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Nicolai Lehnert

Publications and source records attributed to Nicolai Lehnert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Electronic structure, spectroscopic properties, and reactivity of molybdenum and tungsten nitrido and imido complexes with diphosphine coligands: influence of the trans ligand.

A series of molybdenum and tungsten nitrido, [M(N)(X)(diphos)2], and imido complexes, [M(NH)(X)(diphos)2)]Y, (M = Mo, W) with diphosphine coligands (diphos = dppe/depe), various trans ligands (X = N3-, Cl-, NCCH3) and different counterions (Y-= Cl-, BPh4-) is investigated. These compounds are studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopies; they are also studied with isotope-substitution and optical-absorption, as well as emission, spectroscopies. In the nitrido complexes with trans-azido and -chloro coligands, the metal-N stretch is found at about 980 cm(-1); upon protonation, it is lowered to about 920 cm(-1). The 1A1 --> 1E (n --> pi) electronic transition is observed for [Mo(N)(N3)(depe)2] at 398 nm and shows a progression in the metal-N stretch of 810 cm(-1). The corresponding 3E --> 1A (pi --> n) emission band is observed at 542 nm, exhibiting a progression in the metal-N stretch of 980 cm(-1). In the imido system [Mo(NH)(N3)(depe)2]BPh4, the n --> pi transition is shifted to lower energy (518 nm) and markedly decreases in intensity. In the trans-nitrile complex [Mo(N)(NCCH3)(dppe)2]BPh4, the metal-N(nitrido) stretching frequency increases to 1016 cm(-1). The n --> pi transition now is found at 450 nm, shifting to 525 nm upon protonation. Most importantly, the reduction of this nitrido trans-nitrile complex is drastically facilitated compared to its counterparts with anionic trans-ligands (Epred = -1.5 V vs Fc+/Fc). On the other hand, the basicity of the nitrido group is decreased (pKa{[Mo(NH)(NCCH3)(dppe)2](BPh4)2} = 5). The implications of these findings with respect to the Chatt cycle are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Direct hydrogen-atom abstraction by activated bleomycin: an experimental and computational study.

Bleomycin (BLM), a glycopeptide antibiotic chemotherapy agent, is capable of single- and double-strand DNA damage. Activated bleomycin (ABLM), a low-spin Fe(III)-OOH complex, is the last intermediate detected prior to DNA cleavage following hydrogen-atom abstraction from the C-4' of a deoxyribose sugar moiety. The mechanism of this C-H bond cleavage reaction and the nature of the active oxidizing species are still open issues. We have used kinetic measurements in combination with density functional calculations to study the reactivity of ABLM and the mechanism of the initial attack on DNA. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to directly monitor the kinetics of the ABLM reaction. These experiments yield a deuterium isotope effect, kH/kD approximately 3 for ABLM decay, indicating the involvement of a hydrogen atom in the rate-determining step. H-atom donors with relatively weak X-H bonds accelerate the reaction rate, establishing that ABLM is capable of hydrogen-atom abstraction. Density functional calculations were used to evaluate the two-dimensional potential energy surface for the direct hydrogen-atom abstraction reaction of the deoxyribose 4'-H by ABLM. The calculations confirm that ABLM is thermodynamically and kinetically competent for H-atom abstraction. The activation and reaction energies for this pathway are favored over both homolytic and heterolytic O-O bond cleavage. Direct H-atom abstraction by ABLM would generate a reactive Fe(IV)=O species, which would be capable of a second DNA strand cleavage, as observed in vivo. This study provides experimental and theoretical evidence for direct H-atom abstraction by ABLM and proposes an attractive mechanism for the role of ABLM in double-strand cleavage.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2006

Spectroscopic properties and electronic structure of five- and six-coordinate iron(II) porphyrin NO complexes: Effect of the axial N-donor ligand.

