Impact of Electronic and Steric Changes of Ligands on the Assembly, Stability, and Redox Activity of Cu(μ-S) Model Compounds of the Cu Active Site of Nitrous Oxide Reductase (NOR).

Model compounds have been widely utilized in understanding the structure and function of the unusual Cu(μ-S) active site (Cu) of nitrous oxide reductase (NOR). However, only a limited number of model compounds that mimic both structural and functional features of Cu are available, limiting insights about Cu that can be gained from model studies. Our aim has been to construct Cu(μ-S) clusters with tailored redox activity and chemical reactivity via modulating the ligand environment.