Models for the Active Center of Pterin-Containing Molybdenum Enzymes: Crystal structure of a molybdenum complex with sulfur and pterin ligands

The first crystal structure of a molybdenum complex 9 with a hydrogenated pterin and a sulfur ligand contributes to the discussion about the active center of molybdenum and tungsten enzymes containing a molybdopterin cofactor. Complex 9 was synthesized through a redox reaction of [Mo^VIO₂ (LN-S₂)] ( 8 ; LN-S₂ = pyridine-2, 6-bis(methanethiolato)) with 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydropterin ( 7 ). 2 HCl (H₄Ptr.2 HCl). The complex crystallizes, with a non-coordinating Cl-atom acting as a counterion, in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with cell dimensions a = 22.900(5), b = 10.716(2), c = 17.551(4) Å, β = 120.36(3)°, and Z = 8. We interpret 9 as [Mo^IVO(LN-S₂)(H⁺-q-H₂Ptr)]Cl (q = quinonoid; H₂Ptr = dihydropterin), i.e., a Mo^IV monooxo center coordinated by a pyridine-2, 6-bis(methanethiolato) ligand and a protonated dihydropterin. The spectroscopic properties of this new complex are comparable to those of other crystalline molybdenum complexes of hydrogenated pterins without additional S-coordination. The slightly H₂O-soluble complex 9 reacts with the natural enzyme substrate DMSO very slowly, possibly due to the lack of easily dissociable ligands at the metal center.     

Synthesis and Odor of Chiral Partial Structures of Khusimone. Part 1

Khusimone (1), one of the main odor-donating compounds of vetiver oil is subject of the following study on structure/odor relationship. The omittance of the ethano bridge of the tricyclic khusimone leads to a bicyclic system. The stereoselective approach to this degraded structure is described, and the olfactory properties are studied. The key step of the synthesis of the hydrindane nucleus is based on a highly diastereoselective conjugate addition to a chiral oxo-cyclopentene-2-carboxylate.     

Computational study on mechanistic details of the aminoethanol rearrangement catalyzed by the vitamin B12-dependent ethanolamine ammonia lyase: His and Asp/Glu acting simultaneously as catalytic auxiliaries

The rearrangement of aminoethanol catalyzed by ethanolamine ammonia lyase is investigated by computational means employing DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) and ab initio molecular orbital theory (QCISD/cc-pVDZ). The study aims at providing a detailed account on various crucial aspects, in particular a distinction between a direct intramolecular migration of the partially protonated NH(2) group vs elimination of NH(4)(+). Three mechanistic scenarios were explored: (i) According to the calculations, irrespective of the nature of the protonating species, intramolecular migration of the NH(3) group is energetically less demanding than elimination of NH(4)(+). However, all computed activation enthalpies exceed the experimentally derived activation enthalpy (15 kcal/mol) associated with the rate-determining step, i.e., the hydrogen abstraction from the 5'-deoxyadenosine by the product radical. For example, when imidazole is used as a model system for His interacting with the NH(3) group of the substrate, the activation enthalpy for the migration process amounts to 27.4 kcal/mol. If acetic acid is employed to mimic Asp or Glu, the activation enthalpy is somewhat lower, being equal to 24.2 kcal/mol. (ii) For a partial deprotonation of the substrate 2 at the OH group, the rearrangement mechanism consists of the dissociation of an NH(2) radical from C(2) and its association at C(1) atom. For all investigated proton acceptors (i.e., OH(-), HCOO(-), CH(3)COO(-), CH(2)NH, imidazole), the activation enthalpy for the dissociation step also exceeds 15 kcal/mol. Typical data are 20.2 kcal/mol for Ac(-) and 23.8 kcal/mol for imidazole. (iii) However, in a synergistic action of partial protonation of the NH(2) group and partial deprotonation of the OH group by the two conceivable catalytic auxiliaries Asp/Glu and His, the activation enthalpy computed is compatible with the experimental data. For imidazole and acetate as model systems, the activation enthalpy is equal to 13.7 kcal/mol. This synergistic action of the two catalytic groups is expected to take place in a physiologically realistic pH range of 6-9.5, and the present computational findings may help to further characterize the yet unknown structural details of the ethanolamine ammonia lyase's active site.     

Relativistic effects in gas-phase ion chemistry: an experimentalist's view

Gas-phase experiments provide information which, in conjunction with results from electronic structure calculations, help to unravel the critical role relativistic effects play in many areas of transition-metal chemistry. Examples include the thermochemical data of gold halides in different oxidation states, the fascinating structural properties of gold(I) complexes, the dramatic effects of ligands on the ionization energy of gold, or the binding in cationic metal-carbene complexes. Furthermore, in the context of methane functionalization, special emphasis is paid to the chemistry of cationic metal-carbene complexes, and at uncovering the mechanistic details of important carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions. It is the interplay of conducting experiments of "isolated" molecules under well-defined conditions with reliable electronic structure calculations that has considerably improved our understanding of the role relativistic effects play in the context of transition-metal chemistry, catalysis, and beyond.     