In this paper, the differences in the spectroscopic properties and electronic structures of five- and six-coordinate iron(II) porphyrin NO complexes are explored using [Fe(TPP)(NO)] (1; TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin) and [Fe(TPP)(MI)(NO)] (2; MI = 1-methylimidazole) type systems. Binding of N-donor ligands in axial position trans to NO to five-coordinate complexes of type 1 is investigated using UV-vis absorption and 1H NMR spectroscopies. This way, the corresponding binding constants Keq are determined and the 1H NMR spectra of 1 and 2 are assigned for the first time. In addition, 1H NMR allows for the determination of the degree of denitrosylation in solutions of 1 with excess base. The influence of the axial ligand on the properties of the coordinated NO is then investigated. Vibrational spectra (IR and Raman) of 1 and 2 are presented and assigned using isotope substitution and normal-coordinate analysis. Obtained force constants are 12.53 (N-O) and 2.98 mdyn/A (Fe-NO) for 1 compared to 11.55 (N-O) and 2.55 mdyn/A (Fe-NO) for 2. Together with the NMR results, this provides experimental evidence that binding of the trans ligand weakens the Fe-NO bond. The principal bonding schemes of 1 and 2 are very similar. In both cases, the Fe-N-O subunit is strongly bent. Donation from the singly occupied pi* orbital of NO into d(z2) of iron(II) leads to the formation of an Fe-NO sigma bond. In addition, a medium-strong pi back-bond is present in these complexes. The most important difference in the electronic structures of 1 and 2 occurs for the Fe-NO sigma bond, which is distinctively stronger for 1 in agreement with the experimental force constants. The increased sigma donation from NO in 1 also leads to a significant transfer of spin density from NO to iron, as has been shown by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy in a preceding Communication (Praneeth, V. K. K.; Neese, F.; Lehnert, N. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 2570-2572). This is confirmed by the 1H NMR results presented here. Hence, further experimental and computational evidence is provided that complex 1 has noticeable Fe(I)NO+ character relative to 2, which is an Fe(II)NO(radical) complex. Finally, using MCD theory and quantum chemical calculations, the absorption and MCD C-term spectra of 1 and 2 are assigned for the first time.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2006

Quantum chemistry-based analysis of the vibrational spectra of five-coordinate metalloporphyrins [M(TPP)Cl].

Vibrational properties of the five-coordinate porphyrin complexes [M(TPP)(Cl)] (M = Fe, Mn, Co) are analyzed in detail. For [Fe(TPP)(Cl)] (1), a complete vibrational data set is obtained, including nonresonance (NR) Raman, and resonance Raman (RR) spectra at multiple excitation wavelengths as well as IR spectra. These data are completely assigned using density functional (DFT) calculations and polarization measurements. Compared to earlier works, a number of bands are reassigned in this one. These include the important, structure-sensitive band at 390 cm(-1), which is reassigned here to the totally symmetric nu(breathing)(Fe-N) vibration for complex 1. This is in agreement with the assignments for [Ni(TPP)]. In general, the assignments are on the basis of an idealized [M(TPP)]+ core with D(4h) symmetry. In this Work, small deviations from D(4h) are observed in the vibrational spectra and analyzed in detail. On the basis of the assignments of the vibrational spectra of 1, [Mn(TPP)(Cl)] (2), and diamagnetic [Co(TPP)(Cl)] (3), eight metal-sensitive bands are identified. Two of them correspond to the nu(M-N) stretching modes with B(1g) and Eu symmetries and are assigned here for the first time. The shifts of the metal sensitive modes are interpreted on the basis of differences in the porphyrin C-C, C-N, and M-N distances. Besides the porphyrin core vibrations, the M-Cl stretching modes also show strong metal sensitivity. The strength of the M-Cl bond in 1-3 is further investigated. From normal coordinate analysis (NCA), force constants of 1.796 (Fe), 0.932 (Mn), and 1.717 (Co) mdyn/A are obtained for 1-3, respectively. The weakness of the Mn-Cl bond is attributed to the fact that it only corresponds to half a sigma bond. Finally, RR spectroscopy is used to gain detailed insight into the nature of the electronically excited states. This relates to the mechanism of resonance enhancement and the actual nature of the enhanced vibrations. It is of importance that anomalous polarized bands (A(2g) vibrations), which are diagnostic for vibronic mixing, are especially useful for this purpose.

