Nickel oxidation states of F(430) cofactor in methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and variable-temperature variable-field MCD are used in combination with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations to characterize the so-called ox1-silent, red1, and ox1 forms of the Ni-containing cofactor F430 in methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR). Previous studies concluded that the ox1 state, which is the precursor of the key reactive red1 state of MCR, is a Ni(I) species that derives from one-electron reduction of the Ni(II)-containing ox1-silent state. However, our absorption and MCD data provide compelling evidence that ox1 is actually a Ni(II) species. In support of this proposal, our DFT and TD-DFT calculations indicate that addition of an electron to the ox1-silent state leads to formation of a hydrocorphin anion radical rather than a Ni(I) center. These results and biochemical evidence suggest that ox1 is more oxidized than red1, which prompted us to test a new model for ox1 in which the ox1-silent species is oxidized by one electron to form a thiyl radical derived from coenzyme M that couples antiferromagnetically to the Ni(II) ion. This alternative ox1 model, formally corresponding to a Ni(III)/thiolate resonance form but with predicted S = 1/2 EPR parameters reminiscent of a Ni(I) (3dx2-y2)1 species, rationalizes the requirement for reduction of ox1 to yield the red1 species and the seemingly incongruent EPR and electronic spectra of the ox1 state.     

Assembly and disassembly of a Zn10 high-nuclearity circular helicate

A nano-scale decanuclear Zn(II) circular helicate is synthesized without the aid of counteranions during the assembly process, and can be totally disassembled into its reactants by specific anions.     

Rapid ligand exchange in the MCRred1 form of methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) from Methanothermobacter marburgensis (Mtm), catalyses the final step in methane synthesis in all methanogenic organisms. Methane is produced by coenzyme B-dependent two-electron reduction of methyl-coenzyme M. At the active site of MCR is the corphin cofactor F(430), which provides four-coordination through the pyrrole nitrogens to a central Ni ion in all states of the enzyme. The important MCRox1 ("ready") and MCRred1 ("active") states contain six-coordinate Ni(I) and differ in their upper axial ligands; furthermore, red1 appears to be two-electrons more reduced than in ox1 and other Ni(II) states that have been studied. On the basis of the reactivity of MCRred1 and MCRox1 with a substrate analogue and inhibitor (3-bromopropanesulfonate) and other small molecules (chloroform, dichloromethane, mercaptoethanol, and nitric oxide), we present evidence that the six-coordinate Ni(I) centers in the MCRred1 and MCRox1 states exhibit markedly different inherent reactivities. MCRred1 reacts faster with chloroform (2100-fold or 35000-fold when corrected for temperature effects), nitric oxide (90-fold), and 3-bromopropanesulfonate (10(6)-fold) than MCRox1. MCRred1 reacts with chloroform and dichloromethane and, like F(430), can catalyze dehalogenation reactions and produce lower halogenated products. We conclude that the enhanced reactivity of MCRred1 is due to the replacement of a relatively exchange-inert thiol ligand in MCRox1 with a weakly coordinating upper axial ligand in red1 that can be easily replaced by incoming ligands.     

X-ray absorption and resonance Raman studies of methyl-coenzyme M reductase indicating that ligand exchange and macrocycle reduction accompany reductive activation

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) catalyzes methane formation from methyl-coenzyme M (methyl-SCoM) and N-7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate (CoBSH). MCR contains a nickel hydrocorphin cofactor at its active site, called cofactor F(430). Here we present evidence that the macrocyclic ligand participates in the redox chemistry involved in catalysis. The active form of MCR, the red1 state, is generated by reducing another spectroscopically distinct form called ox1 with titanium(III) citrate. Previous electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and (14)N electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) studies indicate that both the ox1 and red1 states are best described as formally Ni(I) species on the basis of the character of the orbital containing the spin in the two EPR-active species. Herein, X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) and resonance Raman (RR) studies are reported for the inactive (EPR-silent) forms and the red1 and ox1 states of MCR. RR spectra are also reported for isolated cofactor F(430) in the reduced, resting, and oxidized states; selected RR data are reported for the (15)N and (64)Ni isotopomers of the cofactor, both in the intact enzyme and in solution. Small Ni K-edge energy shifts indicate that minimal electron density changes occur at the Ni center during redox cycling of the enzyme. Titrations with Ti(III) indicate a 3-electron reduction of free cofactor F(430) to generate a stable Ni(I) state and a 2-electron reduction of Ni(I)-ox1 to Ni(I)-red1. Analyses of the XANES and EXAFS data reveal that both the ox1 and red1 forms are best described as hexacoordinate and that the main difference between ox1 and red1 is the absence of an axial thiolate ligand in the red1 state. The RR data indicate that cofactor F(430) undergoes a significant conformational change when it binds to MCR. Furthermore, the vibrational characteristics of the ox1 state and red1 states are significantly different, especially in hydrocorphin ring modes with appreciable C=N stretching character. It is proposed that these differences arise from a 2-electron reduction of the hydrocorphin ring upon conversion to the red1 form. Presumably, the ring-reduction and ligand-exchange reactions reported herein underlie the enhanced activity of MCR(red1), the only form of MCR that can react productively with the methyl group of methyl-SCoM.     

