Bridged Ferrocenes VIII. Correlation of redox potentials with structure

The redox potentials for oxidation of ferrocenes with hydrocarbon bridges and of corresponding ketoferrocenes were measured. For the reduced compound correlations were observed between the potentials and the iron to ring distances. For the ketoferrocenes, the importance of proper alignment of the carbonyl with the cyclopentadienyl rings is noted. Other possible relationships are discussed.     

Artificial redox enzymes. II. A computational chemistry study1

A computational chemistry study of the artificial redox enzyme synthesized by covalently attaching flavin to cyclodextrins explains some of its properties. Calculations indicate that the flavin moiety covalently attached to cyclodextrin is not within the cavity of cyclodextrin. This result is consistent with the UV-vis spectrum of the artificial enzyme. The calculations also indicate hydrogen bonds formed between the carbonyl groups of the catalytic functionality and the hydroxyl groups of cyclodextrin play a role in their most stable conformation. This explains the observed overall stability of these artificial enzymes compared to riboflavin. Electrostatic energies and solvation energies play a major role in the stability of the hosts and the orientation of guests included within the artificial enzymes. The rates of oxidation of various thiols catalyzed by the artificial enzyme can be explained by the relative distances between the sulfur atom of the substrates and C(4a) of the flavin moiety.     

Density functional theory and CCSD(T) evaluation of ionization potentials,redox potentials,and bond energies related to zirconocene polymerization catalysts

Quantum-mechanical-based computational design of molecular catalysts requires accurate and fast electronic structure calculations to determine and predict properties of transition-metal complexes. For Zr-based molecular complexes related to polyethylene catalysis, previous evaluation of density functional theory (DFT) and wavefunction methods only examined oxides and halides or select reaction barrier heights. In this work, we evaluate the performance of DFT against experimental redox potentials and bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) for zirconocene complexes directly relevant to ethylene polymerization catalysis. We also examined the ability of DFT to compute the fourth atomic ionization potential of zirconium and the effect the basis set selection has on the ionization potential computed with CCSD(T). Generally, the atomic ionization potential and redox potentials are very well reproduced by DFT, but we discovered relatively large deviations of DFT-calculated BDEs compared to experiment. However, evaluation of BDEs with CCSD(T) suggests that experimental values should be revisited, and our CCSD(T) values should be taken as most accurate.     

Synthesis and characterisation of water soluble ferrocenes: Molecular tuning of redox potentials

A range of novel water-soluble alkylated ferrocene sulfonate compounds are reported. Mono- and di-sulfonation on a series of alkyl ferrocenes produced 1,1′-dimethyl ferrocene sulfonate, 1,1′-dimethyl ferrocene disulfonate, 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene sulfonate, 1,1′-diethyl ferrocene disulfonate, t-butyl ferrocene sulfonate, t-butyl ferrocene disulfonate, ethyl ferrocene sulfonate, ethyl ferrocene disulfonate, n-butyl ferrocene sulfonate and n-butyl ferrocene disulfonate. All compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis. ¹H and ¹³C NMR studies have revealed the formation of several isomers with sulfonation occurring on positions α and β to the alkyl substituent or on the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring. Variation of the alkyl group allowed the isomeric pattern to be tuned such that the final products followed either electronic or steric control. Cyclic voltammetry of the resulting products showed that the redox potential of the iron centre can be easily manipulated by changing the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl rings. This result has significant implications in the future development of homogenous redox mediators for sensing applications.     

Metallocenes for polypropylene: Polymerization performance and computer modeling

The structures of eleven different metallocenes substituted with either methyl and/or t-butyl groups were minimized by computer molecular modeling. Using Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA), a computer model was generated from the minimized metallocene structures and actual polymerization performance. When the model was tested, a statistically valid correlation of the model's predicted DSC melting point with the observed DSC melting point was found. The model indicates the extent of the steric effect of these alkyl substituents and their influence on the DSC melting point.     

