Dioxygen activation at non-heme iron: insights from rapid kinetic studies.

One of the common biochemical pathways of binding and activation of dioxygen involves non-heme iron centers. The enzyme cycles usually start with an iron(II) or diiron(II) state and traverse via several intermediates (detected or postulated) such as (di)iron(III)-superoxo, (di)iron(III)-(hydro)peroxo, iron(III)iron(IV)-oxo, and (di)iron(IV)-oxo species, some of which are responsible for substrate oxidation. In this Account, we present results of kinetic and mechanistic studies of dioxygen binding and activation reactions of model inorganic iron compounds.

Proton-directed redox control of O-O bond activation by heme hydroperoxidase models.

Hangman metalloporphyrin complexes poise an acid-base group over a redox-active metal center and in doing so allow the "pull" effect of the secondary coordination environment of the heme cofactor of hydroperoxidase enzymes to be modeled. Stopped-flow investigations have been performed to decipher the influence of a proton-donor group on O-O bond activation. Low-temperature reactions of tetramesitylporphyrin (TMP) and Hangman iron complexes containing acid (HPX-CO2H) and methyl ester (HPX-CO2Me) functional groups with peroxyacids generate high-valent Fe=O active sites.

Diiron(II) mu-aqua-mu-hydroxo model for non-heme iron sites in proteins.

We have synthesized a diiron(II) complex with a novel aqua-hydroxo bridging motif, [Fe2(mu-H2O)(mu-OH)(TPA)2](OTf)3 (1). This is a new member of the diiron diamond core family. The complex is stable in solution in nonpolar solvents as well as in the solid state.

Mechanism of white phosphorus activation by three-coordinate molybdenum(III) complexes: a thermochemical, kinetic, and quantum chemical investigation.

White phosphorus (P(4)) reacts with three-coordinate molybdenum(III) trisamides or molybdaziridine hydride complexes to produce either bridging or terminal phosphide (P(3)(-)) species, depending upon the ancillary ligand steric demands. Thermochemical measurements have been made that place the MoP triple bond dissociation enthalpy at 92.2 kcal.

Dioxygen binding to complexes with Fe(II)2(mu-OH)2 cores: steric control of activation barriers and O2-adduct formation.

A series of complexes with [Fe(II)(2)(mu-OH)(2)] cores has been synthesized with N3 and N4 ligands and structurally characterized to serve as models for nonheme diiron(II) sites in enzymes that bind and activate O(2). These complexes react with O(2) in solution via bimolecular rate-limiting steps that differ in rate by 10(3)-fold, depending on ligand denticity and steric hindrance near the diiron center. Low-temperature trapping of a (mu-oxo)(mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediate after O(2) binding requires sufficient steric hindrance around the diiron center and the loss of a proton (presumably that of a hydroxo bridge or a yet unobserved hydroperoxo intermediate).

Dioxygen activation at a single copper site: structure, bonding, and mechanism of formation of 1:1 Cu-O2 adducts.

To evaluate the fundamental process of O(2) activation at a single copper site that occurs in biological and catalytic systems, a detailed study of O(2) binding to Cu(I) complexes of beta-diketiminate ligands L (L(1) = backbone Me; L(2) = backbone tBu) by X-ray crystallography, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), cryogenic stopped-flow kinetics, and theoretical calculations was performed. Using synchrotron radiation, an X-ray diffraction data set for L(2)CuO(2) was acquired, which led to structural parameters in close agreement to theoretical predictions. Significant Cu(III)-peroxo character for the complex was corroborated by XAS.

Reactivity of a (mu-oxo)(mu-hydroxo)diiron(III) diamond core with water, urea, substituted ureas, and acetamide.

A series of iron(III) complexes of the tetradentate ligand BPMEN (N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) were prepared and structurally characterized. Complex [Fe(2)(mu-O)(mu-OH)(BPMEN)(2)](ClO(4))(3) (1) contains a (mu-oxo)(mu-hydroxo)diiron(III) diamond core. Complex [Fe(BPMEN)(urea)(OEt)](ClO(4))(2) (2) is a rare example of a mononuclear non-heme iron(III) alkoxide complex.

Mechanistic studies on the formation and reactivity of dioxygen adducts of diiron complexes supported by sterically hindered carboxylates.

Dioxygen activation by enzymes such as methane monooxygenase, ribonucleotide reductase, and fatty acid desaturases occurs at a nonheme diiron active site supported by two histidines and four carboxylates, typically involving a (peroxo)diiron(III,III) intermediate in an early step of the catalytic cycle. Biomimetic tetracarboxylatodiiron(II,II) complexes with the familiar "paddlewheel" topology comprising sterically bulky o-dixylylbenzoate ligands with pyridine, 1-methylimidazole, or THF at apical sites readily react with O(2) to afford thermally labile peroxo intermediates that can be trapped and characterized spectroscopically at low temperatures (193 K). Cryogenic stopped-flow kinetic analysis of O(2) adduct formation carried out for the three complexes reveals that dioxygen binds to the diiron(II,II) center with concentration dependences and activation parameters indicative of a direct associative pathway.

Role of carboxylate bridges in modulating nonheme diiron(II)/O(2) reactivity.

A series of diiron(II) complexes of the dinucleating ligand HPTP (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane) with one or two supporting carboxylate bridges has been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of one member of each subset has been obtained to reveal for subset A a (micro-alkoxo)(micro-carboxylato)diiron(II) center with one five- and one six-coordinate metal ion and for subset B a coordinatively saturated (micro-alkoxo)bis(micro-carboxylato)diiron(II) center. These complexes react with O(2) in second-order processes to form adducts characterized as (micro-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes.

Stable supramolecular dimer of self-complementary benzo-18-crown-6 with a pendant protonated amino arm.

The novel 4'-(ammoniummethylene)benzo-18-crown-6 cation was synthesized as a hexafluorophosphate salt and found to exist as a cyclophane-like dimer in the solid state, gas phase and in acetonitrile solution.

Nickel(II) complexes with tetra- and pentadentate aminopyridine ligands: synthesis, structure, electrochemistry, and reduction to nickel(I) species.

A series of nickel(II) complexes with polydentate aminopyridine ligands N,N,N'-tris-[2-(2'-pyridyl)ethyl]ethane-1,2-diamine (L1), N,N,N'-tris-[2-(2'-pyridyl)ethyl]-N'-methylethane-1,2-diamine (L2), and N,N'-bis-[2-(2'-pyridyl)ethyl]-N,N'-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (L3) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed that the Ni(II) ions have five-coordinate square-pyramidal geometry in [NiL2](ClO(4))(2), similar to that previously found in [NiL1](ClO(4))(2) x CH(3)NO(2) (Hoskins, B. F.