New features in the catalytic cycle of cytochrome P450 during the formation of compound I from compound 0

Density functional theory (DFT) is applied to the dark section of the catalytic cycle of the enzyme cytochrome P450, namely, the formation of the active species, Compound I (Cpd I), from the ferric-hydroperoxide species (Cpd 0) by a protonation-assisted mechanism. The chosen 96-atom model includes the key functionalities deduced from experiment: Asp(251), Thr(252), Glu(366), and the water channels that relay the protons. The DFT model calculations show that (a) Cpd I is not formed spontaneously from Cpd 0 by direct protonation, nor is the process very exothermic. The process is virtually thermoneutral and involves a significant barrier such that formation of Cpd I is not facile on this route. (b) Along the protonation pathway, there exists an intermediate, a protonated Cpd 0, which is a potent oxidant since it is a ferric complex of water oxide. Preliminary quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations confirm that Cpd 0 and Cpd I are of similar energy for the chosen model and that protonated Cpd 0 may exist as an unstable intermediate. The paper also addresses the essential role of Thr(252) as a hydrogen-bond acceptor (in accord with mutation studies of the OH group to OMe).     

Simulation of the electronic and vibrational structure of hydrogenated amorphous silicon using cluster models

A set of simple models of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) consisting of hypothetical silane molecules with diamond or similar lattices was studied by the semiempirical AM1 method. Densities of states and infrared spectra were calculated for the silane molecules and similar molecules with dangling bonds disorder, and with boron or phosphorus substitution to simulate doping. Some examples are presented, and a comparison is made with experimental properties of a-Si:H. It is proposed to use these models in a study of the Staebler–Wronski photodegradation of a-Si:H and other aspects of amorphous silicon technology. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Backbonding contributions to small molecule chemisorption in a metal–organic framework with open copper(i) centers

Metal–organic frameworks are promising materials for applications such as gas capture, separation, and storage, due to their ability to selectively adsorb small molecules. The metal–organic framework Cu^I-MFU-4l, which contains coordinatively unsaturated copper(i) centers, can engage in backbonding interactions with various small molecule guests, motivating the design of frameworks that engage in backbonding and other electronic interactions for highly efficient and selective adsorption. Here, we examine several gases expected to bind to the open copper(i) sites in Cu^I-MFU-4l via different electronic interactions, including σ-donation, π-backbonding, and formal electron transfer. We show that in situ Cu L-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy can elucidate π-backbonding by directly probing excitations to unoccupied backbonding orbitals with Cu d-character, even for gases that participate in other dominant interactions, such as ligand-to-metal σ-donation. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory additionally reveal the backbonding molecular orbitals associated with these spectroscopic transitions. The energies of the transitions correlate with the energy levels of the isolated small molecule adsorbates, and the transition intensities are proportional to the binding energies of the guest molecules within Cu^I-MFU-4l. By elucidating the molecular and electronic structure origins of backbonding interactions between electron rich metal centers in metal–organic frameworks and small molecule guests, it is possible to develop guidelines for further molecular-level design of solid-state adsorbents for energy-efficient separations of relevance to industry.

In situ near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy directly probes unoccupied states associated with backbonding interactions between the open metal site in a metal–organic framework and various small molecule guests.     

Kinetics of oil saponification by lead salts in ancient preparations of pharmaceutical lead plasters and painting lead mediums

Lead soaps can be found in archaeological cosmetics as well as in oil paintings, as product of interactions of lead salts with oil. In this context, a better understanding of the formation of lead soaps allows a follow-up of the historical evolution of preparation recipes and provides new insights into conservation conditions. First, ancient recipes of both pharmaceutical lead plasters and painting lead mediums, mixtures of oil and lead salts, were reconstructed. The ester saponification by lead salts is determined by the preparation parameters which were quantified by FT-IR spectrometry. In particular, ATR/FT-IR spectrometer was calibrated by the standard addition method to quantitatively follow the kinetics of this reaction. The influence of different parameters such as temperature, presence of water and choice of lead salts was assessed: the saponification is clearly accelerated by water and heating. This analysis provides chemical explanations to the historical evolution of cosmetic and painting preparation recipes.     

Preparative and electrochemical investigations on the electron sponge behavior of cobalt telluride clusters: CO substitution in [Co11Te7(CO)10]n- ions (n=1, 2) by PMe2Ph and crystal structure of [Co11Te7(CO)5(PMe2Ph)5

The reaction of the cluster salts [Cp(2*) Nb(CO)(2)](n)[Co(11)Te(7)(CO)(10)] (Cp*=C(5)Me(5); n=1, 2) with excess PMe(2)Ph gave the neutral, dark brown clusters [Co(11)Te(7)(CO)(6)(PMe(2)Ph)(4)] (5) and [Co(11)Te(7)(CO)(5)(PMe(2)Ph)(5)] (6) with 147 metal valence electrons. The new compounds were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and mass spectrometry. The molecular structure of 6 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Like its precursor anion, it consists of a pentagonal-prismatic [Co(11)Te(7)] core, but with a ligand sphere composed of five CO and five PMe(2)Ph ligands. Detailed electrochemical studies of both reactions reveal that a stepwise substitution of CO ligands in the initial cluster anions takes place leading to intermediate [Co(11)Te(7)(CO)(10-m)(PMe(2)Ph)(m)](n-) ions (m=1-5; n=1, 2). Each of these intermediates is distinguished by at least one oxidation and two reduction waves, giving rise to a total of 21 redox couples and 27 electroactive species. The electron sponge character of the new compounds is particularly pronounced in 5, which exhibits charges n between +1 and -4 corresponding to metal valence electron counts of between 146 and 151.     