Substituent effects on the redox potentials of dihydroxybenzenes: theoretical and experimental study

The redox reactions of p-hydroquinone and pyrocatechol undergo a two-proton-two-electron process in aqueous solution. We calculated their redox potentials at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level, and verified the values by employing cyclic voltammetry experiments. Then we selected seven substituent groups (–F, –Cl, –OH, –COOH, –CN, –NH₂, and –NO₂ groups) to systematically investigate the substituent effect, including the sort, position, and number of the substituent, on the redox potentials of p-hydroquinone and pyrocatechol. The calculated results show that –NH₂ and –OH groups can decrease the redox potentials, while –F, –Cl, –COOH, –CN, and –NO₂ groups increase the potential values of p-hydroquinone and pyrocatechol. The calculations can accurately predict the substituent effects on the redox potentials of pyrocatechol and p-hydroquinone. We would expect that the accurate calculation results for the model systems could be applied in the prediction of electrode potentials of other molecules.     

Control of quinone redox potentials in photosystem II: Electron transfer and photoprotection

In O(2)-evolving complex Photosystem II (PSII), an unimpeded transfer of electrons from the primary quinone (Q(A)) to the secondary quinone (Q(B)) is essential for the efficiency of photosynthesis. Recent PSII crystal structures revealed the protein environment of the Q(A/B) binding sites. We calculated the plastoquinone (Q(A/B)) redox potentials (E(m)) for one-electron reduction with a full account of the PSII protein environment. We found two different H-bond patterns involving Q(A) and D2-Thr217, resulting in an upshift of E(m)(Q(A)) by 100 mV if the H bond between Q(A) and Thr is present. The formation of this H bond to Q(A) may be the origin of a photoprotection mechanism, which is under debate. At the Q(B) side, the formation of a H bond between D2-Ser264 and Q(B) depends on the protonation state of D1-His252. Q(B) adopts the high-potential form if the H bond to Ser is present. Conservation of this residue and H-bond pattern for Q(B) sites among bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers (bRC) and PSII strongly indicates their essential requirement for electron transfer function.     

Linking single-molecule blinking to chromophore structure and redox potentials

Intensity fluctuations between an ON-state and an OFF-state, also called blinking, are common to all luminescent objects when studied at the level of individuals. We studied blinking of three dyes from a homologous series (Cy3, Cy5, Cy7). The underlying radical anion states were induced by removing oxidants (i.e. oxygen) and by adding the reductant ascorbic acid. We find that for different conditions with distinct levels of oxidants in solution the OFF-state lifetime always increases in the order Cy3相似文献   

Control of cytochrome C redox potential: axial ligation and protein environment effects

Axial iron ligation and protein encapsulation of the heme cofactor have been investigated as effectors of the reduction potential (E degrees ') of cytochrome c through direct electrochemistry experiments. Our approach was that of partitioning the E degrees ' changes resulting from binding of imidazole, 2-methyl-imidazole, ammonia, and azide to both cytochrome c and microperoxidase-11 (MP11), into the enthalpic and entropic contributions. N-Acetylmethionine binding to MP11 was also investigated. These ligands replace Met80 and a water molecule axially coordinated to the heme iron in cytochrome c and MP11, respectively. This factorization was achieved through variable temperature E degrees ' measurements. In this way, we have found that (i) the decrease in E degrees ' of cytochrome c due to Met80 substitution by a nitrogen-donor ligand is almost totally enthalpic in origin, as a result of the stronger electron donor properties of the exogenous ligand which selectively stabilize the ferric state; (ii) on the contrary, the binding of the same ligands and N-acetylmethionine to MP11 results in an enthalpic stabilization of the reduced state, whereas the entropic effect invariably decreases E degrees ' (the former effect prevails for the methionine ligand and the latter for the nitrogenous ligands). A comparison of the reduction thermodynamics of cytochrome c and the MP11 adducts offers insight on the effect of changing axial heme ligation and heme insertion into the folded polypeptide chain. Principally, we have found that the overall E degrees ' increase of approximately 400 mV, comparing MP11 and native cytochrome c, consists of two opposite enthalpic and entropic terms of approximately +680 and -280 mV, respectively. The enthalpic term includes contributions from both axial methionine binding (+300 mV) and protein encapsulation of the heme (+380 mV), whereas the entropic term is almost entirely manifest at the stage of axial ligand binding. Both terms are dominated by the effects of water exclusion from the heme environment.     

