Controlling the Direction of -Nitrosation versus Denitrosation: Reversible Cleavage and Formation of an S-N Bond within a Dicopper Center.

Iron and copper enzymes are known to promote reversible -nitrosation/denitrosation in biology. However, it is unclear how the direction of S-N bond formation/scission is controlled. Herein, we demonstrate the interconversion of metal--nitrosothiol adduct M(RSNO) and metal nitrosyl thiolate complex M(NO)(SR), which may regulate the direction of reversible -(de)nitrosation. Treatment of a dicopper(I,I) complex with RSNO leads to a mixture of two structural isomers: dicopper(I,I) -nitrosothiol [CuCu(RSNO)] and dicopper(II,II) nitrosyl thiolate [CuCu(NO)(SR)]. The between these two structural isomers is sensitive to temperature, the solvent coordination ability, and counterions. Our study illustrates how copper centers can modulate the direction of RS-NO bond formation and cleavage through a minor perturbation of the local environment.