Metals, Heavy↗
PubMed2006

Structural and electronic differences of copper(I) complexes with tris(pyrazolyl)methane and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands.

Copper(I) complexes with tripodal nitrogen-containing neutral ligands such as tris(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L1') and tris(3-tertiary-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L3'), and with corresponding anionic ligands such as hydrotris(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (L1-) and hydrotris(3-tertiary-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (L3-) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Copper(I) complexes [Cu(L1')Cl] (1), [Cu(L1')(OClO3)] (2), [Cu(L1')(NCMe)](PF6) (3a), [Cu(L1')(NCMe)](ClO4) (3b), [Cu(L1')(CO)](PF6) (4a), and [Cu(L1')(CO)](ClO4) (4b) were prepared using the ligand L1'. Copper(I) complexes [Cu(L3')Cl] (5) and [Cu(L3')(NCMe)](PF6) (6) with the ligand L3' were also synthesized. Copper(I) complexes [Cu(L1)(NCMe)] (7) and [Cu(L1)(CO)] (8) were prepared using the anionic ligand L1-. Finally, copper(I) complexes with anionic ligand L3- and acetonitrile (9) and carbon monoxide (10) were synthesized. The complexes obtained were fully characterized by IR, far-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The structures of both ligands, L1' and L3', and of complexes 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5, 6, 7, and 10 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The effects of the differences in (a) the fourth ligand and the counteranion, (b) the steric hindrance at the third position of the pyrazolyl rings, and most importantly, (c) the charge of the N3 type ligands, on the structures, spectroscopic properties, and reactivities of the copper(I) complexes are discussed. The observed differences in the reactivities toward O2 of the copper(I) acetonitrile complexes are traced back to differences in the oxidation potentials determined by cyclic voltammetry. A special focus is set on the carbonyl complexes, where the 13C NMR and vibrational data are presented. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to shed light on the differences in CO bonding in the compounds with neutral and anionic N3 ligands. In correlation with the vibrational and electrochemical data of these complexes, it is demonstrated that the C-O stretching vibration is a sensitive probe for the "electron richness" of copper(I) in these compounds.

Borates↗
PubMed2006

Electronic structure of iron(II)-porphyrin nitroxyl complexes: molecular mechanism of fungal nitric oxide reductase (P450nor).

Density functional calculations are employed to investigate key intermediates of the catalytic cycle of fungal nitric oxide reductase (P450nor). The formal Fe(II)-nitroxyl species Fe(II)--NO/(-) can principally exist in the two spin-states S = 0 and S = 1. In the S = 0 case, a very covalent Fe--NO sigma bond is present, which leads to an electronic structure description that is actually intermediate between Fe(I)--NO and Fe(II)--NO(-). In contrast, the S = 1 case shows a ferrous Fe(II)--NO complex with the extra electron being stored in the pi system of the porphyrin ligand. Importantly, the Fe(II)--NO/(-) species are very basic. The electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of the corresponding N- and O-protonated forms are very different, and unequivocally show that the Mb-HNO adduct (Mb-Myoglobin) prepared by farmer and coworkers is in fact N-protonated. The presence of an axial thiolate ligand enables a second protonation leading to the corresponding Fe(IV)--NHOH- species, which is identified with the catalytically active intermediate I of P450nor. This species reacts with a second molecule of NO by initial electron transfer from NO to Fe(IV) followed by addition of NO+ forming an N--N bond. This is accompanied by an energetically very favorable intramolecular proton transfer leading to the generation of a quite stable Fe(III)--N(OH)(NOH) complex. This way, the enzyme is able to produce dimerized HNO under very controlled conditions and to prevent loss of this ligand from Fe(III). The energetically disfavoured tautomer Fe(III)--N(OH2)(NO) is the catalytically productive species that spontaneously cleaves the N--OH2 bond forming N2O and H2O in a highly exergonic reaction.