The crystal structure of 4,4′-dipyridinium tetracyanooxothiocyanatorhenate(V)

Summary The light purple crystals of (4,4-dipyridinium) [ReO(NCS)(CN)₄] crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/m witha=6.615(1),b=16.043(1),c=8.405(1) Å,=93.20(1)°,z=2. The anisotropic refinement of the 1770 observed reflections converged to R=0.041.The [ReO(NCS)(CN)₄]^2– ion has a distorted octahedral geometry. The rhenium atom is displaced by 0.30 Å out of the plane formed by the four carbon atoms towards the terminal oxo ligand. Bond distances: Re=0 =1.67(1), Re–N=2.12(1) and Re–C_av=2.11(1)Å. The thiocyanate ion is nitrogen bonded to the rhenium atom.     

The crystal structure of tetraethylammonium aquatetracyanooxorhenate(V)

Summary The crystal structure of the tetraethylammonium salt of [ReO(H₂O)(CN)₄]^– has been determined from threedimensional x-ray diffraction data. The light blue crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/m witha=8.760(1),b=9.518(5),c=11.718(1) Å, =102.63(1)^o with two molecules per unit cell. The final R value using 2009 observed reflections and anisotropic thermal parameters for all the non-hydrogen atoms was 0.038. The [ReO(H₂O)(CN)₄]^– ion has a distorted octahedral geometry with the rhenium atom displaced by 0.30 Å out of the plane formed by the four carbon atoms of the cyano ligands towards the oxo ligand. Bond distances: Re=O=1.667(8), Re–OH₂=2.142(7) and Re–C (average)=2.11(1) Å.     

Die Hydrolyse von Phospholinsäureamiden

Hydrolysis of Amides of Phospholinic Acid The acid catalysed hydrolysis of (= OAP, R = organic substituent) has been investigated kinetically. Provided the pH remains constant, the hydrolysis is a first order reaction. From the temperature dependance of the rate constant the activation energy E_a as well as the thermodynamic data ΔH* and ΔS* have been calculated. In comparison to the compound with R = H aromatic substituents and additional the t-butyl group enhance E_a whilst aliphatic substituents included the benzyl group diminish E_a. The first step of the reaction is a protonation at the oxygen or nitrogen resulting in the formation of an equilibrium. After the determination of the basicity constant K_A of some OAPs it was possible to calculate the respective rate constants of the rate determining step of the reactions and the corresponding thermodynamic data E_F, ΔH and ΔS. It is assumed that the mechanism of the hydrolysis takes place according to the same scheme which has been assumed for the hydrolysis of cyclic esters of the phosphinic acid by Ugi [1] and colaborators.     

Chemical Synthesis,Proton NMR. Parameters,Hydrogen- and Calcium-Ion. Complexation of L-γ-Carboxyglutamyl-L-γ-carboxyglutamic Acid and D-γ-Carboxyglutamyl-L-leucine

The purpose of this communication is to describe the preparation and some properties of the first two synthetic peptides containing D - and L -γ-carboxyglutamic acid. Use was made of N-protected γ,γ′-di-t-butyl-γ-carboxyglutamic acids (D , L , and DL ) described earlier [1 a]. Preliminary ¹H-NMR. data (360 MHz) indicate a restricted rotation of the Gla side chain in the free amino acid as well as in the C-terminal Gla of Gla-Gla in H₂O solution at acid pH. The proton dissociation from Gla and Gla-Gla was studied by potentiometric titration and NMR. methods. The pH titration in the presence of Ca²⁺ ions shows that Gla-Gla has a much higher association constant for this cation than Gla. It is almost as great as that of prothrombin (pCa²⁺ = 3.2 vs. 3.5).     

Unexpected valence bond isomerization of [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-c][1,2,4]benzotriazines under flash vacuum pyrolytic (fvp) conditions

Flash vacuum pyrolysis (fvp) of some substituted [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-c][1,2,4]benzotriazine derivatives (1a-d) has been studied between 450 and 600 °C. The only transformation observed up to 525 °C was the unexpected valence bond isomerization of the angularly fused starting compounds to the isomeric linearly fused [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4]benzotriazine derivatives (9a-d), whereas at higher temperatures fragmentation products such as aromatic nitriles were also formed. Kinetic measurements revealed negative entropies of activation in the isomerization process, which suggest a concerted ring closure reaction to an intermediate antiaromatic diazirine. Reversibiblity of the title isomerization reaction was also proved by FVP experiments.