Publications by authors named "Stephen M Contakes"

The copper amine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis (AGAO) is reversibly inhibited by molecular wires comprising a Ru(II) complex head group and an aromatic tail group joined by an alkane linker. The crystal structures of a series of Ru(II)-wire-AGAO complexes differing with respect to the length of the alkane linker have been determined. All wires lie in the AGAO active-site channel, with their aromatic tail group in contact with the trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone (TPQ) cofactor of the enzyme.

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Molecular wires comprising a Ru(II)- or Re(I)-complex head group, an aromatic tail group, and an alkane linker reversibly inhibit the activity of the copper amine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis (AGAO), with K(i) values between 6 muM and 37 nM. In the crystal structure of a Ru(II)-wire:AGAO conjugate, the wire occupies the AGAO active-site substrate access channel, the trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone cofactor is ordered in the "off-Cu" position with its reactive carbonyl oriented toward the inhibitor, and the "gate" residue, Tyr-296, is in the "open" position. Head groups, tail-group substituents, and linker lengths all influence wire-binding interactions with the enzyme.

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Cubic cage compounds composed of Co-CN-Ru linkages have been prepared which illustrate the following features: (i) new motifs for alkali metal ion complexation (i.e., cationic receptors for cations), (ii) a new family of triaza-metalloligands, and (iii) a double box-like cage.

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The reaction of cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ferrous derivatives led to the isolation of three products, trans- and cis-[Fe(CN)(4)(CO)(2)](2)(-) and [Fe(CN)(5)(CO)](3)(-), the first two of which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The new compounds show self-consistent IR, (13)C NMR, and mass spectroscopic properties. The reaction of trans-[Fe(CN)(4)(CO)(2)](2)(-) with Et(4)NCN gives [Fe(CN)(5)(CO)](3)(-) via a first-order (dissociative) pathway.

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