Fungi↗
PubMed2005

Reduction pathway of end-on terminally coordinated dinitrogen. V. N-N bond cleavage in Mo/W hydrazidium complexes with diphosphine coligands. Comparison with triamidoamine systems.

N-N cleavage of the dialkylhydrazido complex [W(dppe)2(NNC5H10)] (B(W)) upon treatment with acid, leading to the nitrido/imido complex and piperidine, is investigated experimentally and theoretically. In acetonitrile and at room temperature, B(W) reacts orders of magnitude more rapidly with HNEt3BPh4 than its Mo analogue, [Mo(dppe)2(NNC5H10)] (B(Mo)). A stopped-flow experiment performed for the reaction of B(W) with HNEt3BPh4 in propionitrile at -70 degrees C indicates that protonation of B(W) is completed within the dead time of the stopped-flow apparatus, leading to the primary protonated intermediate B(W)H+. Propionitrile coordination to this species proceeds with a rate constant k(obs(1)) of 1.5 +/- 0.4 s(-1), generating intermediate RCN-B(W)H+ (R = Et) that rapidly adds a further proton at Nbeta and then mediates N-N bond splitting in a slower reaction (k(obs(2)) = 0.35 +/- 0.08 s(-1), 6 equiv of acid). k(obs(1)) and k(obs(2)) are found to be independent of the acid concentration. The experimentally observed reactivities of B(Mo) or B(W) with acids in nitrile solvents are reproduced by DFT calculations. In particular, geometry optimization of models of solvent-coordinated, Nbeta-protonated intermediates is found to lead spontaneously to separation into the nitrido/imido complexes and piperidine/piperidinium, corresponding to activationless heterolytic N-N bond cleavage processes. Moreover, DFT indicates a spontaneous cleavage of nonsolvated B(W) protonated at Nbeta. In the second part of this article, a theoretical analysis of the N-N cleavage reaction in the Mo(III) triamidoamine complex [HIPTN3N]Mo(N2) is presented (HIPTN3N = hexaisopropylterphenyltriamidoamine). To this end, DFT calculations of the Mo(III)N2)triamidoamine complex and its protonated and reduced derivatives are performed. Calculated structural and spectroscopic parameters are compared to available experimental data. N-N cleavage most likely proceeds by one-electron reduction of the Mo(V) hydrazidium intermediate [HIPTN3N]Mo(NNH3)+, which is predicted to have an extremely elongated N-N bond. From an electronic-structure point of view, this reaction is analogous to that of Mo/W hydrazidium complexes with diphos coligands. The general implications of these results with respect to synthetic N2 fixation are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Reduction pathway of end-on terminally coordinated dinitrogen. IV. Geometric, electronic, and vibrational structure of a W(IV) dialkylhydrazido complex and its two-electron-reduced derivative undergoing N-N cleavage upon protonation.

