The solution structure of [Cu(aq)]2+ and its implications for rack-induced bonding in blue copper protein active sites

The structure of [Cu(aq)]2+ has been investigated by using full multiple-scattering theoretical (MXAN) analysis of the copper K-edge X-ray absorption (XAS) spectrum and density functional theory (DFT) to test both ideal Td and square-planar four-coordinate, five-coordinate square-pyramidal, and six-coordinate octahedral [Cu(aq)]2+ models. The best fit was an elongated five-coordinate square pyramid with four Cu-O(eq) bonds (2 x 1.98 +/- 0.03 A and 2 x 1.95 +/- 0.03 A) and a long Cu-O(ax) bond (2.35 +/- 0.05 A). The four equatorial ligands were D2d-distorted from the mean equatorial plane by +/-(17 +/- 4) degrees, so that the overall symmetry of [Cu(H2O)5]2+ is C2v. The four-coordinate MXAN fit was nearly as good, but the water ligands (4 x 1.96 +/- 0.02 A) migrated +/-(13 +/- 4) degrees from the mean equatorial plane, making the [Cu(H2O)4]2+ model again D2d-distorted. Spectroscopically calibrated DFT calculations were carried out on the C2v elongate square-pyramidal and D2d-distorted four-coordinate MXAN copper models, providing comparative electronic structures of the experimentally observed geometries. These calculations showed 0.85e spin on Cu(II) and 0.03e electron spin on each of the four equatorial water oxygens. All covalent bonding was restricted to the equatorial plane. In the square-pyramidal model, the electrostatic Cu-O(ax) bond was worth only 96.8 kJ mol(-1), compared to 304.6 kJ mol(-1) for each Cu-O(eq) bond. Both MXAN and DFT showed the potential well of the axial bond to be broad and flat, allowing large low-energy excursions. The irregular geometry and D2d-distorted equatorial ligand set sustained by unconstrained [Cu(H2O)5]2+ warrants caution in drawing conclusions regarding structural preferences from small molecule crystal structures and raises questions about the site-structural basis of the rack-induced bonding hypothesis of blue copper proteins. Further, previously neglected protein folding thermodynamic consequences of the rack-bonding hypothesis indicate an experimental disconfirmation.     

Cooperative ligation,back-bonding,and possible pyridine-pyridine interactions in tetrapyridine-vanadium(II): a visible and X-ray spectroscopic study

The binding of pyridine by V(II) in aqueous solution shows evidence for the late onset of cooperativity. The K(1) governing formation of [V(py)](2+) (lambda(max) = 404 nm, epsilon(max) = 1.43 +/- 0.3 M(-1) cm(-1)) was determined spectrophotometrically to be 11.0 +/- 0.3 M(-)(1), while K(1) for isonicotinamide was found to be 5.0 +/- 0.1 M(-1). These values are in the low range for 3d M(2+) ions and indicate that V(II).py back-bonding is not significant in the formation of the 1:1 complex. Titration of 10.5 mM V(II) with pyridine in aqueous solution showed an absorption plateau at about 1 M added pyridine, indicating a reaction terminus. Vanadium K-edge EXAFS analysis of 63 mM V(II) in 2 M pyridine solution revealed six first-shell N/O ligands at 2.14 A and 4 +/- 1 pyridine ligands per V(II). UV/vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that the same terminal V(II) species was present in both experiments. Model calculations showed that in the absence of back-bonding only 2.0 +/- 0.2 and 2.4 +/- 0.2 pyridine ligands would be present, respectively. Cooperativity in multistage binding of pyridine by [V(aq)](2+) is thus indicated. XAS K-edge spectroscopy of crystalline [V(O(3)SCF(3))(2)(py)(4)] and of V(II) in 2 M pyridine solution each exhibited the analogous 1s --> (5)E(g) and 1s --> (5)T(2g) transitions, at 5465.5 and 5467.5 eV, and 5465.2 and 5467.4 eV, respectively, consistent with the EXAFS analysis. In contrast, [V(py)(6)](PF(6))(2) and [V(H(2)O)(6)]SO(4) show four 1s --> 3d XAS transitions suggestive of a Jahn-Teller distorted excited state. Comparison of the M(II)[bond]N(py) bond lengths in V(II) and Fe(II) tetrapyridines shows that the V(II)[bond]N(py) distances are about 0.06 A shorter than predicted from ionic radii. For [VX(2)(R-py)(4)] (X = Cl(-), CF(3)SO(3)(-); R = 4-Et, H, 3-EtOOC), the E(1/2) values of the V(II)/V(III) couples correlate linearly with the Hammett sigma values of the R group. These findings indicate that pi back-bonding is important in [V(py)(4)](2+) even though absent in [V(py)](2+). The paramagnetism of [V(O(3)SCF(3))(2)(py)(4)] in CHCl(3), 3.8 +/- 0.2 mu(B), revealed that the onset of back-bonding is not accompanied by a spin change. Analysis of the geometries of V(II) and Fe(II) tetrapyridines indicates that the ubiquitous propeller motif accompanying tetrapyridine ligation may be due to eight dipole interactions arising from the juxtaposed C-H edges and pi clouds of adjoining ligands, worth about -6 kJ each. However, this is not the source of the cooperativity in the binding of multiple pyridines by V(II) because the same interactions are present in the Fe(II)-tetrapyridines, which do not show cooperative ligand binding. Cooperativity in the binding of pyridine by V(II) is then assigned by default to V(II)-pyridine back-bonding, which emerges only after the first pyridine is bound.     

Synthesis of azabicyclic systems using nitrogen-directed radical rearrangements

Radical rearrangements are important transformations in organic synthesis. The stabilisation of alpha-nitrogen radicals is shown to be a useful effect for the control of radical rearrangements and is applied to the synthesis of a variety of azabicyclic frameworks. The utility of this method is illustrated in the synthesis of bioactive targets.     

Development of two processes for the synthesis of bridged azabicyclic systems: intermolecular radical addition-homoallylic rearrangements leading to 2-azanorborn-5-enes and neophyl-type radical rearrangements to 2-azabenzonorbornanes

Radical thiol additions to 7-azanorbornadienes give 7-thio-substituted 2-azanorbornenes and Barton deoxygenations of 7-azabenzonorbornanols give 2-azabenzonorbornanes. The processes both involve novel nitrogen-directed radical rearrangements. The kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions are also discussed.     

Translational energy release in the recombinative desorption of H2 from Ag(111)

We have investigated the recombinative desorption of H₂ from Ag(111) using (2 + 1) REMPI to detect the desorbing molecules. We describe a method for determining the energy released into translational motion normal to the surface over a wide range of surface temperatures. This was achieved by using a weak electric field to disperse the ions, in contrast to the usual field-free method. Calibration and analysis methods are discussed and energy distributions P(E) are reported for H₂ (v=0). Desorption from a 295 K surface shows only a single low-energy peak ( ), whereas the translational energy release is bimodal for desorption from a 580 K surface, with mean desorption energies of approximately 140 meV and 1 eV for the two pathways. Sticking functions are calculated using detailed balance, revealing a large dependence on surface temperature.