Modulation of redox potential in electron transfer proteins: effects of complex formation on the active site microenvironment of cytochrome b5

The reduction potential of cytochrome b5 is modulated via the formation of a complex with polylysine at the electrode surface (Rivera et al., Biochemistry, 1998, 37, 1485). This modulation is thought to originate from the neutralization of a solvent exposed heme propionate and from dehydration of the complex interface. Although direct evidence demonstrating that neutralization of the charge on the heme propionate contributes to the modulation of the redox potential of cytochrome b5 has been obtained, evidence demonstrating that water exclusion from the complex interface plays a similar role has not been conclusive. Herein we report the preparation of the V45I/V61I double mutant of rat liver outer mitochondrial membrane (OM) cytochrome b5. This mutant has been engineered with the aim of restricting water accessibility to the exposed heme edge of cytochrome b5. The X-ray crystal structure of the V45I/V61I mutant revealed that the side chain of Ile at positions 45 and 61 restricts water accessibility to the interior of the heme cavity and protects a large section of the heme edge from the aqueous environment. Electrochemical studies performed with the V45I/V61I mutant of cytochrome b5, and with a derivative in which the heme propionates have been converted into the corresponding dimethyl ester groups, clearly demonstrate that dehydration of the heme edge contributes to the modulation of the reduction potential of cytochrome b5. In fact, these studies showed that exclusion of water from the complex interface exerts an effect (approximately 40 mV shift) that is comparable, if not larger, than the one originating from neutralization of the charge on the solvent exposed heme propionate (approximately 30 mV shift).     

Permethylated electron-reservoir sandwich complexes as references for the determination of redox potentials. Suggestion of a new redox scale

The difference between the redox potentials of decamethylferrocene (FeCp₂^*), decamethylcobalticinium (CoCp₂^*)⁺ and iron-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-hexaethylbenzene cation (FeCp^*C₆Me₆)⁺ is shown not to depend on the solvent and anion of the supporting electrolyte whereas ferrocene, whose redox potential is solvent dependent, does not fit in this series. Suggestions are made concerning the possible use of the three permethylated complexes as reliable references for the determination of redox potentials, and a redox scale versus decamethylferrocene is proposed.     

Protein dynamics and cytochrome c: correlations between ligand vibrations and redox activity

A recently developed method to directly observe specific protein vibrations, based on deuteration, has been employed to examine the redox-dependent structural and fluctional properties of cytochrome c. The dynamics of the protein-based methionine heme ligand were examined by selectively deuterating the ligand's methyl group. The frequency and line width of the C-D bonds were easily observable and shown to be sensitive to mutation-induced changes in the protein redox potential. However, of seven mutants examined, the C-D line widths were independent of the redox-state of the protein. Therefore, although the ligand dynamics depend on the protein's redox state, there are no detected differences in protein dynamics of the oxidized and reduced proteins.     

Quantum-chemical predictions of redox potentials of carbamates in methanol

Redox potentials for two stepwise anodic oxidations of a series of carbamates in methanolic solution have been calculated using ab initio and DFT quantum mechanical methods. Hartree-Fock method and Density Functional Theory at the B3LYP level, together with 6-31G(d), 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311++G(2df,2p) basis sets have been used for the calculation. The Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM) is used to describe the solute-solvent interactions of carbamates, and those of their radical-cations and cations. Linear relationships were observed between the theoretically predicted redox potential values and the corresponding anodic peak potentials obtained by cyclic voltammetry or the corresponding calculated energies of the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) of these carbamates.     

锌酞菁类染料的氧化还原电位研究

金属酞菁染料对红光及近红外光有强吸收,并且具有半导体的性能。由于它具有性质稳定,合成方便等特点,这类染料在传统的染料、颜料工业中有着重要的地位;近年来在太阳能的利用,氧化还原反应的光敏化等方面引起了人们很大的注意。由于一般的金属酞菁染料的溶解度很差,常使它们的应用受到限制。为此,我们合成了一系列在环上带有各种取代基的锌酞菁染料(ZnPcR),以改善其溶解度,并对它们的氧化还原电位和分子结构与轨道能级之间的关系进行了研究。     

Theoretical and experimental prediction of the redox potentials of metallocene compounds

The standard redox electrode potential (E°) values of metallocene compounds are obtained theoretically with density functional theory (DFT) method at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level and experimentally with cyclic voltammetry (CV). The theoretical E° values of metallocene compounds are in good agreement with experimental ones. We investigate the substituent effects on the redox properties of metallocene compounds. Among the four metallocene compounds, the E° values is largest for titanocene dichloride and smallest for ferrocene.     