The molybdenum and tungsten dialkylhydrazido complexes [M(dppe)2 (NNC5H10)]2+ (M = Mo, W; compounds A(Mo) and A(W)) and their two-electron-reduced counterparts [M(dppe)2 (NNC5H10)] (compounds B(Mo) and B(W)) are characterized structurally and spectroscopically. The crystal structure of B(W) indicates a geometry between square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal with the NNC5H10 group in the apical position and in the trigonal plane of the complex, respectively. Temperature-dependent 31P NMR spectra of B(Mo) show that this geometry is present in solution as well. At room temperature, rapid Berry pseudorotation between the "axial" and "equatorial" ligand positions gives rise to a singlet in the 31P NMR spectrum. This exchange process is slowed at low temperature, leading to a doublet. The N-N distance of B(W) is 1.388 A, and the W-N distance is 1.781 A. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy applied to A(W), B(W), and their 15N isotopomers reveals extensive mixing between the N-N and W-N vibrations of the metal-N-N core with the modes of the piperidine ring. The N-N force constant of A(W) is determined to be 6.95 mdyn/A, which is close to the values of the Mo and W NNH2 complexes. In B(W), the N-N force constant decreases to 6.4 mdyn/A, which is between the values found for the Mo/W NNH3 and NNH2 complexes. This allows us to attribute N-N double bond character to A(W) and intermediate character between the double and single bonds for the N-N bond of B(W). These findings are supported by DFT calculations. More importantly, the HOMO of B(W) corresponds to a linear combination of the metal d(sigma) orbital with a ligand orbital having N-N sigma* character, inducing a weakening of the N-N bond. This contributes to the cleavage of the N-N bond taking place upon protonation of B(W) at the Nbeta atom of the NNC5H10 group.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Spin density distribution in five- and six-coordinate iron(II)-porphyrin NO complexes evidenced by magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy together with DFT calculations, the spin density distributions in five-coordinate [Fe(TPP)(NO)] (I) and six-coordinate [Fe(TPP)(MI)(NO)] (II, MI = 1-methylimidazole) are defined. In the five-coordinate complex, a strong Fe-NO sigma bond between pi(*)(h) and d(z)(2) is present that leads to a large transfer of spin density from the NO ligand to Fe(II) corresponding to an electronic structure with noticeable Fe(I)-NO(+) character. Consequently, the MCD spectrum is dominated by paramagnetic C-term contributions. On coordination of the sixth ligand, the spin density is pushed back from the iron toward the NO ligand, resulting in an Fe(II)-NO(radical) type of electronic structure. This is reflected by the fact that the MCD spectrum is dominated by diamagnetic contributions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Thiolate coordination to Fe(II)-porphyrin NO centers.

The interaction of the Fe(II)-porphyrin NO model complex [Fe(TPP)(NO)] (1, TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin) with thiophenolate ligands and tetrahydrothiophene is explored both computationally and experimentally. Complex 1 is reacted with substituted thiophenolates and the obtained six-coordinate adducts of type [Fe(TPP)(SR)(NO)](-) are investigated in solution using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. From the obtained g values and (14)N hyperfine pattern of the NO ligand it is concluded that the interaction of the thiophenolates with the Fe(II) center is weak in comparison to the corresponding 1-methylimidazole adduct. The strength of the Fe-S bond is increased when alkylthiolates are used as evidenced by comparison with the published EPR spectra of ferrous NO adducts in cytochromes P450 and P450nor, which have an axial cysteinate ligand. These results are further evaluated by density functional (DFT) calculations. The six-coordinate model complex [Fe(P)(SMe)(NO)](-) (1-SMe; P=porphine ligand used for the calculations) has an interesting electronic structure where NO acts as a medium strong sigma donor and pi acceptor ligand. Compared to the N-donor adducts with 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm), etc., donation from the pi(h)( *) orbital of NO to Fe(II) is reduced due to the stronger trans effect of the alkylthiolate ligand. This is reflected by the predicted longer Fe-NO bond length and smaller Fe-NO force constant for 1-SMe compared to the 1-MeIm adduct. Therefore, the Fe(II)-porphyrin NO adducts with trans alkylthiolate coordination have to be described as Fe(II)-NO(radical) systems. The N-O stretching frequency of these complexes is predicted below 1600cm(-1) in agreement with the available experimental data. In addition, 1-SMe has a unique spin density distribution where Fe has a negative spin density of -0.26 from the calculations. The implications of this unusual electronic structure for the reactivity of the Fe(II)-NO alkylthiolate adducts as they occur in cytochrome P450nor are discussed.