Rhenium(I) Tellurolate,Telluroether and Bidentate-Telluroether Complexes: Crystal Structures of Re(CO)3Br(PhTe(CH2)3TePh), PhTeRe(CO)5 Re2(μ-SePh)2(CO)8 and [(PhTeMe)Re(CO)5][BF4]

The monomeric rhenium(I) complex with bidentate telluroether ligand Re(CO)₃Br(PhTe(CH₂)₃TePh) (1) was accessible via reaction of the PhTe(CH₂)₃TePh with Re(CO)₅Br. This chelate complex crystallized in triclinic space group $ {\rm P}\bar 1 $ with a = 9.390(5) Å, b = 10.961(3) Å, c = 11.849(4) Å a = 63.30(3)°, β = 87.49(4)° γ = 69.31(4)°, V = 1009.5(7) ų Z = 2, R = 0.033, and R_w = 0.034. Reaction of Re(CO)₅Cl with NaTePh yielded the Re(I) specics PhTeRe(CO)₅ (2). This complex crystallized in triclinic space group $ {\rm P}\bar 1 $ with a = 7.085(1) Å, b = 9.203(1) Å, c = 11.341(1) Å, α = 107.24(1)°, β = 100.56(1)°, γ = 96.47(1)°, V = 683.2(2) ų, Z = 2, R = 0.027, R_w = 0.022. Reaction of PhTeRe(CO)₅ and (PhSe)₂ in THF at 65 °C yielded a product that was confirmed crystallographically to be the known species Re₂(μ-SePh)₂(CO)₈ (3), in which two phenylselenolate ligands bridge the two Re(I). Compound 3 crystallized in monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 7.210(2) Å, b = 18.862(6) Å, c = 9.083(3) Å, β = 107.48(3)° V = 1178.2(7) ų, Z = 2, R = 0.046, and R_w = 0.051. Methylation of PhTeRe(CO)₅ with [Me₃O][BF₄] afforded Re(I) product [(PhTeMe)Re(CO)₅][BF₄] (4). This monodentate telluroether species crystallized in monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 8.405(1) Å, b = 13.438(3) Å, c = 15.560(2) Å, β = 92.59(1)° V = 1755.5(5) ų, Z = 4, R = 0.035, and R_w = 0.035.     

Selective capture of volatile iodine using amorphous molecular organic solids

A simple shape-persistent organic molecular container is capable of selective absorption and storage of I(2(g)) over water vapor and NO gas even in its amorphous solid state. In addition, the strongly associated I(2) can be efficiently released from the charged container in organic solvents under ambient conditions.     

Selective encapsulation of volatile and reactive methyl iodide

A simple organic molecular container can selectively encapsulate the volatile and highly reactive MeI through hydrogen-bonding interactions in solution. The remarkable encapsulation of MeI without self-methylation of the container appears to be determined by the complementary binding sites and the rigidity of the hydrogen-bonding array constrained by the molecular framework.     

Reactivity of fac-[PPN][Fe(CO)3(TePh)3]: Structure of Fe2(μTePh)2(NO)4

Addition of NOBF₄ to fac-[PPN][Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₃] in THF at ambient temperature results in formation of Fe₂(μ-TePh)₂(NO)_4l Fe₂(?TePh)₂(CO)₆ and organic products. Methylation of fac-[PPN][Fe(CO)₃- (TePh)₃] by Mel or [Me₃O][BF₄] leads to the known dimer Fe₂(μ.-TePh)₂(CO)₆ and organic products. Fe₂(μ-TePh)₂(NO)₄ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P bca, with a = 12.701(5) Å, b = 6.7935(16) Å, c = 21.299(9) Å, V = 1837.8(11) ų, and Z = 4. The core geometry of Fe₂(μ-TePh)₂(NO)₄ is best described as a Fe₂Te₂ planar rhombus with Te-Fe-Te bond angle 112.09(4)°. A Fe-Fe bond (length 2.827(2) Å) is proposed for Fe₂(μ-TePh)₂(NO)₄ on the basis of the 18-electron rule. The iron atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry with acute bridge Fe-Te-Fe angles 67.91(3)°, and bridging Fe-Te bond of length 2.53(1) Å.