transfer excitation of a Fe^III?μ‐O?Fe^III complex to generate [(L)Fe^IV=O]²⁺ (observed transiently during irradiation in acetonitrile), and an equivalent of (L)Fe^II. Under aerobic conditions, irradiation accelerates reoxidation from the Fe^II to the Fe^III state with O₂, thus closing the cycle of methanol oxidation to methanal.     

Synthesis,Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Cyano‐bridged Dinuclear Compound fac‐{[FeIII(pzTp)(CN)2(μ‐CN)] CuII(TPyA)}·Et2O·ClO4 (pzTp = tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate)

The reaction of tricyanometallate precursor, (Bu₄N)[(pzTp)Fe(CN)₃] with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O in the presence of the tetradentate ligand tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (TPyA) afford the dinuclear compound fac‐{[Fe^III(pzTp)(CN)₂(μ‐CN)]Cu^II(TPA)}·Et₂O·ClO₄ ( 1 ) (pzTp = tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate). The molecular structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In compound 1 , the Fe^III ion is coordinated by three cyanide carbon atoms and three nitrogen atoms of pzTp anions. Whereas, the Cu^II ion is surrounded by one cyanide nitrogen atom and four nitrogen atoms from the TPyA ligand. Magnetic measurements indicate the intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling is observed for compound 1 , and it has S = 1 ground states.