Cysteine↗
PubMed2004

Spectroscopic properties and electronic structure of pentammineruthenium(II) dinitrogen oxide and corresponding nitrosyl complexes: binding mode of N(2)O and reactivity.

The spectroscopic properties and the electronic structure of the only nitrous oxide complex existing in isolated form, [Ru(NH(3))(5)(N(2)O)]X(2) (1, X = Br(-), BF(4)(-)), are investigated in detail in comparison to the nitric oxide precursor, [Ru(NH(3))(5)(NO)]X(3) (2). IR and Raman spectra of 1 and of the corresponding (15)NNO labeled complex are presented and assigned with the help of normal coordinate analysis (NCA) and density functional (DFT) calculations. This allows for the identification of the Ru-N(2)O stretch at approximately 300 cm(-)(1) and for the unambiguous definition of the binding mode of the N(2)O ligand as N-terminal. Obtained force constants are 17.3, 9.6, and 1.4 mdyn/A for N-N, N-O, and Ru-N(2)O, respectively. The Ru(II)-N(2)O bond is dominated by pi back-donation, which, however, is weak compared to the NO complex. This bond is further weakened by Coulomb repulsion between the fully occupied t(2g) shell of Ru(II) and the HOMO of N(2)O. Hence, nitrous oxide is an extremely weak ligand to Ru(II). Calculated free energies and formation constants for [Ru(NH(3))(5)(L)](2+) (L = NNO, N(2), OH(2)) are in good agreement with experiment. The observed intense absorption at 238 nm of 1 is assigned to the t(2g) --> pi(*) charge transfer transition. These data are compared in detail to the spectroscopic and electronic structural properties of NO complex 2. Finally, the transition metal centered reaction of nitrous oxide to N(2) and H(2)O is investigated. Nitrous oxide is activated by back-donation. Initial protonation leads to a weakening of the N-O bond and triggers electron transfer from the metal to the NN-OH ligand through the pi system. The implications of this mechanism for biological nitrous oxide reduction are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Solvothermal syntheses, crystal structures, and thermal properties of new manganese thioantimonates(III): The first example of the thermal transformation of an amine-rich thioantimonate into an amine-poorer thioantimonate.

Two new neutral thioantimonates(III) were first prepared by the reaction of elemental manganese, antimony, and sulfur in tren (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, C6H18N4) at 140 degrees C. In the amine-rich compound [Mn(tren)]2Sb2S5 (1) the trigonal SbS3 pyramids are connected via common corners (S(3)) into the tetradentate [Sb2S4]4- anion. Four S atoms have bonds to the manganese atoms of the [Mn(tren)2+] cations. A special structural feature is the large Sb-S(3)-Sb(a) angle of 134 degrees. Density functional calculations clearly demonstrate that this large angle results from the steric interactions between the two Mn(tren) subunits. In the crystal structure of the amine-poorer compound [Mn(tren)]2Mn2Sb4S10 (2), MnS4 tetrahedra and SbS3 pyramids are linked via common corners and edges to form a new heterometallic [Mn2Sb4S10] core. The [Mn(C6H18N4)2+] cations are located at the periphery of the core and are bound to the [Mn2Sb4S10] unit via two S atoms. The thermal behavior of both compounds was investigated using simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermoanalysis, and mass spectroscopy. The amine-richer compound 1 decomposes in three steps upon heating. After the first TG step an intermediate phase is formed, which was identified as the amine-poorer compound 2 by X-ray diffraction. Reaction of compound 2 at 140 degrees C with an excess of tren forms the amine-rich compound 1.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Reduction pathway of end-on coordinated dinitrogen. 3. Electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of molybdenum/tungsten hydrazidium complexes.

