The first example of a nitrile hydratase model complex that reversibly binds nitriles.

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is an iron-containing metalloenzyme that converts nitriles to amides. The mechanism by which this biochemical reaction occurs is unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed involves nucleophilic attack of an Fe-bound nitrile by water (or hydroxide).

Enhancing reactivity via structural distortion.

To examine how small structural changes influence the reactivity and magnetic properties of biologically relevant metal complexes, the reactivity and magnetic properties of two structurally related five-coordinate Fe(III) thiolate compounds are compared. (Et,Pr)-ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))]PF(6) (3) is synthesized via the abstraction of a sulfur from alkyl persulfide ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))-S(pers)]PF(6) (2) using PEt(3). (Et,Pr)-3 is structurally related to (Pr,Pr)-ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))]PF(6) (1), a nitrile hydratase model compound previously reported by our group, except it contains one fewer methylene unit in its ligand backbone.

Observation of Magnetic Ordering as High as 28 K for meso-Tetrakis(4-halophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III) Tetracyanoethenide, [MnTXPP][TCNE] (X = F, Br, I).

The toluene solvates of meso-tetrakis(4-halophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III) tetracyanoethenide, [MnTFPP][TCNE] (1F), [MnTBrPP][TCNE] (1Br), and [MnTIPP][TCNE] (1I) have been prepared, and the magnetic and thermal properties have been determined and compared to those of [MnTClPP][TCNE] (1Cl). 1Br and 1I form uniform 1-D chains with each [TCNE](*)(-) being trans-&mgr;-N-sigma-bound to Mn(III) with Mn-N distances of 2.293 (1Br) and 2.