Intramolecular Phenolic H-Atom Abstraction by a NArOH Ligand-Supported (μ-η:η-Peroxo)dicopper(II) Species Relevant to the Active Site Function of oxy-Tyrosinase.

Synthetic side-on peroxide-bound dicopper(II) () complexes are important for understanding the active site structure/function of many copper-containing enzymes. This work highlights the formation of new {Cu(μ-η:η-O)Cu} complexes (with electronic absorption and resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopic characterization) using tripodal NArOH ligands at -135 °C, which spontaneously participate in intramolecular phenolic H-atom abstraction (HAA). This results in the generation of bis(phenoxyl radical)bis(μ-OH)dicopper(II) intermediates, substantiated by their EPR/UV-vis/rR spectroscopic signatures and crystal structural determination of a diphenoquinone dicopper(I) complex derived from ligand -C═C coupling.

Coordination Variations within Binuclear Copper Dioxygen-Derived (Hydro)Peroxo and Superoxo Species; Influences upon Thermodynamic and Electronic Properties.

Copper ion is a versatile and ubiquitous facilitator of redox chemical and biochemical processes. These include the binding of molecular oxygen to copper(I) complexes where it undergoes stepwise reduction-protonation. A detailed understanding of thermodynamic relationships between such reduced/protonated states is key to elucidate the fundamentals of the chemical/biochemical processes involved.

Experimental Evidence and Mechanistic Description of the Phenolic H-Transfer to the CuO Active Site of oxy-Tyrosinase.

Tyrosinase is a ubiquitous coupled binuclear copper enzyme that activates O toward the regioselective monooxygenation of monophenols to catechols via a mechanism that remains only partially defined. Here, we present new mechanistic insights into the initial steps of this monooxygenation reaction by employing a pre-steady-state, stopped-flow kinetics approach that allows for the direct measurement of the monooxygenation rates for a series of -substituted monophenols by oxy-tyrosinase. The obtained biphasic Hammett plot and the associated solvent kinetic isotope effect values provide direct evidence for an initial H-transfer from the protonated phenolic substrate to the CuO core of oxy-tyrosinase.