Dications of fluorenylidenes. The relationship between redox potentials and antiaromaticity for meta- and para-substituted diphenylmethylidenefluorenes

[reaction: see text] Electrochemical oxidation of meta-substituted diphenylmethylidenefluorenes (3a-g) results in the formation of fluorenylidene dications that are shown to be antiaromatic through calculation of the nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) for the 5- and 6-membered rings of the fluorenyl system. There is a strong linear correlation between the redox potential for the dication and both the calculated NICS and sigma(m). Redox potentials for formation of dications of analogously substituted tetraphenylethylenes shows that, with the exception of the p-methyl derivative, the redox potentials for these dications are less positive than for formation of the dications of 3a-g and for dications of p-substituted diphenylmethylidenefluorenes, 2a-g. The greater instability of dications of 2a-g and 3a-g compared to the reference system implies their antiaromaticity, which is supported by the positive NICS values. The redox potentials for formation of the dications of meta-substituted diphenylmethylidenes (3a-g) are more positive than for the formation of dications of para-substituted diphenylmethylidenes (2a-g), indicating their greater thermodynamic instability. The NICS values for dications of 3a-g are more antiaromatic than for dications of 2a-g, which is consistent with their greater instability of the dications of 3a-g. Although the substituted diphenylmethyl systems are not able to interact with the fluorenyl system through resonance because of their geometry, they are able to moderate the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl cationic system. Two models have been suggested for this interaction, sigma to p donation and the ability of the charge on the substituted ring system to affect delocalization. Examination of bond lengths shows very limited variation, which argues against sigma to p donation in these systems. A strong correlation between NICS and sigma constants suggests that factors that affect the magnitude of the charge on the benzylic (alpha) carbon of the diphenylmethyl cation affect the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl cation. Calculated atomic charges on carbons 1-8 and 10-13 show an increase in positive charge, and therefore greater delocalization of charge in the fluorenyl system, with increasing electronegativity of the substituent. The change in the amount of positive charge correlated strongly with NICS, supporting the model in which the amount of delocalization of charge is related to the antiaromaticity of the species. Thus, both aromatic and antiaromatic species are characterized by extensive delocalization of electron density.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of the redox potentials of cyclic nitroxides

The redox potentials of 25 cyclic nitroxides from four different structural classes (pyrrolidine, piperidine, isoindoline, and azaphenalene) were determined experimentally by cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile, and also via high-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations. It is shown that the potentials are influenced by the type of ring system, ring substituents and/or groups surrounding the radical moiety. For the pyrrolidine, piperidine, and isoindolines there is excellent agreement (mean absolute deviation of 0.05 V) between the calculated and experimental oxidation potentials; for the azaphenalenes, however, there is an extraordinary discrepancy (mean absolute deviation of 0.60 V), implying that their one-electron oxidation might involve additional processes not considered in the theoretical calculations. This recently developed azaphenalene class of nitroxide represents a new variant of a nitroxide ring fused to an aromatic system and details of the synthesis of five derivatives involving differing aryl substitution are also presented.     

Consistent scheme for computing standard hydrogen electrode and redox potentials

The standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) potential in aqueous solution was evaluated with new computational procedure that provides the Gibbs energy of a proton in aqueous solution from the experimental pK_a value and the Gibbs energy change by deprotonation reactions of several neutral alcohol molecules. With our computational scheme, the CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVDZ method provides the SHE potential of 4.52 V, which is almost the same as the experimental SHE potential. This scheme also reproduces well the redox potentials of several typical reactions within almost 0.1 V. B3LYP also gives excellent redox potentials of the same reactions with almost the same accuracy with our new computational scheme. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.