Darstellung,Charakterisierung und Reaktionsverhalten von Natrium‐ und Kaliumhydridosilylamiden R2(H)Si—N(M)R′ (M = Na,K) — Kristallstruktur von [(Me3C)2(H)Si—N(K)SiMe3]2·THF

Preparation, Characterization and Reaction Behaviour of Sodium and Potassium Hydridosilylamides R₂(H)Si—N(M)R′ (M = Na, K) — Crystal Structure of [(Me₃C)₂(H)Si—N(K)SiMe₃]₂ · THF The alkali metal hydridosilylamides R₂(H)Si—N(M)R′ 1a‐Na — 1d—Na and 1a‐K — 1d‐K ( a : R = Me, R′ = CMe₃; b : R = Me, R′ = SiMe₃; c : R = Me, R′ = Si(H)Me₂; d : R = CMe₃, R′= SiMe₃) have been prepared by reaction of the corresponding hydridosilylamines 1a — 1d with alkali metal M (M = Na, K) in presence of styrene or with alkali metal hydrides MH (M = Na, K). With NaNH₂ in toluene Me₂(H)Si—NHCMe₃ ( 1a ) reacted not under metalation but under nucleophilic substitution of the H(Si) atom to give Me₂(NaNH)Si—NHCMe₃ ( 5 ). In the reaction of Me₂(H)Si—NHSiMe₃ ( 1b ) with NaNH₂ intoluene a mixture of Me₂(NaNH)Si—NHSiMe₃ and Me₂(H)Si—N(Na)SiMe₃ ( 1b‐Na ) was obtained. The hydridosilylamides have been characterized spectroscopically. The spectroscopic data of these amides and of the corresponding lithium derivatives are discussed. The ²⁹Si‐NMR‐chemical shifts and the ²⁹Si—¹H coupling constants of homologous alkali metal hydridosilylamides R₂(H)Si—N(M)R′ (M = Li, Na, K) are depending on the alkali metal. With increasing of the ionic character of the M—N bond M = K > Na > Li the ²⁹Si‐NMR‐signals are shifted upfield and the ²⁹Si—¹H coupling constants except for compounds (Me₃C)(H)Si—N(M)SiMe₃ are decreased. The reaction behaviour of the amides 1a‐Na — 1c‐Na and 1a‐K — 1c‐K was investigated toward chlorotrimethylsilane in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and in n‐pentane. In THF the amides produced just like the analogous lithium amides the corresponding N‐silylation products Me₂(H)Si—N(SiMe₃)R′ ( 2a — 2c ) in high yields. The reaction of the sodium amides with chlorotrimethylsilane in nonpolar solvent n‐pentane produced from 1a‐Na the cyclodisilazane [Me₂Si—NCMe₃]₂ ( 8a ), from 1b‐Na and 1‐Na mixtures of cyclodisilazane [Me₂Si—NR′]₂ ( 8b , 8c ) and N‐silylation product 2b , 2c . In contrast to 1b‐Na and 1c‐Na and to the analogous lithium amides the reaction of 1b‐K and 1c‐K with chlorotrimethylsilane afforded the N‐silylation products Me₂(H)Si—N(SiMe₃)R′ ( 2b , 2c ) in high yields. The amide [(Me₃C)₂(H)Si—N(K)SiMe₃]₂·THF ( 9 ) crystallizes in the space group C2/c with Z = 4. The central part of the molecule is a planar four‐membered K₂N₂ ring. One potassium atom is coordinated by two nitrogen atoms and the other one by two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Furthermore K···H(Si) and K···CH₃ contacts exist in 9 . The K—N distances in the K₂N₂ ring differ marginally.     

Investigation of the Crystallisation Behaviour of Lead Titanate (PT), Lead Zirconate (PZ) and Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) by EXAFS-Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction

Two solid solutions of lead zirconium titanates PbZr _x Ti_{1 – x} O₃ (x = 0.1 and 0.35) as well as the reference compounds lead titanate and lead zirconate were prepared from zirconium and titanium n-propoxide, dissolved in 2-methoxyethanol, by sol-gel process. The amorphous products after pyrolysis of the dried gels and the crystalline phases were studied by EXAFS spectroscopy to monitor the structural changes from the amorphous oxide mixture to the crystalline ceramics after calcination. Additionally, the crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD).It follows from the analysis of the EXAFS data that the local order of the amorphous phases seems to be completely different from that of the crystalline phase. There is no indication of a preformation of the local order of the perovskite structure. The analysis of our EXAFS spectra can be interpreted very consistently with the assumption that in the amorphous samples a segregation exists on molecular level and the low crystallisation temperatures are a consequence of very short diffusion paths.