The spectroscopic properties and electronic structure of the hydrazidium complexes [MF(NNH(3))(depe)(2)](BF(4))(2), M = Mo and W, are investigated (depe = 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane). Vibrational spectroscopic data for both compounds are evaluated with a quantum-chemistry-assisted normal coordinate analysis, giving an N-N force constant of 6.03 mdyn/A and metal-N force constants of 8.01 (Mo-N) and 7.31 mdyn/A (W-N), respectively. On the basis of these results and DFT calculations on a [MoF(NNH(3))(PH(3))(4)](2+) model system, the N-N bond order in these systems is 1 (single sigma bond) and metal-N bonding corresponds to a triple bond. The metal centers are assigned a +IV oxidation state (d(2) configuration) and the NNH(3) ligand is assigned a -1 formal charge which by sigma- and pi-donation to the metal is reduced to +0.48. The two metal-d electrons are located in the nonbonding (n) d(xy)() orbital. This bonding description is supported by the results of optical absorption spectroscopy showing the n --> (metal-ligand)pi transition at 536 nm (not observed in the tungsten compound) and the (metal-ligand)pi --> (metal-ligand)pi transition at 251 nm for the MoNNH(3) and at 237 nm for the WNNH(3) complex. The activation enthalpy for splitting of the N-N bond in these systems to generate NH(4)(+) is estimated to be larger than 40 kcal/mol. Hydrazidium complexes with diphosphine coligands are therefore inert with respect to N-N cleavage and thus represent the ultimate stage of N(2) reduction at six-coordinate d(6) metal centers in the absence of external reductants.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Non-heme iron enzymes: contrasts to heme catalysis.

Non-heme iron enzymes catalyze a wide range of O(2) reactions, paralleling those of heme systems. Non-heme iron active sites are, however, much more difficult to study because they do not exhibit the intense spectral features characteristic of the porphyrin ligand. A spectroscopic methodology was developed that provides significant mechanistic insight into the reactivity of non-heme ferrous active sites. These studies reveal a general mechanistic strategy used by these enzymes and differences in substrate and cofactor interactions dependent on their requirement for activation by iron. Contributions to O(2) activation have been elucidated for non-heme relative to heme ligand sets, and major differences in reactivity are defined with respect to the heterolytic and homolytic cleavage of O-O bonds.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2003

Electronic structure and reactivity of high-spin iron--alkyl- and--pterinperoxo complexes.

The spectroscopic properties and electronic structure of the four-coordinate high-spin [FeIII(L3)(OOtBu)]+ complex (1; L3 = hydrotris(3-tert-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate; tBu = tert-butyl) are investigated and compared to the six-coordinated high-spin [Fe(6-Me3TPA)(OHx)(OOtBu)]x+ system (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, x = 1 or 2) studied earlier [Lehnert, N.; Ho, R. Y. N.; Que, L., Jr.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 12802-12816]. Complex 1 is characterized by Raman features at 889 and 830 cm-1 which are assigned to the O-O stretch (mixed with the symmetric C-C stretch) and a band at 625 cm-1 that corresponds to nu(Fe-O). The UV-vis spectrum shows a charge-transfer (CT) transition at 510 nm from the alkylperoxo pi v* (v = vertical to C-O-O plane) to a d orbital of Fe(III). A second CT is identified from MCD at 370 nm that is assigned to a transition from pi h* (h = horizontal to C-O-O plane) to an Fe(III) d orbital. For the TPA complex the pi v* CT is at 560 nm while the pi h* CT is to higher energy than 250 nm. These spectroscopic differences between four- and six-coordinate Fe(III)-OOR complexes are interpreted on the basis of their different ligand fields. In addition, the electronic structure of Fe-OOPtn complexes with the biologically relevant pterinperoxo ligand are investigated. Substitution of the tert-butyl group in 1 by pterin leads to the corresponding Fe(III)-OOPtn species (2), which shows a stronger electron donation from the peroxide to Fe(III) than 1. This is related to the lower ionization potential of pterin. Reduction of 2 by one electron leads to the Fe(II)-OOPtn complex (3), which is relevant as a model for potential intermediates in pterin-dependent hydroxylases. However, in the four-coordinate ligand field of 3, the additional electron is located in a nonbonding d orbital of iron. Hence, the pterinperoxo ligand is not activated for heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond in this system. This is also evident from the calculated reaction energies that are endothermic by at least 20 kcal/mol.

Alkynes↗
PubMed2003

Side-on bridging coordination of N2: spectroscopic characterization of the planar Zr2N2 core and theoretical investigation of its butterfly distortion.

The vibrational and electronic structure of the side-on N(2)-bridged Zr complex [((P(2)N(2))Zr)(2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-N(2))] (P(2)N(2)=PhP(CH(2)SiMe(2)NSiMe(2)CH(2))(2)PPh) were analyzed. The vibrational characterization of the planar Zr(2)N(2) core was based on resonance Raman and infrared spectroscopy. In the Raman spectrum, the Nbond;N stretching band is found at 775 cm(-1) with an isotope shift of 22 cm(-1). Due to its appearance in many overtones and combination modes, the metal-metal stretch is assigned to the peak at 295 cm(-1). The two ungerade modes of the Zr(2)N(2) core were identified in the infrared spectrum. Based on these four vibrations of the Zr(2)N(2) unit, a quantum chemical assisted normal coordinate analysis (QCA-NCA) was performed. The force constants for the N--N and Zr--N bonds were calculated to be 1.53 and 2.58 mdyn A(-1), respectively. The butterfly distortion of the Zr(2)N(2) unit obtained in DFT geometry optimizations of planar side-on N(2)-bridged Zr complexes was analyzed in more detail. It was found that on bending of the Zr(2)N(2) core, the lone pairs of the axial amide ligands are rotated by 90 degrees. The bent Zr(2)N(2) unit is 11 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than the planar core due to a more uniform distribution of electron density between the metal atoms and N(2) and delocalization of electron density from the amide ligands to the Zr(2)N(2) unit. The spectroscopic implications of this distortion are analyzed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Density-functional investigation on the mechanism of H-atom abstraction by lipoxygenase.

Using experimentally calibrated density functional calculations on models of the active site of soybean lipoxygenase 1 (SLO-1), insight has been obtained into the coordination flexibility of the iron active site and its molecular mechanism of catalysis. The ferrous form of SLO-1 shows a variation in coordination number in solution that is related to a weakly coordinating Asn694 ligand. From the calculations it is determined that the weak Fe-O(694) bond associated with this coordination flexibility is due to a sideways tilted geometry of Asn694 that is imposed on the site by the protein. Release of this constraint (by altering the hydrogen bonding network) leads to a pure six-coordinate site. In contrast, the ferric form of the enzyme stays five-coordinate. In this case, deprotonation of a coordinated water gives a strong hydroxo donor in the cis position to Asn694, weakening the Fe-O(694) bond. Hence, Asn694 is a stronger ligand to the reduced relative to the oxidized site. Using these experimentally calibrated models, the reaction energy for H-atom transfer in SLO-1 has been calculated to be about -18 kcal/mol. The observed change in coordination number going from five-coordinate in ferric to six-coordinate in ferrous SLO-1 increases the reduction potential of the iron active site. Hence, the protein adjusts the active site for optimal reactivity. Analysis of the electronic structure along the reaction coordinate shows that the H-atom transfer in SLO-1 actually corresponds to a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). The transferred electron does not localize on the proton, but tunnels directly from the substrate to the ferric active site in a concerted proton tunneling-electron tunneling (PTET) process. The covalently linked Fe-O-H-C bridge in the transition state lowers the energy barrier and provides an efficient superexchange pathway for this tunneling. The thermal barrier for the PTET process is estimated from the calculations to be about +15 kcal/mol including zero-point energy corrections. This corresponds to a thermal reaction rate of k(therm) approximately 1 s(-1). In comparison, the rate of proton tunneling can be as high as 2 x 10(9) s(-1) under these conditions.

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